Department of Correction

Correction


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New York City is currently experiencing extreme heat conditions and DOC Commissioner Brann was personally on the ground today to make sure every possible step was being taken to protect the health and safety of the people in our custody. Extra staff was also on hand to ensure summer clothing has been distributed.

Additionally DOC is adhering to the following extreme heat protocol which is followed everytime outside temperatures exceed 85 degrees and internal tempratures exceed 80 degrees.

The Department is adhering to the following extreme heat protocol, which is followed when outside temperatures exceed 85 degrees and internal temperatures exceed 80 degrees.

The Department maintains regular contact with Correctional Health Services (CHS), the healthcare provider for the city's jails, to monitor individuals who express heat-related concerns or have been determined to need a higher level of attention or care. Detainees are designated as "heat sensitive" by CHS; any treatment and assessment is provided by CHS through Health & Hospitals Corporation (H+H), and DOC Health Affairs confers with CHS to determine if additional medical monitoring is needed.

CHS Clinics are open 24/7 to evaluate patients who are experiencing heat-related symptoms or wish to clarify with heat sensitive status.

The Department encourages cool showers and plenty of fluids. Individuals have frequent access to multiple cool showers and ice is provided in each housing area that is not air conditioned. The Department will continue to monitor that ice is regularly distributed to housing units. Each housing area that is not air conditioned is provided with fans. We have been installing fans prior to last weeks's heatwave and continue to do so.

Any detainee experiencing difficulties or who requests to be seen by medical staff, regardless of whether or not they are in a non air conditioned or air-conditioned housing area, is referred to CHS.

In case of brownout and blackout conditions, each Department facility has back-up generators to provide temporary electrical service.

NOTE: The Department has made considerable efforts to ensure that anyone who wants summer clothes has them. Shorts and short sleeve shirt distribution started at the beginning of June, and the Department has since distributed thousands of additional shorts and short sleeve shirts to help those in our custody stay comfortable during the hot weather.