NYC Extreme Heat Advisory
New York City is under a heat advisory for Thursday August 6 and Friday August 7 with heat index values forecasted to top 100 degrees. Hot weather will continue through the weekend, and temperatures will likely remain elevated next week. Cooling centers will be open on Thursday through the weekend.
Provider Considerations
- Identify patients without reliable air conditioning.
- Prioritize outreach to patients at increased risk of heat-related illness, including those who:
- Have chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory disease, or diabetes).
- Have mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.
- Have dementia, cognitive impairment, limited ability to perform self-care, or impaired ability to regulate body temperature.
- Take medications that affect thermoregulation or hydration, including diuretics, anticholinergics, and psychotropic medications.
- Use alcohol or drugs, which can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, increase dehydration risk, or mask symptoms of heat illness.
- Are socially isolated or have limited mobility.
- Are older adults (age 60 and older), who are more likely to have one or more of these risk factors.
- Recognize that structural racism and resulting social and economic inequities increase the risk of heat stress. In New York City, Black residents are approximately twice as likely to die from heat-related illness as White residents.
- Review medications that may increase susceptibility to heat-related illness.
- Encourage staff to recognize signs of dehydration and heat-related illness during patient visits.
Patient Safety
Encourage patients and caregivers to:
- Stay in an air-conditioned environment whenever possible.
- Drink fluids unless medically restricted.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
- Keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day.
- Limit strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours.
- People with diabetes should check their blood sugar frequently when exposed to high temperatures
- Monitor for signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
- Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms of heat stroke.
- Use a cooling center or another air-conditioned public location if air conditioning is unavailable. Fans do not provide sufficient cooling in current weather conditions.
Useful Resources:
