Naugatuck Senior Center Keeps it 'Cool'

With temperatures reaching into the 90s this week the Naugatuck Senior Center will open its doors to anyone who needs to stay cool.

Located at 300 Meadow Street, the senior center will operate as a cooling center from Wednesday until Friday, according to a receptionist.

The building is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and anyone looking to take a break from the heat, who might not have air conditioning, can come down and stay there.

In Naugatuck, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 87 degrees on Wednesday and 92 degrees on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service stated the borough, like other Connecticut towns, is under an "Excessive Heat Watch."

Hearst Connecticut newspapers has a blog posting about all the cooling centers open in the state.

The Department of Public Health released these following tips to deal with the weather:

• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him/her how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the movies, shopping mall, public library, or a friend’s house/apartment with air conditioning–even a few hours spent in an air conditioned environment can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• If you must be out in the heat, limit your outdoor activity to early morning and evening hours. 
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).