City Opens Cooling Centers; Swimming Area Remains Closed

With the potential for triple-digit heat Thursday, the City has established three cooling centers where individuals can seek refuge from the extreme heat. The hours and locations through Saturday are as follows:

Greenfield Public Library 402 Main St.	Elm Terrace Community Room 1 Elm Terr.	John Zon Community Center 35 Pleasant St.
Wed. 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thu.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.	Wed. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thu. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Individuals can also find cooling centers in other communities by calling 211.

Everyone is urged to take steps to prevent heat-related illnesses and injuries including:

• Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20°F within 10 minutes.
• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors reflect heat and sunlight, and help maintain normal body temperature.
• Drink plenty of water — even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages and liquids high in sugar or caffeine. If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink, ask how much you should drink during hot weather.
• Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Do not leave pets outside for extended periods of time
• If you must be outdoors, limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so your body temperature will have a chance to recover. Use sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

The swimming area at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area remains closed until further notice due to the presence of cryptosporidium and giardia in the water. Results from the latest round of testing confirm the continued presence of the parasites, after they were found last week. The recreation area remains open for non-swimming activities.

Out of an abundance of caution, the City has also tested its drinking water system for cryptosporidium and giardia. These tests have come back negative