HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT IN WEST SPRINGFIELD

TOWN OF WEST SPRINGFIELD
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
26 Central Street, Suite 18
West Springfield, MA 01089-2754
TEL (413) 263-3206
www.west-springfield.ma.us
FAX (413) 737-1583
July 16, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jeanne Galloway, REHS, MPA, CHO
Director of Public Health
413-263-3205
jgalloway@west-springfield.ma.us
HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT IN WEST SPRINGFIELD
With the onset of temperatures in the mid to upper 90oF, the Town of West Springfield offers the
following suggestions for those town residents who have inadequate cooling in their homes.
1. The Center on Park (fka the Senior Center), 128 Park Street is open today, Tuesday and
Wednesday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Anyone who needs to cool off is welcome here.
2. The West Springfield Public Library, 200 Park Street also welcomes anyone who needs to
get out of the heat. Their hours are 9:00 am to 8:00pm, Monday through Thursday.
3. Alice Corson Waterpark on Main Street is open today, tomorrow and Wednesday from 12:30
pm to 4:15 pm and again from 5:30 pm to 7:15 pm. Access requires identification and is free
for residents. Non-residents also require identification and must pay a small fee. The fee
depends on age and applies to each day that entry is desired. For information on acceptable
forms of identification, contact the West Springfield Park and Recreation Office or check
their page on the Town’s website, www.west-springfield.ma.us.
4. Memorial Pool, located at the corner of Smyrna Street and Amostown Road, is open the same
days and hours as Alice Corson. The same access fees apply as well.
a. The Splash Pad at Memorial pool has additional hours for toddlers (children 5 years
and under) and their care givers. Hours for “Splash Time for Tots” are Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
Other options for residents to beat the heat include visiting local malls or movie theaters.
Citizens are also reminded to take precautions to avoid heat related illness. These precautions include
wearing light colored and light weight clothing, drinking lots of non-alcoholic beverages, avoiding
caffeine. Electric fans will not prevent heat-related illness; taking a cool shower and air conditioning is
effective. Never leave a person or animal in a closed, parked vehicle.
If you must be out in the heat, limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Cut down on
exercise and drink two to four glasses of water per hour. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a
wide-brimmed hat, use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (most effective “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB
protection”) and rest often in shady places.