City Of Peekskill: City Opens Cooling Center

Press release from the City of Peekskill:

June 28, 2021 - 10:23am

The City of Peekskill has activated its cooling center policy as a result of an expected three days of temperatures over 90 F.

The Neighborhood Center dining room will be open from noon - 6 PM, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with free WiFi for anyone seeking an air conditioned environment. The library is open as well, normal hours, and the City Office of Emergency Management will be checking that the senior apartment building managers are taking appropriate measures as well.

Please review the information below to protect your health and your family and neighbors.

Heat-related illness is becoming an important public health issue. Many environmental factors are expected to increase the number of heat waves, so it is important to be informed and prepared. The combination of heat, people at risk and lack of protective factors can create serious health effects, even death.

Who is at risk:

• Seniors, and young children: Due to lack of the body's ability to regulate temperature
• People who are not acclimatized (when your body has not adapted to the climate

                                *First heat wave is the hardest

                                *Takes 3- 12 days to adjust

• People taking certain medications such as anti-Parkinson medication and antidepressants. *
• People with chronic illness including cardiac and respiratory conditions, dementia or mental illness

Lack of protective factors:

Heat becomes especially difficult for people at risk when there is a "lack of protective factors". These include:

• No access to air conditioning
• Poor fluid intake (need a minimum of 6-8 glasses, 250 ml = 1 glass)
• Use of caffeine-containing drinks (including coffee, tea, colas)
• Drinking alcohol (as it is dehydrating)
• Living on the third floor or higher
•  Social isolation

Remember that anyone can suffer from heat related illness, especially early in the season when people are not yet acclimatized.

The more protective factors you have, the less likely you are to suffer from a heat-related illness.

A lack of protective factors is the most likely reason to suffer from dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

To beat the heat, be sure to protect yourself and others:

• Drink plenty of water
• Stay out of the sun and heat
• Find a cool place to spend the day, i.e. libraries, community centers or shopping malls
• Avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors
• Check in on neighbors and friends who are particularly vulnerable

Get help from a friend or seek medical attention if you been in the heat and have these signs:

• Rapid breathing
• Weakness, dizziness or fainting
• More tiredness than usual
• Headache
• Confusion
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea or vomiting

*Consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are concerned about any medication you are taking.

You can help someone with heat illness by doing these things:

Call for help

Take extra clothing off the person

Cool the person with lukewarm water, by sponging or bathing

Move the person to a cooler place

Give the person sips of cool water, not ice cold water.

This press release was produced by the City of Peekskill. The views expressed here are the author’s own.