Extreme Heat Readiness: Cooling Centers In Rhode Island

High temperatures and humidity are expected to slam Southern New England and much of the country over the next few days, causing real-feel temperatures well over 100 degrees. When it comes to extreme heat, it's important to plan ahead to prevent heat-related illnesses and check in on elderly neighbors and family, who are more susceptible. To combat the extreme temperatures, cooling centers have been set up around the state.

Heat-Related Illness

To prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke, the Rhode Island Department of Health encourages residents to take the following steps:

• Drink more fluids than usual, and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink more fluids.
• Avoid alcohol or liquids that contain high amounts of sugar.
• Check on friends and neighbors, particularly those who are caring for young children and those who are elderly.
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.
• Stay out of the sun. Find a shaded area where you can sit and relax, particularly during the hottest parts of the day.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Add a hat if you must be outside.
• Limit outdoor activities, especially at mid-day. If you exercise outdoors, move your workout to a morning or evening time, take it indoors to an air-conditioned environment, or try swimming, which is a great summer exercise.
• If you work outside, wear sunscreen and re-apply frequently, pace your activity, stay hydrated and check on co-workers.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down, particularly if you're unable to be in an air-conditioned location.
• Avoid turning on your oven, if possible. It will make your house hotter.
• Never leave young children or pets in parked cars, even with the windows down.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale or clammy skin, a faint or weak pulse, nausea or vomiting and fainting. To treat symptoms of heat exhaustion, move the person to a cooler area and loosen clothing. Have them sip water and apply cool, wet cloths to help cool them down. Seek medical attention if they begin to vomit, symptoms don't go away for more than an hour or if symptoms get worse.

Heat stroke, meanwhile, is a more serious condition. Symptoms include a high body temperature of 103 degrees or more, skin that is hot, dry, red or moist, rapid pulse, confusion and loss of consciousness. If someone is suffering from heat stroke, call 911 immediately and then move the person to a cooler area and apply cold cloths or put the person in a cool bath to lower their body temperature.

Cooling Centers

A full list of cooling centers can be found on the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency's website. Here's where to find them across Rhode Island.

Barrington:

Barrington Public Library: 281 County Rd

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Barrington Public Safety Building: 100 Federal Rd; 24/7

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 4:30 PM

Bristol:

Roger's Free Library: 525 Hope St

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Quinta-Gamelin Recreation Center: 101 Asylum Rd

• Mon-Fri 8 AM - 6 PM

Burrillville:

Jesse Smith Library: 100 Tinkham Lane

• Mon - Wed: 10 AM - 8:30 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM – 8:30 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 2 PM

Charlestown:

Cross' Mills Public Library: 4417 Old Post Rd

• Mon: 1 PM – 8 PM
• Tues: 9 AM - 1 PM
• Wed: 9 AM - 6 PM
• Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 3 PM

Coventry:

Coventry Public Library: 1672 Flat River Rd

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 8 PM
• Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM

Cranston:

Arlington Library: 1064 Cranston St

• Mon - Wed: 10 AM - 4: 30 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 4:30 PM

Auburn Library: 396 Pontiac Ave

• Mon - Wed: 10 AM - 6 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 6 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

Central Library: 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd

• Mon - Wed: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Thurs - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Knightsville Library: 1847 Cranston St

• Mon: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Tues - Wed: 11 AM - 6 PM
• Fri: 11 AM - 5 PM

Oaklawn Library: 230 Wilbur Avenue

• Tues & Wed: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Fri & Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

William Hall Library: 1825 Broad St

• Mon & Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Tues & Wed: 12 PM - 8 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

Cumberland:

Cumberland Public Library: 1464 Diamond Hill Rd

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Fri 9 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM

East Greenwich:

East Greenwich Police Station Community Room: 176 1st Ave; 24/7
Swift Community Center: 121 Pierce St

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4 PM

East Providence:

Riverside Library: 475 Bullocks Point Ave

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM

Senior Center: 600 Waterman Ave

• Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4 PM

Weaver Library: 41 Grove Ave

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Exeter:

