Please see below for an important message from Governor Ned Lamont regarding the Extreme Heat Warning for July 5- 7. Watertown Public Schools will monitor temperatures daily and if there are any changes to our summer school schedule, we will notify families immediately.
Thank you
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Today, Governor Ned Lamont announced that as a result of the near term weather forecast indicating very hot and humid weather over the next several days, he is directing Connecticut’s extreme hot weather protocol to be activated effective at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, and continuing through 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023.
Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:
- Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.
- People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.
- People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat.
- People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.
- People who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.
If students, campers or staff have any of the following conditions, it's important to be cautious during days with extreme heat:
- Asthma: Anyone with asthma, especially children, may find it more difficult to breathe on hot days. Some evidence suggests that inhalers stored in extreme heat may not work as well, possibly dispensing less than a full dose of medication.
- Diabetes: People who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a harder time regulating body temperature and blood glucose when it gets hot out. Extreme heat can also damage insulin, insulin pumps, and glucose monitors.
Some prevention tips to stay safe in extreme heat include:
- Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness.
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to cool off.
- Find an air-conditioned shelter.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Check on those most at-risk several times a day.
- Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.
- Never leave pets inside of parked vehicles because temperatures can soar to life-threatening levels within minutes.
Everyone is also reminded to stay hydrated during periods extreme heat. Because bodies lose fluid through sweat, dehydration is common while experiencing very high temperatures. It is strongly encouraged to:
- Drink more water than usual.
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.
- Drink two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.