The high temperature in New York City on Tuesday was 103 degrees!  When I moved from Georgia in 2009, I thought NYC was a cooler climate.  It looks like I may have been wrong.

If you are having trouble beating the heat, the city has opened cooling centers to help New Yorkers take a break from the record-breaking temperatures outdoors.  To find a cooling center near you, call 311 or go to the NYC Office of Emergency Management website.

Here are some tips from the Office Emergency Management about how you can keep cool this summer:

If possible, stay out of the sun. When in the sun, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) and a hat to protect your face and head.

Use an air conditioner if you have one. Set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees.

If you do not have an air conditioner, keep rooms well-ventilated with open windows and fans. Consider going to a public pool, air-conditioned store, mall, movie theater, or cooling center.

Fans work best at night, when they can bring in cooler air from outside.

Make a special effort to check on your neighbors during a heat wave, especially if they are seniors, young children, and people with special needs. Many older New Yorkers live alone and could suffer unnecessarily in the heat because they are isolated from friends and family.

Seniors and others who may be sensitive to extreme heat should contact friends, neighbors, or relatives at least twice a day during a heat wave.

Drink fluids – particularly water – even if you do not feel thirsty.* Avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine, or high amounts of sugar.

Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.

Never leave children, pets, or those who require special care in a parked car during periods of intense summer heat.

Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you must engage in strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, usually in the morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Cool showers or baths may be helpful, but avoid extreme temperature changes. Never take a shower immediately after becoming overheated – extreme temperature changes may make you ill, nauseated, or dizzy.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is also helping people cool down.  On Wednesday’s edition of Currents, I’ll have a profile of one such center, and I’ll talk to people cooling off there.