Heat: Surviving It
Jun 10th, 2008 by Jervey
[Photo: air conditioners- bklyn heights by flickr user bondidwhat]
Holy smokes. We think it’s warm enough already. And while we’re hoping this’ll be it for the summer (the yet-to-formally-begin summer), we imagine there’ll be plenty of dog days ahead. Cue up Erik Baard’s column from last year’s Village Voice about how to survive the urban heat island:
Each year, New Yorkers suffer and quietly die on our beloved “heat island”— a special urban hell where average temperatures soar more than seven degrees higher than in the gas-guzzling suburbs. Last summer’s 46 confirmed heat victims in New York City included Tyron Dugger, a 47-year-old mentally handicapped man who died along with his 82-year-old mother in their sealed and sweltering East New York apartment. Just blocks away, 69-year-old Edna McEachin also succumbed, as did 85-year-old Anne Cialeo, of Conduit Boulevard, who died sitting upright in her bed. City health officials can’t be sure, but they think another 100 New Yorkers were killed by that particular blast of summer.
It’s a rather brilliant piece, which explains why air conditioners aren’t necessarily helping, the environmental justice angle, why sweating really is healthy, and why parks rule. Do yourself a favor before the next wave hits and read the whole thing.