City of Long Beach Health Officer Dr. Mitchell Kushner is advising residents to take precautions against the heat through Saturday, Oct. 4 with the National Weather Service forecasting highs in the mid-90s to low-100s in parts of Long Beach.
“With higher temperatures, people may develop heat-related conditions such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, especially individuals working outside or participating in outdoor activities,” Kushner said.
Certain groups such as the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, infants and young children are at greater risk for heat-related illness. However, everyone should take precautions to reduce the risk of heat related illness and injury, Kushner said.
“It’s particularly important for individuals to seek air-conditioned environments during peak heat, such as stores, malls, libraries, and theaters,” he added.
Community centers at city parks also serve as air-conditioned cooling centers from Monday through Friday. A complete listing and hours of operations can be found at longbeach.gov/park/coolingcenters . If conditions warrant, operating hours and days may be extended. In addition, the Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 East 4th St., is open on weekdays from 8am to 4:30pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. All 12 Long Beach public libraries are open on Thursdays from noon to 7pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Additionally, people should remember to:
• Remain hydrated by drinking water before, during, and after outdoor activities
• