In case you haven’t heard about the extremely warm weather, we thought it was worth repeating. City officials are advising residents to prepare for a long-duration Extreme Heat event, coupled with bad air quality, from Wednesday, August 31 through Tuesday, September 6.
According to an alert from the City’s Chief Heat Officer Marta Segura, “temperatures could reach 115 degrees in parts of Los Angeles. During an extended duration extreme heat event like this, there are more hospitalizations because our bodies are less able to recover from the heat. As temperatures rise, the City of Los Angeles urges Angelenos to plan and prepare to avoid heat exhaustion in your communities and for yourself.”
Segura cautions all Angelenos that “Extreme heat stagnates air pollution and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities such as seniors, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions that live, work, and play in pollution burdened areas, who then are most likely to be hospitalized and suffer from heat exhaustion. Please take care of yourself, loved ones, pets, and the community by checking in on them, and never leave anyone in a vehicle.”
Residents are advised to learn the symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stress (see graphic below) and if necessary, call 311.
“The Department of Public Works has been modernizing our green infrastructure to climate adapt our city from extreme heat, including shade structures, street trees and more,” stated Vice President of the Board of Public Works, Teresa Villegas, “The Department stands ready to support the Chief Heat Officer, the Emergency Management Department and the City of LA’s emergency response needs in a coordinated and unified approach, should the need arise during this extended extreme heat event.”
Here are some additional tips for dealing with Extreme Heat:
- Stay indoors during peak heat hours (typically from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
- Drink plenty of water. Bring a reusable bottle of water with you when going outside.
- Keep your pets cool and hydrated too, and off the pavement during extreme heat. Keep pets indoors or when going outside, and ensure they have plenty of water and a shaded area to help them keep cool.
- Find places in your community where you can stay cool (i.e. air conditioned parks, pools, and recreational centers).
- Keep your home cool by covering windows with drapes or shades, add insulation to keep the heat out, and use fans and air conditioners.
- Wear a hat and light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when outdoors.
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
- Beware of heat-related illnesses. Call 911 if you’re experiencing high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.
- Monitor those at high risk of heat-related illnesses. These include the elderly, infants and children up to 4 years old, pregnant women, and people who overexert during work or exercise (e.g. construction workers).
- Park your car under a shady area, and don’t leave children and pets unattended in hot cars.
For more information on how to achieve heat relief and protect yourself, here are additional City resources:
- Join the #HeatRelief4LA Campaign on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
- Sign up for NotifyLA extreme heat alerts
- MyLA311 (dial 3-1-1) for information on Cooling Centers
- Library Information Office: (213) 228-7555
- City of LA Emergency Management Department Beat the Heat website
- LA County 2-1-1 (dial 2-1-1) or visit www.211la.org
- See SwimLA.org for locations of city pools and splash pads
- Ready LA County Extreme Heat website
