Most of Southern California is experiencing extreme heat, and heat alerts have been extended by the Los Angeles County Health Officer.

It’s important that everyone take precautions in this weather. According to Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, MD, MPH, Interim Health Officer, Los Angeles County,  when temperatures are high, even a few hours of exertion may cause severe dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If you do not have access to air conditioning and need to cool off, there are several Cooling Centers available. Below are links to those centers

  •   – Los Angeles County: www.publichealth.la county.gov, or call 2-1-1
  •   – Orange County: https://www.211oc.org/resource-centers/extreme-heat-cooling-centers.html
  •   – Riverside County: https://www.capriverside.org/Portals/0/PDF/Cool/2018%20Cool%20Center_Directory.pdf
  •   – San Bernardino County: https://211sb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Cool-Places-to-Go-2018.pdf

 

Here  are some tips provided by the Los Angeles County Health Officer for beating the heat:

  •   – Tips Avoid the sun– stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the burning rays are strongest.
  •   – Drink plenty of fluids– 2 to 4 glasses of water every hour during times of extreme heat.
  •   – Replace salt and minerals– sweating removes salt and minerals from your body, so replenish these nutrients with low sugar fruit juices or sports drinks during exercise or when working outside.
  •   – Avoid alcohol.
  •   – Pace yourself– reduce physical activity and avoid exercising outdoors during peak heat hours.
  •   – Wear appropriate clothing– wear a wide-brimmed hat and light colored lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when you are outdoors.
  •   – Stay cool indoors during peak hours– set your air conditioner between 75° to 80°. If you don’t have air conditioning,  take a cool shower twice a day and visit a public air conditioned facility. Find a local cooling center at lacounty.gov/emergency.
  •   – Monitor those at high risk– check on elderly neighbors and family and friends who do not have air conditioning. Infants and children up to 4 years old, people who overexert during work or exercise (e.g. construction workers) and people 65 years and older are at the highest risk of heat-related illnesses.
  •   – Use sun screenwith a sun protection factor of at least 15 if you need to be in the sun.
  •   – Keep pets indoors– heat also affects your pets, keep them indoors or if they will be outside, make sure they have plenty of water and a shaded area to help them keep cool.

 

Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst. For more information or additional locations, please call 211 for LA County or 311 for LA City.