Office of The Mayor
PRESS RELEASE
June 17, 2024
City of New London to provide Cooling Centers at Library, Senior Center
(NEW LONDON - June 17, 2024) – With extremely high temperatures and humidity forecast from Wednesday through Saturday, the City and New London Public Library and Senior Citizen’s Center have worked in partnership to establish cooling centers at the two facilities.
The Adult Reading Room at the library, 63 Huntington St., will be designated as a cooling center and will be available during regular library hours for each of those days:
- Thursday – 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday – 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Senior Citizen’s Center, 10 Brainard St., will also be available as a cooling center on Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and if necessary, the City will consider expanding those hours during the weekend.
For additional area cooling centers, the public can call 211.
City first responders, New London Police, and Fire Departments will closely monitor weather conditions while looking for those in heat-related distress. Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others, particularly infants and young children, people 65 years of age or older, people who are overweight, people who overexert during work or exercise, people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Some prevention tips to stay safe in extreme heat include:
- Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible
- If you must be outdoors, try to limit activity to the morning and evening; try to rest often in shady areas so your body has a chance to cool off
- Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device
- Avoid direct sunlight, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Take cool showers or baths
- Check on those most at-risk several times a day
- Pets that cannot be brought indoors should have ready access to water and shade
- Stay hydrated - your body loses fluids through sweat during extreme heat
- To avoid dehydration, drink more water than usual; don't wait until you're thirsty to drink more fluids; drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside
- Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar
- Remind others to drink water often
Media contact:
Office of the Mayor
Phone (860) 447-5201