Cooling Center Opens In Long Valley For Respite From Heat Wave

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Long Valley will open a cooling center at the Washington Township Public Library as temperatures are forecast to climb across the region, the town announced on Thursday.

The cooling center will be located at the public library, 37 East Springtown Road. It is scheduled to remain open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Hot weather is forecast to linger in Long Valley through the weekend, with heat indexes potentially pushing past 102 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that will be in effect until Thursday night at 8 p.m.

While anyone can suffer from heat-related illness at any time, some people are at greater risk than others:

• 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 with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.

The following tips from the CDC can help you stay cool during the hot days ahead:

• Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
• Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.
• Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
• Be mindful. Never leave persons, especially children, and pets in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes cooling down much more difficult.
• Stay cool. If no air conditioning or fans are in your home, consider visiting with friends or family that have air-conditioning or one of the city's cooling centers mentioned above.

More information on how to take proper precautions during extreme heat can be found at www.ready.gov/heat.