Exeter Library: 773 Ten Rod Rd

• Tues - Thurs: 10 AM – 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM

Foster:

Foster Public Library: 184 Howard Hill Rd

• Tues - Thurs: 12 PM - 6 PM
• Fri: 12 PM - 6 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 2 PM

Tyler Free Library: 81A Moosup Valley Rd

• Mon: 2 PM - 8 PM
• Wed: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 1 PM - 5 PM

Glocester:

Glocester Manton Library: 1137 Putnam Pike

• Mon - Wed: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

Glocester Senior Center: 1210 Putnam Pike

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 4 PM

Harmony Library: 195 Putnam Pike

• Mon - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

Glocester Town Hall: 1145 Putnam Pike

• ***Will be opened as needed, hours to be determined. This is not a standing Cooling Center. Regular hours Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4:30 PM***

Hopkinton:

Ashaway Free Library: 15 Knight St, Ashaway

• Mon: 10 AM – 5 PM
• Tues: 4 PM - 8 PM
• Wed: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Thurs: 4 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM

Hopkinton Town Hall: 1 Town House Rd

• 9 AM – 4 PM (Wed - Fri)

Johnston:

Johnston Public Library: 1 Memorial Ave

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 8 PM
• Fri: 9 AM - 6 PM

Middletown:

Middletown Library: 708 W. Main Rd

• Mon - Thurs: 9:30 AM – 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9:30 AM - 5 PM

Senior Center: 650 Green End Ave

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 4 PM

Town Hall: 350 E. Main Rd

• Mon - Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM

Narragansett:

Narragansett Library: 35 Kingstown Rd

• Mon - Thurs: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM
• Fri: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
• Sat: 9:30 AM - 5 PM (Sept - May)
• Sat: 9:30 AM - 2 PM (May - Aug)
• Sun: 12 PM - 4 PM (Late Sept - April)

Newport:

Donovan Manor: 19 Chapel St

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Florence Gray Community Center: 1 Shimoda Way

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Newport Public Library: 300 Spring St

• Mon: 12 AM - 8:30 PM
• Tues - Thurs: 9 AM - 8:30 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

New Shoreham (Block Island):

Island Free Library: 9 Dodge St

• Tues: 11 AM - 7 PM
• Wed - Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

North Kingstown:

Senior Center: 44 Beach St

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

North Kingstown Library: 100 Boone St

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM - 8:30 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

North Providence:

Salvatore Mancini Resource & Activity Center: 2 Atlantic Blvd

• Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 4 PM

Pawtucket:

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center: 175 Main St

• Mon - Sun: 10 AM – 4 PM

Leon Mathieu Senior Center: 420 Main St

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4 PM

Pawtucket Police Department: 121 Roosevelt Ave; 24/7
Pawtucket Public Library: 13 Summer St

• Mon - Sat: 9 AM – 4:45 PM

Portsmouth:

Portsmouth Multi-Purpose Senior Center: 110 Bristol Ferry Rd

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 4 PM

Providence:

Crossroads RI: 160 Broadway Street

• Sun - Sat: 24 hrs / 7 days a week

Davinci Center for Community Progress: 470 Charles Street

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Federal Hill House: 9 Courtland Street

• Mon - Fri: 9 AM – 6 PM

Fox Point Library: 90 Ives St

• Mon: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Tues: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Wed - Fri: 1 PM – 6 PM

Mt. Pleasant Library: 315 Academy Ave

• Mon - Tues: 1 PM - 9 PM
• Wed: 12 PM – 6 PM
• Thurs: 9:30 AM - 6 PM
• Fri - Sat: 1 PM - 6 PM

Olneyville Library: 1 Olneyville Square

• Mon: 1 PM - 6 PM
• Tues: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Wed: 1 PM – 8 PM
• Thurs - Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM

Providence Public Library: 150 Empire Street

• Mon: 12 PM - 8:30 PM
• Tues: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
• Wed - Fri:: 1 PM – 6 PM

