FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR- 293-05 July 26, 2005 MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF COOLING CENTERS AND PROVIDES TIPS TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno today announced the opening of cooling centers throughout all five boroughs to give New Yorkers relief from the extreme summer heat. Cooling centers are facilities that are air-conditioned and open to the public. Many senior and community centers serve as cooling centers. The heat index in the City is likely to reach 100 degrees today. New Yorkers can call 311 or log on to www.nyc.gov to find the nearest cooling center or public pool. "During a scorching hot and humid day, New Yorkers should limit their outdoor activity as much as possible and try to stay cool and drink plenty of liquids," said Mayor Bloomberg. "In addition, New Yorkers should check on their elderly neighbors, relatives, and friends and see if they can help with shopping, errands or other tasks. I urge all New Yorkers to conserve energy and take advantage of these cooling centers located throughout the five boroughs as well as our free outdoor pools and beaches." The Mayor urged New Yorkers planning to spend time outdoors to be mindful of the heat and heed the following tips to stay safe:
Energy Conservation and Power Outages During periods of hot and humid weather, regional electricity use rises. Residents should conserve energy to help prevent power disruptions.
Fire Hydrants and Spray Caps Opening fire hydrants without spray caps is wasteful and dangerous. Illegally opened hydrants can lower water pressure, which can cause problems at hospitals and other medical facilities and hinder fire-fighting by reducing the flow of water to hoses and pumps. Children can also be at serious risk, because the powerful force of an open hydrant without a spray cap can push them into oncoming traffic. Call 311 to report an open hydrant. Hydrants can be opened legally if equipped with a City-approved spray cap. One illegally opened hydrant wastes up to 1,000 gallons of water per minute, while a hydrant with a spray cap only puts out around 25 gallons per minute. Spray caps can be obtained by an adult 18 or over, free of charge, at local firehouses. Learn more about how to stay cool all summer long with OEM's Ready New York: Beat the Heat guide. For more information about heat-related hazards and the Ready New York campaign, visit NYC.gov/oem or call 311. MEDIA CONTACT: Edward Skyler/Robert Lawson (212) 788-2958 Jarrod Bernstein (Office of Emergency Management) (718) 422-4888 |
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