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Politics & Government

Tolland's Heating Up

The town posts tips and safety guidelines on its Web site to beat the heat.

Summer came early today in Tolland, with temperatures expected to hit a sweltering 92 degrees this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The town has posted heat safety guidelines for residents on the town’s Web site, but some residents are still a having a hard time staying cool.

“We spend time in our walk-in freezer,” J.P. Dillon, a cook at Tolland’s , said Wednesday afternoon.

Dillon and co-worker Seth Hazzard were cooking pizzas and grilling vegetables on the stovetop in the restaurant’s kitchen, which can easily reach 110°F in the summer heat.

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With the air conditioner blasting and a fan blowing in the corner, the men seemed accustomed to the heat, but Hazzard warned that hotter times were ahead.

“Wait until August,” he said. “Then it gets really bad.”

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Tolland resident Sharon Adams found refuge from the heat in the town library. While she has air conditioning in her home, she said she tries to run it as little as possible to keep the bills low while the temperature soars. She spent time Wednesday in cool places like the grocery store and library, a tip also found in the town’s online post, which recommends that those without air conditioning spend a few hours in cool places.

“Try to do things that aren’t so stressful today, “Adams wisely advised.

Crucial medical information and other helpful advice are located on the town’s Web site. Some of the tips include:

  • Drink lots of fluids, with the exception of alcoholic or sugary liquids, which can actually dry you out more quickly
  • Stay cool with air conditioning at home, or spend some time in malls or libraries to beat the heat
  •  Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
  • Make sure to never leave children unattended in parked cars and
  • Keep a close eye on young children and elderly adults, as they are often vulnerable to extreme heat

The town’s post also lists information about heat stroke, a dangerous condition in which the body can no longer regulate its temperature. Some of the symptoms of heat stroke to watch for are:

  • Very high body temperature (above 103°F)
  • Red, hot, and dry skin without sweating
  •  Rapid, strong pulse
  •  Headache
  •  Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Unconsciousness 

Seek immediately medical attention if you see someone with these symptoms and keep them in a shady, cool place while waiting for assistance. According to the town Web site, 300 people in 2001 alone were killed by extreme heat.

As of this afternoon, the town's Emergency Management Director said there is one cooling center on standby. No cooling centers will officially be opened except when such a need arises.

Tomorrow’s forecast gives little hope of relief; the National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the low to mid-nineties for most of the state. Fortunately, cooler weather will be here by the weekend. The NWS forecast for Friday looks much cooler, with temperatures in the sixties.

Editor's note: The town's emergency management director has the authority to open the town's cooling centers. The department was incorrectly identified in the original story. This change was made at 4:40 p.m. on June 9.

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