Heat-Wave Check-Ins: Building a Hot-Weather Buddy List

Many homes in Boston and across New England were built with winter in mind: thick walls, small windows, top-floor apartments that trap warmth. That design works well in January. During a summer heat wave, those same buildings can stay dangerously hot long after sunset. Older adults, people living alone, people with chronic health conditions, infants and anyone without air conditioning can be at real risk. One of the most effective things neighbors can do is simple: check on each other. A hot-weather buddy list turns good intentions into a plan.

Why Check-Ins Matter

Heat illness can come on gradually, and the people most affected sometimes do not notice their own symptoms. Someone who is isolated may not call for help, may not want to “bother” anyone, or may not realize how hot their apartment has become. A friendly knock, call or text can catch a problem early. It also reminds people that they are not alone.

Step 1: Build Your List Before It Gets Hot

The best time to organize is early June, before the first heat advisory. Start small, with your building or a few houses on your street.

• Ask, do not assume. Some older neighbors are healthy and independent; some younger neighbors have conditions that make heat dangerous. Invite anyone who wants a check-in to opt in.
• Collect basics with permission: name, phone number, best way to reach them, and an emergency contact if they are willing to share one.
• Ask about preferences: phone call, text or knock on the door? Morning or afternoon?
• Keep information private. Store it securely and share only with the small group doing check-ins.

Sample script for asking: “A few of us on the street are setting up quick check-ins during heat waves this summer. Would you like someone to give you a call on really hot days? It’s no trouble at all.”

Step 2: Pair Up Buddies

Match each person who wants check-ins with at least one buddy, ideally two, so someone is always available even during vacations. Good buddies:

• Live close by
• Can commit to a quick check at least once a day during heat events
• Are comfortable calling for help if something seems wrong

Write down the pairings and share them with everyone in the group.

Step 3: Know When to Activate

Decide on a trigger so no one has to guess. Common choices include:

• When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory or excessive heat warning for your area
• When your city or town declares a heat emergency
• When the forecast calls for several hot days in a row, since heat builds up indoors over time

One organizer can send a simple group message: “Heat advisory starts tomorrow. Buddies, please check in once a day through Thursday.”

Step 4: What to Ask During a Check-In

A check-in can take two minutes. Keep it friendly and practical:

1. How are you feeling today?
2. Is your home comfortable, or is it getting very hot inside?
3. Do you have enough water and something easy to eat?
4. Is your fan or air conditioner working?
5. Do you need anything picked up, like groceries or a prescription?
6. Would you like help getting to a cooler place for a few hours?

Step 5: Recognize Warning Signs

Check-in volunteers are not medical providers, but knowing common warning signs helps you decide when to get help. Heat exhaustion can include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache or cool, clammy skin. Moving to a cooler place, loosening clothing and sipping water often helps, but if symptoms get worse or do not improve, seek medical care.

Call 911 right away if someone seems confused, is very hard to wake, has hot skin, has stopped making sense, faints or has a seizure. These can be signs of heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Stay with the person and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

Step 6: Share Simple Cooling Tips

Buddies can pass along common-sense ideas:

• Close blinds and curtains on sunny windows during the day.
• Open windows at night if it is cooler outside and safe to do so.
• Spend the hottest hours in the lowest, shadiest room.
• Take a cool shower or use damp cloths on the neck and wrists.
• Drink water regularly, unless a doctor has advised limiting fluids.
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing.
• Visit an air-conditioned public space, such as a library or a cooling center, during the hottest part of the day.

Remind people that fans move air but may not be enough when indoor temperatures get very high. Cooler spaces matter.

Step 7: Have a Backup Plan

• Keep a short list of nearby air-conditioned places and their hours.
• Know how to find out about cooling centers, for example by checking your city website, calling 311 in Boston or calling Mass 211.
• Line up one or two neighbors with cars who can offer rides.
• Agree on what happens if a buddy cannot reach their person: try again, knock, then contact the emergency contact. If there is serious concern, call 911 for a wellness check.

A One-Page Buddy List Template

• Neighbor’s name and address
• Phone and preferred contact method
• Best time to check in
• Primary buddy and backup buddy
• Emergency contact (optional, with permission)
• Notes the neighbor chooses to share, such as “no AC on third floor”

Keep It Going All Summer

Heat waves in New England can arrive in June and return in August. After each one, check in with your group: did anyone have trouble? Does anyone need a fan, a ride or a different plan next time? A buddy list that starts in June can become one of the strongest threads tying a street together, long after summer ends.