Brian Sferlazza and Kevin Riley sat in the comfort of the Hackensack Applebees Sunday afternoon when they saw a disturbing image on one of the televisions.
"Oh my God, I can’t believe that!" Sferlazza exclaimed.
"Is it really that bad?" Riley asked with a genuine concern.
While watching the New York Yankees game in the air-conditioned restaurant, the TV network quickly panned to a thermometer fixed on the field in the Bronx. It read 100 degrees.
"We’re staying right here until the end of the game," Riley continued, sipping a soda from the sweaty beverage glass. "It should be cooler at 4 o’clock."
Just as Riley predicted, the mercury had dropped by the time the Yankees and Athletics wrapped up their game, but temperatures still remained at potentially dangerous levels.
Temperatures in Hackensack soared well beyond 90 degrees over a seven-day stretch, beginning last Wednesday. On some days, Saturday and Sunday particularly, the heat index rose into triple digits.
"We came here for lunch and to watch a few innings," said Sferlazza, 27, adding that he typically spends the summer’s hotter days indoors where he can control air conditioning.
"The heat is just merciless. Even if you’re by the pool or at the beach, it’s still going to be hot around you. If I can stay in the AC, I will."
Samantha Cerney had the same idea – the Maywood resident and her friend were found lounging with magazines in the halls of The Shops at Riverside. Cerney, surprisingly, had a hot cup of coffee in her reach.
"Here in the mall, I can tolerate this," she said as she fumbled with the heat sleeve that surrounded the paper cup.
"But if I’m going to be outside, I’d want an iced coffee or bottled water."
Though caffeinated beverages such as coffee and soda aren’t recommended for hot weather, fluids like water and sports beverages are necessities during heat waves. Staying indoors is also a must.
"Spend whatever time possible in air conditioning – if air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine or go to a public building where air conditioning is available," advises the Hackensack Office of Emergency Management.
The extended heat wave prompted city officials to re-open cooling centers throughout the area. The centers, which include the Hackensack Civic Center, Recreation Center and Prospect Heights Nursing Home, provided a haven for seniors and other residents whose homes lack air conditioning.
Though overheated residents have used the Prospect Heights location in previous years, center administrator Steven Schilsky said no one has come in yet this season to cool off.
"No one has asked us yet," he said Monday afternoon, what was supposed to be the first day of relief from the heat wave. But by 2 o’clock, the temperature already topped 92 degrees.
"But we have a large, air-conditioned room that can accommodate 50 to 60 people if we’re called upon."
Like other cooling centers, Prospect Heights offers cold beverages and snacks. Schilsky added that he expects most walk-ins would be seniors, and various activities and health screenings would be made available to them.
His cooling center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
"We offer everything available to help people cool off."
