Beat the Heat in Providence!
Providence Emergency Management Agency and the Providence Fire Department offer tips to City residents on how to stay cool this summer
Providence, RI– As warm temperatures and humidity grip the City of Providence during the summertime months, the Providence Emergency Management Agency and the Providence Fire Department urge all City residents to take appropriate steps to stay cool this summer. People planning to spend time outdoors should be mindful of the heat and follow these safety tips:
- 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. Dress in lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
- Drink fluids, particularly water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cool down with repeated cool baths or showers.
- Never leave children, seniors, or pets in a parked car during periods of intense summer heat.
- Make a special effort to check on your neighbors, especially seniors and people with special needs.
- Report open fire hydrants to the Fire Department.
Recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses including heat exhaustion
- Heat exhaustion: Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, headache, weak pulse, dizziness, exhaustion, fainting, nausea or vomiting, and cold, clammy skin. Body temperature will seem normal.
- Heat Stroke: Symptoms include flushed, hot, dry skin, weak or rapid pulse, shallow breathing, lack of sweating, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and unconsciousness. Body temperature will be elevated, and victim should receive immediate medical attention.
Energy Conservation and Power Outages
During periods of hot and humid weather, regional electricity use rises. PEMA and PFD urge residents to conserve energy to help prevent power disruptions.
- Set your air conditioner thermostat no lower than 78 degrees.
- Only use the air conditioner when you are home. If you want to cool your home before you return, set a timer to have it switch on no more than a half-hour before you arrive.
- Turn non-essential appliances off.
- Only use appliances that have heavy electrical loads early in the morning or very late at night.
Power outages are more likely to occur during warm weather, when utility usage is at its peak. If you lose power:
- First, check to see if a fuse is blown or a circuit breaker has been tripped.
- Call your power provider to report the outage.
- Disconnect or turn off all appliances that will go on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, they may overload electrical circuits.
- To prevent food spoilage, keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Move milk, cheese, meats, and other perishables into the freezer compartment. If the freezer is only partially full, keep all items close together and stacked on top of each other.
- Keep windows in your residence OPEN for proper ventilation.
Fire Hydrants
Opening fire hydrants are wasteful and dangerous. Illegally opened hydrants can lower water pressure, which can cause problems at hospitals and other medical facilities and hinder firefighting by reducing the flow of water to hoses and pumps. Children can also be at serious risk, because the powerful force of an open hydrant can push them into oncoming traffic. Call the Mayor’s Office of City Services at 311 to report an open hydrant.
City Cooling Centers
PEMA has identified locations that can be utilized as cooling centers:
Federal Hill House
9 Courtland Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02909
401-421-4722
M-F 9 am-6pm
Silver Lake Annex Multi-Purpose
Community Center
529 Plainfield Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02909
401-944-8300
M-F 6:30am-5pm
Davinci Center for Community Progress
470 Charles Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02904
401-272-7474
M-F 8:30am-4:30pm
West End Community Center
109 Bucklin Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02907
401-781-4242
M-F 6:30-5:30
Library Branches
Residents may also seek shelter at the following Providence Community Library Branches:
Fox Point Library
90 Ives Street
401-331-0390
M 9am-5:30pm
T 1pm-8pm
W-F 1pm-6pm
Mt. Pleasant Library
315 Academy Avenue
401-272-0106
M & T 1pm-9pm
W 12pm-6pm
TR 9:30am-6pm
F 12pm-6pm
Sat 10am-6pm
Olneyville Library
1 Olneyville Square
401-421-4084
M 1pm-6pm
T 9am-5:30pm
W 1pm-8pm
TR & F 1pm-6pm
Rochambeau Library
708 Hope Street
401-272-3780
M & TR 1pm-9pm
T & W 9:30am-6pm
F & Sat 12pm-6pm
South Providence Library
441 Prairie Avenue
401-467-2619
M,TR,F 1pm-6pm
T 1pm-8am
W 9am-5:30pm
Wanskuck Library
233 Veazie Street
401-274-4145
M 9am-5:30pm
T & W 1pm-6pm
TR 1pm-8pm
F 1pm-6pm
Washington Park Library
1316 Broad Street
401-781-3148
M 9am-5:30pm
T,W,F 1pm-6pm
TR 1pm-8pm
Water Parks
City water parks that are currently open Monday- Saturday 12pm-5pm
Al Carrington Water Park
64 Richardson Street
Sackett Street Water Park
110 Sackett Street
Harriet & Sayles Water Park
375 Sayles Street
General Street Water Park
11 West Drive
George West Water Park
1266 Chalkstone Ave
Fargnoli Water Park
945 Smith Street
Fox Point Water Park
505 Wickenden Street
Neutaconkanut Recreation Center Water Park
675 Plainfield Street
Pleasant Street Water Park
34 Pleasant Street
Wallace Street Water Park
Wallace & Cumerford Streets
City Pools
City Pools that are open Monday Through Saturday 12pm-5pm
Davey Lopes Rec Center
227 Dudley Street
Selim-Rogers Rec Center
60 Camden Avenue
Zuccolo Rec Center
11 Gesler Street
Neutaconkanut Rec Center
675 Plainfield Street
McGrane Pool- West End Rec Center
109 Bucklin Street