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City Officials Warn New Yorkers to Stay Cool With Heat Advisory in Effect

By Jeff Mays | July 20, 2015 2:00pm
 Kids cooled off in the spray fountain area at Heckscher Playground in Central Park.
Kids cooled off in the spray fountain area at Heckscher Playground in Central Park.
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DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel

NEW YORK CITY — City officials warned New Yorkers to stay cool Monday as temperatures and humidity were expected to make it feel close to 100 degrees outside for the second day in a row.

"This kind of heat can be dangerous," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference with emergency officials.

"People have to make smart decisions," he continued. "People, of course, have to stay hydrated. Don’t stay out in the sun any longer than you have to. Be aware of the challenge of this circumstance."

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De Blasio asked that thermostats be set to 78 degrees to keep the city's power grid running smoothly and called on businesses to do the same.

Con Edison reduced voltage by 8 percent in Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Kew Gardens, areas of East New York, Howard Beach and Broad Channel and also asked residents there to conserve energy as crews worked to repair equipment.

Joe Esposito, commissioner for the Office of Emergency Management, said there were only minor power disruptions and no reports of heat-related injuries.

Five hundred cooling centers will be available for those without access to air conditioning and the city's pools will stay open an extra hour until 8 p.m. to help people cool off. Call 311 for the location of city cooling centers.

The FDNY is also distributing spray caps so fire hydrants can be used to cool off without lowering water pressure.

Esposito said today is not the best day to work on your tan.

"The term for today is use common sense," he said.

The Department of Homeless Services is also on alert. They have 35 street teams doing outreach to the homeless, providing water and transportation to a cool location.

Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett said residents should avoid strenuous activity and can take cool showers. Those who are checking on the elderly or infants should be aware of the signs of heat illness such as hot and dry or cold and clammy skin, nausea, vomiting and confusion.

"The key message here is to stay in a place that is cool," Bassett said.

Relief from the heat is expected this evening, said the mayor, who is leaving tonight to travel to the Vatican.

"Again, our view is, based on what we’ve heard from the National Weather Service, that we need to get through to about 6 o’clock or 7 o’clock and then we should feel some relief thereafter," de Blasio said.