TsehaiNY.com Staff
Published June 11th, 2008
With the weather scorching at 100 degrees, some schools were
forced to close early this week. Commuting was anything but fun as some trains had no or minimal air
conditioning. Outside, children took to
fire hydrants, finding relief in the cool water as they splashed about. In
New
York City
, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
opened cooling centers in all five boroughs. To locate a cooling center near you, call 311 (TTY: 212-504-4115) or log
onto OEM's
website.
New Jersey
also opened its cooling centers. Cooling centers are open to the public and are
air-conditioned. While it is common to
feel helpless and overwhelmed during a heat wave, there are some things that
you can do to overcome it.
Here are some helpful tips listed on OEM’s website to beat the heat!
- If
possible, stay out of the sun. When
in the sun, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect your
face and head.
- Use
an air conditioner if you have one. Set the thermostat no lower than 78
degrees.
- If
you do not have an air conditioner, keep rooms well-ventilated
with open windows and fans. Consider going to a public pool,
air-conditioned store, mall, movie theater, or cooling center.
- Fans
work best at night, when they can bring in cooler air from outside.
- Make
a special effort to check on your neighbors during a heat wave, especially
if they are seniors, young children, and people with special needs. Many older New Yorkers live alone and
could suffer unnecessarily in the heat because they are isolated from
friends and family.
- Seniors
and others who may be sensitive to extreme heat should contact friends,
neighbors, or relatives at least twice a day during a heat wave.
- Drink
fluids – particularly water – even if you do not feel thirsty. * Avoid beverages containing alcohol,
caffeine, or high amounts of sugar.
- Wear
lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing that covers as much of your
skin as possible.
- Never
leave children, pets, or those who require special care in a parked car
during periods of intense summer heat.
- Avoid
strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours – 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. If you must engage in
strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, usually in
the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
- Cool
showers or baths may be helpful, but avoid extreme temperature changes.
Never take a shower immediately after becoming overheated – extreme
temperature changes may make you ill, nauseated, or dizzy.
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