Ipswich Public Health Department Invites Residents to Attend Massachusetts DPH Webinar “Beat the Heat! Prepare for Heat Season in Massachusetts”

IPSWICH – The Ipswich Public Health Department and Director of Public Health Colleen Fermon would like to invite residents to attend a webinar hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) about how heat impacts communities.

With warmer weather around the corner, it is vital that residents know how to deal with the summer heat and protect themselves from heat-related illnesses. 

The webinar, “Beat the heat! Prepare for heat season in Massachusetts,” will be held on Tuesday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In conversation with the DPH’s Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health and the Division of Community Engagement, the webinar will cover:

• What heat stress is and what causes it;
• How the DPH predicts and shares information on upcoming periods of unhealthy heat;
• How you can raise awareness about unhealthy heat in your community; and
• How you can help community members plan, prepare, and stay safe during very hot weather.

The webinar is free and open to the public. To register, click here. Those with questions they’d like answered during the event can submit them in advance using the registration link.

This event will be most helpful for community leaders and organizations who work with populations especially vulnerable to heat, including pregnant people, people 65 and older, children, unhoused individuals, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and people who work outside.

The Ipswich Public Health Department would also like to share the following tips from mass.gov about how to protect against extreme heat: 

• Stay indoors and out of the sun.
• Keep hydrated: Drink more fluids (water or electrolyte replacement drinks) than you usually would even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing when outdoors
• Cover windows that get morning or afternoon sun with shades, curtains, or a blanket.
• Call 2-1-1 to find cooling centers near you. They might include a local library or community center, or other government building.
• Sign up for weather alerts and create a heat emergency plan like this one.
• Arrange for wellness check-ins, like having a friend, neighbor, or relative call or visit a few times a day.
• Plan for power outages if you need electricity for medical equipment or medications.

Additional extreme heat resources can be found here. 

“We strongly encourage our residents to attend this webinar to learn more about unhealthy heat and how to plan ahead to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Director Fermon.