Summer in the city has begun, and we want all New Yorkers to enjoy the season in the greatest city in the world. We have so much to offer in terms of activities and outdoor space. But we also want to make sure that everyone is safe wherever they are: in the sun, on the beach, on the streets, at home, or at work.
Our multi-agency summer safety plan is designed to keep you safe and improve quality life across the board. We are expanding beach and water patrols, preparing for heat waves and extreme weather events, expanding youth programming, protecting against fires, and stopping impaired driving.
And we are determined to keep New York the safest big city in America, even during the summer months — when crime rates often increase. We are boosting NYPD presence on the subways, on the water, and in the air, and we will be extra vigilant in removing impaired drivers from our streets. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division is also ramping up enforcement related to noise complaints, illegal mopeds and ATVs, and other common summer concerns.
But public safety is more than just policing. We want to make sure our youth are having fun — and that our upstream solutions provide them with things to do this summer. We are expanding youth programs during summer evenings, particularly through the ‘Saturday Night Lights’ initiative. Now, 136 sports sites operate on both Saturdays and Sundays, including extended hours until 11:00 PM.
We have also kicked off the season at our public beaches. Lifeguards are on duty every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections. Rip currents are always possible, and we urge everyone to respect the rules. We are also deploying aerial drone teams to monitor the water for shark activity.
As you know, summer is a time for heat waves and extreme heat is our city’s deadliest weather-related hazard, with an average of more than 500 New Yorkers dying from heat-related causes each year. We urge New Yorkers to be aware and informed of the dangers of extreme heat. Locate a nearby cooling option before you need it, whether it is an air-conditioned space, such as the home of a friend or family member, a mall, museum, or an official New York City cooling center — like your local public library. There are also pet-friendly cooling centers in every borough, so please plan ahead to make sure everyone is safe.
Last summer, we saw how quickly dangerous wildfire smoke blanketed our city, even from fires thousands of miles away. Please sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, which will keep you updated about weather and air-quality issues. Notify NYC is also the best way to prepare for other extreme weather events, including hurricanes, tropical storms, and heavy rainfall that can result in flash floods. You can also visit airnow.gov for up-to-date information on air quality in your area.
Fire safety is another important part of summer safety. Every year, barbeque grills cause thousands of fires, and many of these fires occur when a propane grill was used for the first time after winter storage. So, before you grill, do a pre-season safety check on your equipment. Remember, grills are banned on rooftops and in multi-unit buildings, and portable outdoor patio fireplaces, patio hearths, fire pits, and chimneys are strictly prohibited in New York City, as are all fireworks, which are a major safety hazard as well as a quality-of-life issue.
Overloaded electrical outlets are one of the major causes of residential fires. These occur when too many appliances are attached to the electrical system, so stay safe and use only the appliances you need.
And to prevent power outages that can happen during the hot summer months, conserve energy by setting air conditioning to 78°, closing blinds, avoiding large appliance use, and unplugging any electrical appliances not in use.
We know one of the best ways to stay cool is in the water, and our public pools will open starting June 27th. The New York City tradition of playing in a fire hydrant remains popular, but it MUST be done with an approved spray cap from your local firehouse. The improper opening of hydrants can waste 1,000 gallons of water per minute or more. Spray caps reduce hydrant output to a safe 25 gallons per minute while still providing relief from the heat. To obtain a spray cap, an adult, 18 years or older with proper identification, can go to their local firehouse and request one.
We know that these are a lot of warnings for one day, but we want to make sure New Yorkers can have a safe and enjoyable summer season in the greatest city in the world.
