Greenwich Opens Cooling Centers In Response To Heatwave

GREENWICH, CT ? First Selectman Fred Camillo announced Monday that the town has opened several cooling centers in light of this week's heatwave.

Greenwich's libraries, the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, Town Hall and the Greenwich Public Safety Complex are available to any resident who needs a respite from the heat that's forecast to impact the region over the next week.

Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-90s this week with high levels of humidity through the weekend, with a threat of thunderstorms each day, according to the National Weather Service.

The town stressed that vulnerable residents are encouraged to pay special attention to the weather and utilize these cooling centers.

Cooling Centers

Greenwich Library, 101 W. Putnam Ave

• Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m
• Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m

Perrot Memorial Library, 90 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday & Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Sunday.)

Byram Shubert Library, 21 Mead Ave.

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday: Noon to 8 p.m. (Closed Sunday.)

Cos Cob Library, 5 Sinawoy Road, Cos Cob

• Monday: Noon to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Sunday.)

Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, 449 Pemberwick Road.

• Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Greenwich Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place

• Daily: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road

• Tuesday through Friday; and Monday, July 25: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Keep children and pets inside, except for brief stays outdoors. Always avoid direct sunlight exposure and give pets plenty of water to drink. Drink plenty of fluids regardless of your activity. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or those with large amounts of sugar and salt. Those who are on a restricted fluid intake should check with their physician.

Tips to stay cool

• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.
• Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself. The sun will also heat the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible to prevent sunburn.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors and use a buddy system when working in extreme heat. Exposure to heat can cloud judgment. If you work alone, you may not notice.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly and very young people. Give your body a chance to adjust to extreme temperature changes.