Greenwich Opens Cooling Centers For Heat Wave

GREENWICH, CT — The town of Greenwich has opened its cooling centers in time for the first heat wave of the year.

Connecticut will activate its extreme hot-related protocol for this week’s predicted heat wave starting at noon on Tuesday. Greenwich Acting First Selectwoman Lauren Rabin has announced the opening of several cooling stations around town for residents seeking relief from the heat and humidity. First Selectman Fred Camillo is away.

The cooling centers will be open through the week as high temperatures have resulted in a hazardous weather outlook being issued by the National Weather Service.

Starting Tuesday, the NWS has forecast that temperatures will be into the 90s, reaching predicted highs in the upper 90s on Thursday and Friday. The protocol is scheduled to be in place until Sunday.

As a result of these expected high temperatures, residents should exercise caution and avoid putting themselves at risk while also making sure they check in on vulnerable people that they know might need help.

The town’s libraries and Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center will be open their regular hours, as will Town Hall. The Greenwich Public Safety Complex’s Margenot Atrium will be open 24 hours as a cooling center. These facilities will be available to any resident who needs a respite from the heat and humidity:

Cooling centers

Greenwich Library, 101 W. Putnam Ave.:

• 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.: Monday through Friday
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Saturday
• 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Sunday

Perrot Memorial Library, 90 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich:

• 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
• 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Tuesday and Thursday
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Saturday
• Closed: Sunday

Byram Shubert Library, 21 Mead Ave.:

• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.
• 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Tuesday.
• Noon – 8 p.m.: Thursday
• Closed: Sunday

Cos Cob Library, 5 Sinawoy Road, Cos Cob:

• Noon – 8 p.m.: Monday.
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Tuesday through Friday
• Closed: Sunday

Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, 449 Pemberwick Road.

• 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.: Monday through Friday
• 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Saturday
• 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Sunday

Greenwich Public Safety Complex, 11 Bruce Place:

• 24 hours

Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road:

• 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Weekdays (Closed Saturday and Sunday)

Greenwich offered the following tips for staying cool:

• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.
• Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself. The sun will also heat the inner core of your body, resulting in dehydration.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible to prevent sunburn.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors and use a buddy system when working in extreme heat. Exposure to heat can cloud judgment. If you work alone, you may not notice.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly and very young people. Give your body a chance to adjust to extreme temperature changes.