Call
911 if you or someone you know has these symptoms of heat illness:
- Heavy sweating
- Muscle cramps
- Light headedness, feeling faint
- Headache
- Decreased energy
- Loss of appetite, nausea
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. Cooling centers are located in air-conditioned facilities that offer people relief from the heat.
Sites where cooling centers are located include:
- 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, and particularly if you are at risk for heat-related illness.
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.
