We’re Getting There, Away From The Heat

The heat wave continues today — my widget says it’s 97 — and, sadly, it appears a 23-year-old man has died due to it. NBC 10 reports that the Montgomery County man, who has cerebral palsy, was helped into a van in the morning and then left there all day due to a miscommunication.

I know, this is a break from the usual puppy/headline/typo frenzy here — by the way, the two-faced kitten is missing! — but I needed that intro to get to the following. At the end of the sad article, there’s a little note about staying safe.

Here’s the advice Joan Bland, with the Philadelphia Corporation For Aging, gave seniors:

For senior citizens who don’t have air conditioning, Bland suggested using SEPTA.

That’s right, seniors! Don’t go to the library! Don’t go to a mall! No, you should walk to the bus stop and ride the 88 or the 15 around all day! It’s free! Bring your knitting!

If the best thing we can do for people without air conditioning is to tell them to ride a SEPTA bus or train around all day, then we’ve failed as a society. Oh, no wait, we have a Heatline (Word .doc), where seniors can call 215-765-9040 and be told to ride the bus around all day. And, as the press release notes, “IT IS NOT A FAN OR AIR CONDITIONER DISTRIBUTION SITE.” (Emphasis theirs.)

I don’t mean to pick on PCA. And yeah, sure, people should be smart enough to know to find a cool place when it’s almost 100 degrees outside. But, I mean, who’s going to ride SEPTA around all day simply because it’s hot? Can’t we open a movie theater and show movies from the 1940s or something to make sure people stay cool? Okay, that’s just a random suggestion my friend just told me, but I think it’d be a bit more fun than riding around SEPTA all day.

Actually, they should probably just let seniors swim in Swann Fountain. Or maybe they can let them ride with the guy driving around Logan Square trying to stop people from swimming! Ta da!

Stay cool, kids. And adults.

Death Of 23-Year-Old Man May Have Been Heat Related [NBC 10]
Two-Faced Kitten Missing From Home [AP/NBC 10]
Earlier today: Do You Believe In Miracles?
Photo via surplusparts, licensed with Creative Commons