The Citymeals Blog

The first heat wave of the summer hit in June. Temperatures in New York City soared, reaching triple digits and overwhelming the power grid. Some were hit with power outages, including two of our meal center partners in Queens. But Citymeals was there with emergency meals and bottled water, ensuring our meal recipients had what they needed during this latest bout of extreme weather.

For several years now, heat waves like this have been on the rise due to climate change. Meteorologists have reclassified New York City from a coastal temperate zone to a humid subtropical one. That means hotter days, higher levels of humidity and heavier rainfall. And the summer is far from over. 

Extreme heat is dangerous, killing more people each year than any other weather phenomena. For people over the age of 65, like our meal recipients, the danger is even greater. Heat can exacerbate chronic medical conditions, like heart, lung or kidney disease and diabetes, conditions more likely to affect older people. While Citymeals will continue to do its part — making sure our recipients have food on hand on days when it’s simply too hot to cook or venture out — there are also things you can do to keep your older neighbors safe.  

Encourage them to stay inside and rest, avoid strenuous activities, or those that generate heat, like turning on the stove. To keep cool and comfortable, they should wear loose, lightweight clothing. It's also important to stay hydrated, so remind them to drink more water than usual; they shouldn’t wait until they’re thirsty.   

The most effective method of cooling down, however, is air conditioning. During heat waves, simply relying on a fan just isn't enough, as 89-year-old Bernie learned when his A/C broke down. “I was so hot, I couldn’t breathe,” he recalls.  

Luckily, Bernie’s unit was able to be repaired quickly, but some older people hesitate to run their A/C, even on the hottest days of the year. They worry about the cost, especially those living on a fixed income. As many as 65% of our recipients are living on $15,000 a year or less, so they need to be mindful of their energy bill. But this is a matter of safety. Tell your older neighbors that setting the A/C to as high as 78 degrees is enough to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion, as well being cost-effective. 

For those without access to air conditioning, there are other options. If you or someone you know doesn’t have a safe way to stay cool, call 311 or Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NYC to find the closest cooling center.