News Release 

TOMPKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Marcia Lynch, Public Information Officer, 274-5555; 227-2152;
Department of Emergency Response, 257-3888

GIAC Cooling Center Will Be Open Thursday

 
July 7, 2010 (Ithaca, N.Y.) — The heat emergency cooling center located at Ithaca’s Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) will remain open Thursday, July 8 to assist people in need during the current heat wave.

The cooling center is open until 7:00 p.m. today, and will reopen from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday.

GIAC is located at the corner of Court and Albany Streets, with its address now listed as 306 W. Court Street. Anyone coming to the cooling center must sign in and obtain a visitor tag. The cooling center is located at the “pee wee center’ room on the first floor, Court Street side, near the gymnasium.

Tompkins County and the Red Cross decided yesterday to open cooling centers to assist those at high risk for health problems who have no other options during the current heat wave. The Red Cross reports that no residents so far have sought assistance at a local cooling center.

City, county and American Red Cross officials remind residents to stay indoors as much as possible, to limit activity and sun exposure, and to drink plenty of fluids. If without air-conditioning, residents should try to spend much of the day in air-conditioned public buildings. And they are urged to check in on those without air conditioning, especially senior citizens, people with chronic illnesses, and families with infants and young children-all those populations most vulnerable to harm from extreme heat.

More information on protective measures to take during a heat emergency can be found at the Tompkins Ready web site at http://www.tompkinsready.org/disaster/heat.htm.

For further information regarding available non-emergency services during the heat wave, residents are advised to call 2-1-1.

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Media Contacts: Marcia Lynch, Public Information Officer, 274-5555; 227-2152; Department of Emergency Response, 257-3888.

An updated statement will be issued after 3:00 p.m. Thursday.

 

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