Stay Inside Or Come Here To Stay Cool: City Warns Seniors

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Officials are warning that rising temperatures, high humidity and elevated ozone can be a recipe for a public health crisis.

New Rochelle is offering locations where senior citizens and those most at risk can escape the brutal weather, but organizers say that, if possible, staying home in the air conditioning is the safest way to ride out the extreme conditions.

The Hugh A. Doyle Senior Center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for seniors in need of a safe place to go. The center is located at 94 Davis Ave. There will be a full range of social, educational and recreational activities and, perhaps most important, air conditioning available at the site.

Both New Rochelle Public Library locations will open the doors for those needing a break from the weather conditions.

The Main Library is now open on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Huguenot Children’s Library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the children's library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Huguenot will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hudson Park Beach is also open for swimming during the budding heatwave. Beach entrance is free. Parking is $5.00 but free for New Rochelle Parks Passport holders. Parks Passports are $40 annually for adult residents ages 16-61 and $40 for five years for senior residents ages 62 and up.

While the city is providing cooling shelters during the hottest parts of the day, officials are reminding Westchester residents to keep a few common sense safety guidelines in mind during the extreme heat.

“Pace yourself — don’t overdo it in the heat,” County Executive George Latimer said. “If you spend a lot of time outdoors, take breaks in an air-conditioned place and drink lots of water. And during a heat wave, remember to always check in on your elderly or ailing neighbors.”

Sherlita Amler, MD, Westchester County Commissioner of Health, said in a statement that people who are most vulnerable to adverse effects from the heat include the very young, seniors, people who are obese and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or lung conditions.

“Heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” Amler said. “High humidity, chronic health conditions and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke.”