BU Opens Cooling Stations on Charles River Campus as First Heat Wave of the Summer Arrives
A stagnant heat dome is expected to bring record heat to Boston, leading into the Fourth of July weekend, with the heat index reaching the triple digits Wednesday through Saturday.
BU Opens Cooling Stations on Charles River Campus as First Heat Wave of the Summer Arrives
Soaring temps and oppressive humidity will blanket the region. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe
The first official heat wave of the summer is expected to arrive on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to hit 100 degrees or more heading into the Fourth of July weekend. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for the region starting Wednesday at 10 am and extending through Saturday until 8 pm. In response, BU is opening cooling stations across the University’s Charles River Campus for summer program students seeking some relief.
Starting Wednesday, and continuing through Saturday at midnight, the George Sherman Union (775 Comm Ave) will be open to students from 7 am to midnight. In addition, the lobby at the Questrom School of Business (595 Comm Ave) will be open from 7 am to 10 pm (card access only, July 3 and 4); the lobby at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences (665 Comm Ave) will be open from 7 am to 10 pm (card access needed after 7 pm, and the building will be closed on July 4); the lobby of the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground (808 Comm Ave) will be open from 9 am to 5 pm (closed July 3 and 4); and the basement lounge at 522 Park Drive will be open 24 hours a day (for South Campus residents only). Note: the South Campus location is inaccessible for those with mobility impairments. Students with accessibility concerns should use the GSU location.
The University also has dozens of bottle-filling stations across the Charles River Campus for members of the BU community.
Click on the green icons above to find bottle-filling stations on BU’s Charles River Campus.
“Heat-related illness, or heat exhaustion, can happen quickly,” says Judy Platt, BU’s chief health officer and executive director of Student Health Services. “It is important to know the signs so you can take action for yourself or others. Excessive sweating, feeling faint, extreme thirst, headache, and nausea or vomiting can all be signs to move to a cool location, hydrate, and get help.”
“Staying hydrated and keeping cool are key steps in preventing heat-related illness,” Platt says. “Students who are concerned that they are experiencing nonemergency heat-related illness should call Student Health Services at 617-353-3575. Students, faculty, and staff who are on campus and may be experiencing a heat-related emergency, such as heat stroke, should call BUPD at 617-353-2121. Students, faculty, and staff who are off campus should call 911.”
Signs of heat stroke, or a heat-related emergency, include confusion or unconsciousness, rapid and strong pulse, nausea and vomiting, throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin, and high body temperature.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips to reduce the risk of heat-related illness:
Wear appropriate clothing
Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Stay cool indoors
Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. Even a few hours spent in air-conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Keep in mind: electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Schedule outdoor activities carefully
Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
Pace yourself
Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become light-headed, confused, weak, or faint.
Wear sunscreen
Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen—of SPF 15 or higher—30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
Avoid hot and heavy meals
They add heat to your body!
Drink plenty of fluids
Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
- Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
- Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace salt and minerals
Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.