Graduates battle hot weather

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- With hot weather comes health risks and if you're not careful, you could end up in the hospital.

Across the state, folks have been finding all sorts of ways to stay cool.

The heat posed a problem for graduation ceremonies around the state Wednesday.

English author Henry James said "Summer afternoon, summer afternoon, to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

Of course, James never had to sit at a Conard High School graduation in 95 plus degree heat.

"I told my daughter I don't think I'm going to be able to go because if it's going to be humid, hot, I'm not going to be able to attend," said Bertha Ward.

Welcome to summer 2012, with record breaking heat blanketing the state.

The power grid held up and it seems folks didn't do too badly themselves.

"This is what I've been looking for," said Jessica Bridgeforth, "what we've been looking for the entire winter season, so this is great!"

There were the traditional ways to beat the heat, splash pads, pools that stayed opened later than normal or a quiet cooling center, which also provided some quality family time for a Hartford woman and her granddaughter.

"At home she's usually lonely, so we usually come here," said Karina DaSilva.

Cooling centers, pools, and splash pads will all serve as an oasis for yet another round of heat Thursday.

New England summers are fleeting at best and on even oppressive days like Wednesday, perhaps we should follow Henry David Thoreau's advice that "one must maintain a little bit of summer, in the middle of winter."