The Combination of high temperatures and high humidity create a situation that can lead to heat related illnesses. It is important to keep out of the direct sun and keep strenuous activities to a minimum. If you work outside, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shade or air conditioned environments. If you do not have air conditioning you can go to one of Jersey City’s Cooling Centers to get some temporary relief, their locations and hours are listed below.
You should be aware of heat exhaustion symptoms and take immediate action when they occur to prevent a more serious medical condition. The symptoms include:
– profuse sweating
–weakness
– muscle cramps
– headache
– nausea and vomiting
As dehydration increases from the loss of body water, lightheadedness and fainting may occur, especially if you stand up quickly. A low grade fever also may be present. The elderly and the very young are at increased risk because they often don’t sweat like children and adults and run the risk of overheating quicker than others.
Heat exhaustion usually can be treated at home as long as you drink plenty of water or beverages that have electrolyte replacement such as sport drinks. If nausea and vomiting prevent you from rehydration, it is recommended that you seek medical attention.
Muscles cramps can be severe and if stretching and rehydration cannot relieve recurrent cramps, medical care may be necessary.
It is important to recognize that if the person stops sweating, skin becomes red and / or hot to the touch, the person seems confused, or passes out; they may be having a heat stroke, which is life-threatening. Call 911 immediately and attempt to cool them down while waiting for help by moving them, if possible, to a cooler place, loosening their clothing, and try to cool the body with cold compresses, ice, and by pouring cool water on their skin and head.
In an effort to assist Jersey City residents with the impending heat, local Hudson County municipalities have opened cooling centers. If you feel any heat exhaustion symptoms, please visit a cooling center in your area:
In Jersey City
Five Corners Library
678 Newark Avenue
Hours: Monday, noon – 8 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 10a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Jersey City Main Library
472 Jersey Avenue
Hours: Monday, 9a.m. – 6p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The city’s two air-conditioned community centers – The Mary McLeod Bethune Community Life Center and Pershing Field Community Center – will also be open for use as cooling centers. Bethune, located at140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pershing Field Community Center, at the corner of Summit Avenue and Pershing Field Plaza, is open Monday through Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Also- Pershing Field Pool (indoor), Summit Ave. and Pershing Plaza- Hours: Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.
Two senior centers – The Joseph Connors Senior Center and the Maureen Collier Senior Center – will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday. The city will use both center as cooling stations. The Connors Senior Center is located at 28 Paterson Street, off of Central Avenue. The Collier Center can be found at 335 Bergen Avenue, between Ege Avenue and Virginia Avenue.
Residents can also cool off with the help of sprinkler systems that run in the following city parks between 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.: Pershing Field, Audubon Park, Terrace Park, Arlington Park, Dr. Lena Edwards Park, Thomas McGovern Park, Roberto Clemente Park, Virginia Avenue Park, Rev. Ercel Webb/Lafayette Park, Venator Watson Park, Hamilton Park, and Columbia Park.
BAYONNE
597 Broadway (between 27th and 28th St.)
56th St. Senior Center, at 329 Avenue B
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
HOBOKEN
City Hall, 94 Washington St. (the basement floor conference room). Hours: 10 a.m. onwards