Tri-State Area residents look to beat the heat at public pools, and more
PASSAIC, N.J. - Tri-State Area residents are doing everything they can to stay safe in the scorching temperatures.
Passaic is one of the most densely populated cities in the country, so splash parks can become a small oasis for children. They can also play a big role in public safety.
In the middle of the city, swimming pools are hard to find, but even on a scorching day, kids need to get out of the house.
A small splash park on the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Madison Street provides big fun.
"It's very hot. And I don't like it when it's hot because I play a lot of sports. And I like to be in the water a lot," 9-year-old Ariana said.
"It's really nice because ... when you get wet, it just feels like you're in a whole 'nother world," 10-year-old Denise said.
Watch Nick Caloway's report
Believe it or not, parks like this help in other ways, too.
"So when you have this, you prevent individuals illegally opening up fire hydrants, which can compromise water pressure. And if we have a fire in a city of 3.2 square miles, with over 70,000 individuals so densely populated, those fires can become a real issue," Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said.
During this intense heat, Lora is encouraging people to stay hydrated and check on seniors who might be vulnerable.
Officials in Passaic also say there's always a big increase in emergency calls on intensely hot days like this. That's everything from medical calls to fires.
About 15 miles north of Passaic, in Ramsey, the municipal pool fills up fast on hot days. Parents tell us the pool is a great way to keep kids entertained for hours on end.
"Yeah, so I have five kids. So you know, anything like going to one of these pools, sprinkler, ice pops, anything to get off the iPads. Kind of like how we were in the '80s," Jefferson Township resident Alissa Meyer said.
"They're happy to be here, happy to be in the water, cooling down, sun tanning a little bit, you know, and enjoying the summer weather," Ramsey resident Marissa Davis said.
Temperatures in the 90s could linger into Saturday, so Beyoncé fans might be in for a blazing concert. Queen Bee is taking her Renaissance World Tour to MetLife Stadium this weekend.
In New York City, it was a warm night, but certainly cooler than it was in the sun earlier in the day. The heat subsided enough for people to dance outside for a silent disco at Lincoln Center, and earlier in the day, a public pool on the Upper East Side was packed with families.
"I feel like it's a very refreshing thing for the family, brings us very close together, you know," Brooklyn resident Luis Vasquez said.
The Martinez family came all the way from Brooklyn to the John Jay Public Pool.
"It's very hot today. It's super hot and we wanna get refreshed," Giovanni Martinez said.
"And it's super hot, super hot, and I'm sweaty," Martinez's daughter said.
All the splashing and swimming helped offset the stifling air.
"How would you describe how it feels outside?" CBS New York's Ali Bauman asked 11-year-old Isaiah Rodriguez.
"Like an oven," Isaiah said.
They're lucky they got in. The line was unusually long.
"We came Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and it was a breeze. We just walked right in. We didn't have any problems," one person said.
New Yorkers are doing what they can to beat the heat -- playing in sprinklers and queueing up at their favorite ice cream shops.
Keeping cool isn't just fun, it's vital. About 370 New Yorkers die each year from heat-related illness.
"Neurosurgeons say that a hot brain is a dysfunctional brain," neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren said.
Warren warns heatwaves can affect people's emotions and behavior.
"When you're too hot, your neurochemistry gets off, and there's all kinds of studies that have linked symptoms of anxiety and depression and things like that, irritability, with being overheated," he said.
With temperatures expected to soar Saturday, the Harlem Festival of Culture on Randall's Island has been canceled this weekend.
Some helpful reminders:
- Stay indoors, or at least in the shade as much as possible
- Pack the sunscreen and wear loose-fitting clothing
- Be a good neighbor - check up on family members or the elderly
- Listen to your body and watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Officials also recommend turning the thermostat on your air conditioner up to 78 degrees so it's not working too hard.
CLICK HERE for our Summer Safety Guide.
CLICK HERE for the latest forecast and weather alerts.
