16 hours ago
50 treated for heat, 9 hospitalized at Paterson graduation. Afternoon sessions still on
PATERSON — Almost 60 people were overcome by heat during a high school graduation on the morning of June 23 at Hinchliffe Stadium, said Fire Chief Alex Alicea.
Nine of those people were taken by emergency medical technicians to the hospital, Alicea said. The other 50 received treatment at the scene and declined hospital care, the chief said.
As the heat toll rose during the morning, the Paterson Fire Department directed more and resources to the scene, Alicea said.
With temperatures expected to rise in the afternoon, city education officials are going ahead with plans for a second round of outdoor commencements at the stadium, where the artificial turf radiates heat.
UPDATE: Officials shut down afternoon Paterson graduation as 16 hospitalized, 160 seek heat relief
Graduates were in folding chairs on the turf, while family members and other attendees sat in the grandstand with no shade.
A second triage station was set up at the event, with additional bags of ice brought in, said Paterson Public Schools spokeswoman Aida afternoon ceremonies will be for Eastside High and four other schools. The morning event was for students graduating from John F. Kennedy and International High School.
Temperatures are supposed to reach the high 90s in Paterson on Monday.
New Jersey residents are in the midst of a dangerous stretch of extreme heat, with temperatures expected to soar into the upper 90s and low 100s through June 25 — bringing life-threatening conditions and the potential for record-breaking highs.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for most of the state through June 25, warning that the intense heat combined with high humidity could produce heat index values between 105 and 110 degrees.
To help residents who may not have access to air conditioning deal with the heat, Bergen County will open its five emergency cooling centers through Friday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Here are the cooling center locations:
County Administration Building: first floor, One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack. 201-336-7300.
Bergenfield Senior Activity Center: 293 Murray Hill Terrace, Bergenfield. 201-387-7212.
Garfield Senior Activity Center: 480 Midland Ave., Garfield. 973-478-0502.
Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center: 46-50 Center St., Midland Park. 201-445-5690.
Southwest Bergen Senior Activity Center: 147 Hackensack St., East Rutherford. 201-935-8920.
Several municipalities are designating public spaces such as libraries, shopping centers, recreation sites and senior centers as cooling centers. Residents should consider visiting municipal cooling centers before traveling to the county facility to help avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
For instance, the following places in Clifton will be designated as coolingcenters:
Clifton Senior Center: 900 Clifton Ave., Monday, June 23, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, June 24, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Allwood Library, 44 Lyall Road, Monday through Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Residents are asked to call 973-471-0555 to confirm operating hours. Any questions about heat issues can be posed to the Clifton Health Department at 973-470-5758.
This article originally appeared on Paterson high school graduation sees 9 hospitalized for heat