Providence Rescue Mission: 627 Cranston Street #1

• Thur: 24 hrs
• Fri: 24 hrs
• Sat: 24 hrs

Rochambeau Library: 708 Hope St

• Mon: 1 PM - 8:45 PM
• Tues - Wed: 9:30 AM – 5:45 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM - 8:45 PM
• Fri -Sat: 1 PM - 5:45 PM

Silver Lake Annex Multi-Purpose Community Center: 529 Plainfield Street

• Mon - Fri: 6:30 AM – 5 PM

Smith Hill Library: 31 Candance Ave

• Mon - Tues: 1 PM - 6 PM
• Wed: 9 AM – 8 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM - 5:30 PM
• Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM

South Providence Library: 441 Prairie Ave

• Mon: 1 PM - 6 PM
• Tues: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Wed: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
• Thurs - Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM

Wanskuck Library: 233 Veazie St

• Mon: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Tues - Wed: 1 PM – 6 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 1 PM - 6 PM

Washington Park Library: 1316 Broad St

• Mon: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Tues - Wed: 1 PM – 6 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 1 Pm - 6 PM

West End Community Center: 109 Bucklin Street

• Mon - Fri: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Richmond:

Clark Memorial Library: 7 Pinehurst Dr, Carolina

• Mon - Tues: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Wed: 10 AM – 8 PM
• Thurs: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 2 PM

Scituate:

Chopmist Hill Senior Center: 1315 Chopmist Hill Rd

• Wed - Fri: 9:30 AM – 3 PM

Hope Library: 374 North Rd

• Mon: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Tues - Thurs: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 2 PM

North Scituate Library: 606 West Greenville Rd

• Mon: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Tues: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Wed: 1 PM - 8 PM
• Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

Smithfield:

East Smithfield Public Library: 50 Esmond St

• Mon - Tues: 10 AM - 9 PM
• Wed: 10 AM - 7 PM
• Thurs: 10 AM - 9 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 7 PM

Greenville Public Library: 573 Putnam Pike

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM
• Sun: 1 PM - 5 PM

Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink: 109 Pleasant View Ave

• Wed - Thurs: 9 AM – 10 PM

South Kingstown:

Kingston Free Library: 2605 Kingstown Rd

• Mon - Tues: 10 AM - 6 PM
• Wed: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Thurs: 12 PM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 12 PM

Neighborhood Guild: 325 Columbia St

• Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 8:30 PM

Peace Dale Library: 1057 Kingstown Rd

• Mon: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Tues - Thurs: 9 AM - 6 PM
• Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 1 PM

Senior Center: 25 St. Dominic Rd

• Mon - Fri: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Tiverton:

Tiverton Public Library: 34 Roosevelt Dr

• Mon - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

Warren:

Andreozzi Hall: 20 Libby Ln

• Mon - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

George Hail Free Library: 530 Main St

• Mon - Thurs: 10 AM - 8 PM
• Fri: 10 AM - 5 PM
• Sat: 10 AM - 3 PM

Warwick:

Pilgrim Senior Center: 27 Pilgrim Parkway

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Warwick Public Library: 600 Sandy Ln

• Mon - Thurs: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Fri - Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM

Westerly:

Westerly Public Library: 44 Broad St

• Mon - Wed: 9 AM - 8 PM
• Thurs - Fri: 9 Am - 6 PM
• Sat: 9 AM - 4 PM

West Greenwich:

West Greenwich Library: 274 Victory Highway

• Mon: 10 AM - 4 PM
• Tues - Thurs: 10 AM – 8 PM
• Fri - Sat: 10 AM - 4 PM

West Warwick:

West Warwick Public Library: 1043 Main St

• Mon - Wed: 9:00 AM - 9 PM
• Thurs: 9:00 AM - 5PM
• Fri: 9:00 AM - 1 PM

West Warwick Youth/Police Annex: 40 Factory St

• Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4 PM

Woonsocket:

Woonsocket Senior Center: 84 Social St

• Wed - Thurs: 7:30 AM - 3 PM

Woonsocket Library: 303 Clinton St

• Mon: 9 AM - 9 PM
• Tues: 9 AM - 5 PM
• Wed - Thurs: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM