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Have a Healthy Summer

If you are visiting New York City this summer, you can learn more about services and information to keep you safe and healthy during your visit.

Where To Get Help

If you need help while visiting NYC, the following services are available:

  • 911: Call 911 for fire, police, or medical emergencies, including crimes in progress and hazardous conditions.
  • 311: Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK or text 311-629 for nonemergency services, such as where to find restrooms and drinking fountains.
  • 988: Call or text 988 or chat at nyc.gov/988 for free 24/7 support for mental health and substance use.

The NYC Health Map has services and products to help keep you safe and healthy this summer. You can find sexual health services, free safer sex products, and drug and alcohol services, among others.


NYC Health Map

Extreme Heat

Hot and humid weather is not just uncomfortable. Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather event in NYC.

Cooling Centers

New York City opens cooling centers when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory with a forecasted heat index of 95 degrees or higher for two or more days, or 100 degrees for any period of time. You can visit a cooling center for free.


NYC Cooling Centers

Drug or Alcohol Use

Using alcohol and other drugs in extreme heat can increase your risk of dehydration, heat-related illness, injury, alcohol poisoning, overdose, and even death.

You can keep yourself safe this summer by following these important tips:

  • Stay hydrated: Drink water regularly, especially if you are sweating a lot or even if you are not thirsty.
  • Stay cool: Go to an air-conditioned space. Cool yourself with wet towels or bandanas.
  • Protect your body: Use sunscreen and lip balm. Wear hats and loose, light-colored clothing.
  • Stay connected: Let someone you trust know where you will be. Ask them to check in on you regularly.

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. You can find naloxone for free by searching the NYC Health Map.

Safe Sex

Take precautions to protect you and your partners this summer.

  • Use condoms or other forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
  • Take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent HIV.
  • Take emergency PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent HIV within 72 hours after sex.
  • Take doxy PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) after sex to help prevent syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

You can find sexual health services and free safer sex products on the NYC Health Map.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are active in NYC from April through October. Stay safe from mosquito bites and related mosquito-borne diseases.

You can avoid mosquitoes in the city by limiting outdoor activity in the evening, using an EPA-approved repellent, and wearing protective clothing.

Restaurant Inspections

The Health Department conducts unannounced inspections of restaurants at least once a year. Inspectors check that restaurants comply with food safety rules.

Violations of food safety rules carry point values, and a restaurant’s score corresponds to a letter grade. The lower the score, the better the grade.

You can search for restaurant inspection results on ABC Eats.


ABC Eats

Notify NYC

Notify NYC is the City’s free emergency communications program. When you subscribe to Notify NYC, you can receive information about emergency alerts and important City services.

Additional Resources

More Information