With high heat and humidity, it’s going to feel like the Devil’s Anvil for the next two days in New Rochelle – be prepared!
Right on cue, summer will arrive with a heat wave expected to send temperatures into the high nineties. The City of New Rochelle, Westchester County and Con Edison have issued the following statements:
Cooling Center to Open for Seniors Seeking Relief
Westchester County Health Department Issues Heat Advisory For Wednesday & Thursday
As Temperatures Rise, Con Edison Reminds Customers To Be Cool About The Heat
To offer relief from the oppressive heat predicted for tomorrow and Thursday, the Hugh Doyle Senior Center on 94 Davis Avenue will offer extended hours as a Cooling Center on Wednesday, June 20 and Thursday, June 12 from 8 AM – 6 PM. The New Rochelle Public Library will also be open Wednesday 10 AM-6PM and Thursday 9AM- 8PM.
When summer temperatures rise, residents are reminded to avoid strenuous activity, especially outdoors; dress in light color clothing; drink lots of water and eat light meals with fruits and vegetables. For further information on the cooling center, contact the Hugh Doyle Senior Center at 235-2363.
The Hugh Doyle Senior Center is located at 94 Davis Avenue and provides a full range of social, educational and recreational activities for seniors. Classes are offered in arts & crafts, ceramics, painting, sewing, dancing, gardening, quilting, sculpting, Tai Chi, exercise and choral singing. Games include card playing, bingo and pool. Professional speakers lecture on various topics including, health, consumerism, and nutrition. In addition, the center offers free, comprehensive services for New Rochelle residents, and their families. To find out more call the Center at 914-235-2363 from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are accepted and welcomed.
Westchester County Health Department Issues Heat Advisory For Wednesday & Thursday
With hot and humid weather forecast for the next two days, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. As temperatures rise tomorrow, residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids, and take precautions against suffering heat-related illness.
Heat stroke is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.
“Heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” said Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County commissioner of health. “The elderly, young children and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung conditions need to be especially careful to avoid heat-related illnesses. High humidity and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke,” she added.
The Health Department recommends the following preventive measures against heat-related illnesses:
Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.
Do not drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar – these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Stay indoors, ideally, in an air-conditioned place. If your house or apartment isn’t air-conditioned, try spending a few hours at a shopping mall, public library or even the grocery store. A few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
Take a cool shower or bath and reduce or eliminate strenuous activities during the hottest time of day.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
NEVER leave anyone – a person or animal – in a closed, parked vehicle. This is life threatening.
Neighbors should check on elderly residents to make sure they are safe.
Bring pets inside and be sure to provide them with plenty of water.
Elevated heat and humidity can also lead to unhealthy ozone levels. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forecasts daily ozone conditions on its website, HYPERLINK “http://www.dec.ny.gov” http://www.dec.ny.gov, for the New York Metropolitan area, which includes Westchester County. Air quality updates are also provided daily on the New York State Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-535-1345.
Ozone is a gas produced by the action of sunlight on organic air contaminants from automobile exhausts and other sources. Significant exposure to ozone in the air has been linked with adverse health effects. These may include nose and throat irritation, respiratory symptoms, and decreases in lung function.
People experiencing such symptoms should speak with a health care provider. Those who may be especially sensitive to the effects of ozone exposure include the very young, those who exercise outdoors or are involved in strenuous outdoor work, and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma. When ozone levels are elevated, the Westchester County Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous physical activity outdoors to reduce the risk of adverse effects.
For more information and tips for safety during hot weather, residents should visit the Health Department’s website.
As Temperatures Rise, Con Edison Reminds Customers To Be Cool About The Heat
NEW YORK – With near-100-degree temperatures and higher humidity forecasted for the next two days, Con Edison is offering
energy-savings tips to help customers save money while staying cool.
Customers can report power interruptions or service problems, view service restoration information and the outage map online at www.conEd.com, as well as on their mobile device. They also may call 1-800-75-CONED promptly if they are experiencing any service difficulties.
Check out this video of our crews in action.
In addition, Con Edison has invested $1.2 billion for system improvements for 2012. This year’s electric delivery improvements included $928 million for cables, transformers, and network protectors; $34 million on transmission upgrades; and $208 million on new substation installations and related equipment http://www.coned.com/summerprep.
The company also reminds customers that $25 rebates are available for customers who invest in cost-cutting Energy Star-rated room air conditioners. Applications for the $25 rebate can be downloaded at www.coned.com/roomacrebates.
Some steps to stay cool include:
Making sure air conditioner filters are clean for peak efficiency;
· Setting thermostats no lower than 78 degrees. Each degree lower increases cooling costs by 6 percent;
· Closing off the rooms not being used if you have a room air-conditioner; if you have central air, block the vents in unused or vacant rooms;
· Turning off lights and other appliances, using a timer to turn them on as necessary;
· Running appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s generally cooler. Another alternative: using a microwave to cook, or a barbecue outside, if possible.
· Accepting Con Edison’s offer of a free programmable thermostat if you have central air conditioning. Program the thermostat manually or from the Internet. Turning off your air conditioner when you’re not there beats leaving it on all the time, and programming it instead to turn on before you return is a wise way to save on summer electric bills. To learn more about Con Edison’s free programmable thermostat, call 1-866-521-8600 or visit www.conEd.com/cool.
Energy-savings tips are also available on Facebook at Power of Green, on Twitter @ConEdLiz and @ConEdSara and by downloading the company’s Power of Green iPhone app.
Con Edison’s Green Team continues to offer a host of energy-savings programs for homes and businesses. Customers can take steps to reduce energy usage this summer with rebates and incentives now available for energy-efficient appliances and cooling systems in their homes and businesses. To learn more or enroll, go to www.coned.com/GreenTeam or call 1-877-870-6118.