NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the air conditioned Bronxworks Morris Innovative Senior Center on July 7, to warn of the potential hazards during New York’s first heat wave of the summer, and to let seniors know about health risks during this time.
Senior citizens are the most vulnerable when it comes to extreme heat exposure. Particularly those with heart and respiratory difficulties, for heat holds the power to slow down major functions in the body.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people over the age of 65 are more likely to take prescription medicines, which “impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature or inhibit perspiration.”
Mayor De Blasio took it into his own hands to personally deliver the important information regarding heat to the senior citizens of NYC.
He informed them that there are 500 free “cooling centers” in the city that are open to the public, which can be located by calling 311. Also playgrounds will be keeping sprinklers on until dark and public pools will now stay open until 8 p.m.
Along with this information, he gave the following advice.
- Use air conditioning at approximately 78 degrees
Drink lots of water
Check on your neighbors (particularly any elderly neighbors)
Keep your pets safe
Stay in cool indoors as much as possible to avoid over exhaustion
