NYC extreme heat conditions continue. Temperature forecasts for Sunday are 96 degrees with a heat index of 109 degrees.
BEAT THE HEAT AT COOLING CENTERS
To help New Yorkers beat the heat, New York City Cooling Centers are open throughout the five boroughs through Sunday, July 21. Cooling Centers are air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, community centers and senior centers that are open to the public during heat emergencies. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the NYC Cooling Center Finder at NYC.gov/beattheheat.
The City urges New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk from the heat. People at risk are those who do not have access to air conditioning and:
- Have chronic medical, mental health, cognitive or developmental conditions. Take certain medicines that can affect body temperature.
- Have limited mobility or are unable to leave their homes.
- Are obese.
- Misuse alcohol or drugs.
Some New Yorkers are at greater risk when it is hot than others. Older adults are more likely than younger New Yorkers to have some combination of the risk factors described above. In addition, as people get older, their ability to maintain a safe body temperature declines, resulting in an increased risk for heat-related illness.
CHECK ON THOSE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE HEAT:
- In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after exposure to heat in homes without air conditioners. Air conditioning is the best way to stay safe and healthy when it is hot outside. Encourage at-risk New Yorkers to use air conditioning. Help them get to an air-conditioned place, even if for a few hours, if they cannot stay cool at home. Make sure they are drinking plenty of water.
- Get to know your neighbors. During extreme heat, call or visit at-risk neighbors, friends and family, such as older adults and anyone with a pre-existing medical condition. This small but crucial gesture can help ensure that we all have a safe and healthy summer.
- During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert, initiating enhanced outreach efforts. During Code Red periods, shelter is available system-wide to accommodate anyone who is reasonably believed to be homeless. Homeless individuals experiencing heat-related discomfort are also able to access the designated cooling area at any shelter; and transportation to cooling centers is available via DSS outreach teams, who are out 24/7/365, checking on and engaging vulnerable clients with greater frequency.
- The Parks department is extending general swim hours to 8 p.m. at all outdoor Olympic and Intermediate pools Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21. City beach hours are also extended until 7 p.m. Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21. Parks has more than 600 spray showers, which will remain available until sundown, or later if actively in use by the public. Free SPF 30 sunscreen is available at all City pools and beaches.
KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS:
Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has:
- Hot dry skin.
- Trouble breathing.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Confusion, disorientation, or dizziness.
- Nausea and vomiting
If you or someone you know feels weak or faint, go to a cool place and drink water. If there is no improvement, call a doctor or 911.
HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE HEAT:
- Go to an air-conditioned location, even if for a few hours.
- Stay out of the sun and avoid extreme temperature changes.
- Check on your neighbors during a heat wave, especially if they are seniors, young children, and people with disabilities and access and functional needs.
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
- Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Those on fluid-restricted diets or taking diuretics should first speak with their doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
- Eat small, frequent meals.
- Cool down with a cool bath or shower.
- Protect your pets and service animals when extreme heat strikes:
- Never leave pets in the car. Temperatures rise quickly even with the windows down and can be deadly for your pet. Call 911 if you see a pet or child in a hot car.
- Be sure your pets have access to plenty of water, especially when it is hot.
- Make sure your pet has plenty of shady places to go when outdoors.
- Be sure your pet or service animal has plenty of food and water.
- Participate in activities that will keep you cool, such as going to the movies, shopping at a mall, or swimming at a pool or beach. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. The NYC Parks Department has free swimming lessons for kids and adults. Visit here for more information on pool and water safety.
- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens and, in apartments where children live, window guards. Window guards can prevent children from falling out of a window and suffering serious injuries or even death. Screens keep mosquitoes that can spread West Nile Virus out of your home and keep cats from falling out of windows.
- Never leave your children or pets in the vehicle, even for a few minutes.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing when inside without air conditioning or outside.
- Remember: drink water, rest, and locate shade if you are working outdoors or if your work is strenuous. Drink water every 15 minutes even if you are not thirsty, rest in the shade, and watch out for others on your team. Your employer is required to provide water, rest, and shade when work is being done during extreme heat.