Cooling Center to Open for Seniors Seeking Relief
Additional hours added Monday, July 15th – Friday, July 19th; New Rochelle Public Library also Open and Lincoln Pool Offers Extended Hours Monday, July 15th – Friday, July 19th

To offer relief from the oppressive heat predicted for this week, the Hugh Doyle Senior Center on 94 Davis Avenue will be open with extended hours as a Cooling Center until 6:00 PM on Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19. As recommended by Westchester County Health Department, seniors are encouraged to remain in their air conditioned housing until this heat advisory is lifted.

Lincoln Pool hours will be extended until 7PM for the remainder of this week as weather conditions permit (Seasonal Lincoln Pool passes required and can be purchased daily M-F; 8:30AM-4:30PM at City Hall Parks & Recreation Office). Hudson Park beaches will remain open as weather permits until 6pm daily.

The New Rochelle Public Library will also be open this week with the following schedule:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9AM to 8 PM; Wednesday 10 AM to 6 PM; Friday 9AM to 5PM; and Saturday 10AM to 2PM.

With a heat advisory in effect for Westchester County, 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. The cautions contained in the County release follow below.

For further information on the Cooling Center, contact the Hugh Doyle Senior Center at 235-2363 or the New Rochelle Public Library at 632-7878

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.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES HEAT ADVISORY

With hot and humid weather forecast for this week, the Westchester County Health Department is issuing a heat advisory. As temperatures rise, residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, uncaffeinated beverages, and take precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

Heat stroke is a serious and life-threatening condition that claims many lives nationwide each year. Symptoms include hot, red, 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 immediately cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.

While less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion also poses concerns. Seniors, children up to age four, people who are overweight or who have high blood pressure and those who work in hot environments are most at risk. Signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin. People suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved out of the sun and have cool, wet cloths applied to their skin.

Health Department recommendations to prevent heat-related illnesses:
• Drink two to four glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you aren’t thirsty.
• Limit any strenuous activity and exercise, especially during the sun's peak hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Take frequent breaks and drink lots of water if you work outside.
• Exercise when it is cooler, during early morning hours or in the evening.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks. These cause you to lose more body fluid.
• 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, movie theater or supermarket. 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 and sunglasses and by using a broad spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• NEVER leave anyone - a person or animal - in a closed, parked vehicle. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can quickly exceed 140º F which is life-threatening.
• Neighbors should check on elderly neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• Bring pets inside and be sure to provide them with plenty of water.

For more information visit the County Health Department at www.westchestergov.com/health
or Facebook www.facebook.com/wchealthdept and Twitter @wchealthdept.

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