More Extreme Heat Predicted for Tolland

It’s going to be another scorcher in Tolland today, as the National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the mid-nineties for most of the state.

Tolland students, however, shouldn’t get their hopes up for an early dismissal. At Wednesday night’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools William Guzman said that while the schools are monitoring the temperature and its health risks on a daily basis, students are safest in school.

“There is no law that says that at a particular temperature something has to happen,” Guzman said, adding, “The principals have been very good about creating spaces that are air conditioned in their buildings.”

He went on to explain that students are well hydrated and looked after while at school. Guzman also said he was reluctant to create scheduling conflicts for working parents who would have to arrange for childcare in the case of an early dismissal.

For Tolland residents outside of the school system, Public Information Officer Seale Tuttle from the Tolland Fire Department urges residents to take extra precautions during the hot weather, including staying indoors, spending time in air-conditioned areas, drinking lots of water and checking in on family, friends and neighbors.

Officer Tuttle also suggests that citizens follow FEMA guidelines to prepare their homes for the extreme weather. To keep your home more comfortable, you can:

• Install and insulate window air conditioner units
• Check that air-conditioning ducts are insulated
• Install temporary window reflectors, which reflect heat away from your home
• Weather-strip doors and window sills
• Reduce heat up to 80-percent with window covers or awnings
• Keep your storm windows up year-round

Visit the FEMA website to learn about heat stroke first aid and helpful tips for staying cool. To track the state’s weather extremes, go to the National Weather Service’s climate records page.