The California Department of Public Health offers the following tips to stay safe during this period of excessive heat:
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Never leave infants, children, elderly or pets in a parked car. It can take as little as 10 minutes for the temperature inside a car to rise to levels that can kill.
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Drink plenty of water or juice, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcohol.
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If you don’t have air conditioning, visit a cooling center or a public place with air conditioning (such as a shopping mall or library) to cool off for a few hours each day.
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Avoid outdoor physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day. Reduce exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest, and keep physical activities to a minimum during that time.
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Wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face and neck, wear loose-fitting clothing to keep cool and to protect your skin from the sun.
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Regularly check on any elderly relatives or friends who live alone. Many may be on medications which increase likelihood of dehydration.
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To prevent overheating, use cool compresses, misting, showers and baths. Get medical attention if you experience a rapid, strong pulse, you feel delirious or have a body temperature above 102 degrees.
Source: California Department of Public Health and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
WARNING SIGNS OF POSSIBLE HEAT STROKE OR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS:
• An extremely high body temperature
• Red, hot and dry skin
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
If emergency assistance is needed, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1.
