With the dog days of summer scratching at the door across Queens, the battle to beat the heat is becoming a full-fledged war.
In New York City, the temperature hit a record high of 103? at LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday, July 6.
“I always liked summers, but I think I’m changing my mind,” said Carole Dainis, who was grabbing a Coolatta — as opposed to her usual hot coffee — from a Bayside Dunkin’ Donuts.
Pedro, a construction worker on Bell Boulevard, said he was drinking a lot of fluids to try to keep hydrated on Tuesday.
“We definitely don’t prefer working outside but we’ve gotta fix the sewers,” he said.
Other workers who had to toil in the heat were Con Edison crews, who were trying to restore power to 885 customers without electricity in the borough as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7.
The energy giant also asked customers to conserve, and enacted “voltage reduction,” particularly in Flushing and Maspeth, on Wednesday.
“Customers will see their lights dimmer and flicker,” said Alfonso Quiroz, Con Ed spokesperson.
The reason for this, he explained, was to ease up on the system, cool it down, and make repairs.
Many remember the 10-day blackout in northwestern Queens in 2006, when more than 170,000 residents were without power and businesses lost milions in inventory.
Quiroz said that Con Ed is “cautiously optimistic” that there will be no repeats with this heat wave.
“There are always going to be outages, especially in summer, but it’s our job to make sure they are short in duration and small in number,” he said. “And since 2006, we have made many improvements to our system.”
Although many tried to avoid being out in the heat for too long, one place that was seeing an uptick in visitors was the local ice cream parlor.
“When it’s hot outside everyone wants to come in for ice cream,” said David Lau, a manager at Maggie Moo’s.
By knowing your borough and following some simple guidelines, there is no reason why this summer cannot be the coolest yet.
The New York City Department of the Aging (DFTA) has urged all older New Yorkers to take the following precautions:
? Avoid the sun and strenuous activity
? Stay hydrated with plenty of water or diluted fruit juices, while avoiding caffeine and alcohol
? Use an air conditioner, fan or open windows for ventilation
? Accomplish errands and tasks during early morning or evening hours when the sun is not at its peak
? Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing
? Plan trips to air-conditioned areas like senior or community centers, libraries, stores and malls.
While we are busy keeping ourselves cool during the summer months, it is important not to forget our furry friends, who lack abundant sweat glands. Dogs can only perspire through their faces and paws, making them more vulnerable to the sun’s wrath. There are many ways to keep canines chilled out.
? Do not leave pets in cars for prolonged periods of time, even in a shady parking spot
? Plan walks during early morning or evening hours when the Sun is not at full blast
? A cold-soaked bandana is not only a fine-looking fashion statement for your dog, but a great way to keep them cool
? Constant grooming for woollier pets can make them more comfortable during the summer months
Though the phrase “heat wave” is used haphazardly, meteorologist Jamie Farrell of the National Weather Service pinpointed the definition as “abnormally hot and typically humid weather lasting two or more days.”
Before the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) declares a heat emergency, they consult the National Weather Service. A heat emergency is declared and cooling centers are opened when the heat index (combination of air temperature and relative humidity) is at 95 degrees.
According to the OEM, there are 130 cooling centers in Queens and can be found by calling 3-1-1 or online at www.NYC.gov.
The Salvation Army has also opened their doors during heat emergencies at these locations:
? 45-18 Broadway in Astoria
? 142-50 32nd Avenue in Flushing
? 69-23 Cypress Hills Street at the Ridgewood Citadel
Farrell offered some tips of her own: “Stay hydrated with water or some other non-alcoholic beverage. Eat light – heavy food is harder to digest in hot weather . . . and never leave children in cars.”
For nation-wide heat alert information and tips, visit www.weather.gov.
