HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—As Connecticut ends the month of June with unusually high temperatures, cities like Hartford and New Haven are keeping residents cool with splash pads, local pools and cooling centers.
The National Weather Service has placed northern and southern Connecticut under a heat advisory from Monday to Wednesday evening.
The City of Hartford opened up three cooling centers through Wednesday: the Hartford Public Library on 500 Main Street which will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the North End Senior Center on 80 Coventry Street which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the South End Senior and Wellness Center on 830 Maple Avenue which will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Hartford Fire Department will be handing out water to residents, city officials said.
In New Haven, four libraries have been opened up as cooling centers, including Ives Main Library on 133 Elm Street which will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Fair Haven Library on 182 Grand Avenue and Mitchell Library on 37 Harris Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Wednesday. Wilson Library on 303 Washington Street will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Information about pools and splash pads in New Haven are available on the city's website.
The City of New London has established a cooling center at the New London Public Library on 63 Huntington Street. The center will be in the meeting room on the first floor. It will be in operation during library hours, officials said, which is from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
West Hartford is encouraging residents to cool off in the town's public libraries, senior centers, pools and splash pads. Information on those locations is available on the town's website.
Parents and children enjoyed the town's splash pads when the heat wave first hit on Monday.
The Medical Director of Emergency Services at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Dr. Anuj Vohra, urges all Connecticut residents to take necessary precautions to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
He recommends drinking plenty of cold water, wearing loose clothing, and staying away from direct sunlight, whether that's by keeping under the shade or by wearing thin long-sleeved clothes. He also encourages people to wear sunscreen of, at least, SPF 35, and to avoid drinking alcohol.
According to Vohra, this is particularly important for younger children and older individuals who are on medications that can cause side effects in extreme heat. It's also important for those who may need to wear a face mask outside, because face masks can increase heat-related risks, he said.
If you start to suddenly feel severe sweating, fatigue and nausea, Vohra said they are the first signs of the body signaling that it is beginning to shut down. In that case, he recommends immediately going to a place to cool off and spray your face and body with cool water.