Hi Everyone,
Mindful of the high temperatures today, we wanted to provide you with some tips for beating the heat!
Blanchard Extended Hours
Due to the heat we are extending the hours that Blanchard Hall will be open to you. You will have onecard access to the space until tomorrow morning at 8am, at which point you must leave the space. Please note that housekeeping will begin cleaning in Blanchard at 6am. You are welcome to bring pillows, blankets, etc. You are still required to follow all policies related to social distancing , room capacities, and wearing a facial covering (so eating is still not allowed in the space).
While we are extending the hours for all students, we do ask that those of you in Creighton remain mindful that Safford residents do not have access to AC in their building, and so we ask that you give them priority with regards to spaces for the overnight.
Contact Public Safety at 413-538-2304 if you need immediate assistance, or to be connected with the Professional Staff on Call (as a reminder, the college is closed today so Residential Life is not answering the phone or emails).
Tips for Staying Cool
Here are some tips for keeping your space cool:
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The Cooling Power of H2O: Fill containers or bowls and soak your feet. Wet towels, cloths and even paper towels can have a cooling effect when worn on the shoulders or head. Take cool showers or baths. Rinsing off under a stream of tepid H2O brings down the core body temperature and rinses off sweat (ick) so you can hit the hay feeling cool and clean.Also consider using a spray bottle filled with cold water for refreshing spritzes throughout the day.
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Pamper Your Pulses: To chill out super-fast, apply ice packs or cold compresses to pulse points at the wrists, neck, elbows, groin, ankles, and behind the knees.
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Fans: Use box fans and ceiling fans to promote air circulation. Opening windows and using box fans to push hot air outdoors can function as an "exhaust" system and draw cooler evening air into your room. In the cooler evenings, open all windows and promote as much air circulation as possible. When the sun rises, close all doors and windows, making sure to close curtains and blinds as well, to keep the indoors cool for as long as possible. When the outside air cools to a lower temperature than inside (usually in the evenings or at night), open up the windows and turn on the fans again.
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Stay indoors with the shades lowered, limit physical activity.
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Your Bed: Dampen a sheet or towel in cool water and use it as a blanket. We recommend laying the damp sheets on top of a dry towel to avoid soaking the mattress.
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Hydrate: Drink a glass of water before bed. Tossing and turning and sweating at night can result in dehydration, so get some H20 in the tank beforehand (just eight ounces will do the trick). Remember to maintain an adequate level of hydration, which means you'll need to consume more water than you usually do when it's hot.
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Unplug and Turn Off: Eliminate extra sources of heat. Light bulbs (even environmentally-friendly CFLs) give off heat and can generate unnecessary heat, as can computers or appliances left running.