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CORTLANDT, N.Y. An annual afternoon picnic for veterans, many of them seniors, was held indoors due to extreme heat Thursday afternoon. Many of the seniors said staying in an air conditioned facility, like the community center, and looking out for one another keeps them safe in extreme weather.
About 150 veterans attended the relocated picnic at the Muriel H. Morabito Community Center in Cortlandt. The picnic is typically held at the Buchanan Village Pavilion.
"I'm glad they moved it in, because I think they wouldn't have had as many people," said senior citizen Lottie Bartnick. She attended the picnic with her husband, Charlie Bartnick, a veteran.
"A lot of seniors feel they don't perspire so much, so why do they need to drink all this excess water," said Bartnick. She said she frequently tells other seniors they must drink more water when it's hot, even though many bristle at her advice.
Seniors have an increased risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses during extreme weather, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing, drinking plenty of cool liquid, staying out of the sun and rescheduling strenuous activity to cooler parts of the day. Air conditioning, says the CDC, is the "number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death."
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, which will be in effect until 7 p.m. Thursday. Cortlandt has opened a cooling center in the Muriel H. Morabito Community Center on Westbrook Drive. The center will be open all night. The Charles Cook Memorial Pool will be open until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and the Village of Croton opened Silver Lake Park early for the season on Wednesday. The park is open until 7:30 p.m.
As of Thursday afternoon, the weather service was predicting a high of 90 degrees on Friday, with possible afternoon thunderstorms, some of which could be severe.
Willie Nazario, junior vice commander of the New York State Order of the Purple Heart and an ardent veterans advocate, said he advises seniors to keep friends in mind when weather becomes dangerous.
"We tell them to check up on one another," he said. Nazario said it's not always necessary to stop by someone's house, but making a quick phone call can alert someone that something might be wrong. "You have to be vigilant when it comes to our seniors," he said.
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