Call
911 if you or someone you know has these symptoms of heat illness/heat stroke:
- Hot, dry skin
- Confusion, hallucinations, and disorientation
- Loss of consciousness or being unresponsive
- Nausea or vomiting
- Trouble breathing
- Fast, strong pulse
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- No sweating
- High body temperature
- Throbbing headache
When it's very hot, air conditioning will help keep you safe. If you don't have air conditioning, find a cool place to visit nearby, like a friend’s place, a mall, museum, coffee shop, library, or a cooling center.
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.
Cooling centers are located in air-conditioned facilities that offer people relief from the heat, such as:
- Libraries
- Community centers
- Senior centers
- NYCHA facilities
You should use a cooling center during a heat wave if you have no access to a cool environment, especially if you are at risk for heat-related illness.
When it’s not a heat emergency, you should still stay cool at parks, areas with shade, sprinklers, or pools.
Find a Cooling Center
Cooling center facilities are managed by New York City agency partners, who determine each site's hours of operation and levels of accessibility. Rules and policies vary by location.
It is up to the management of the Cooling Center if they want to require social distancing and the use of face coverings.
For more information, contact a facility directly.
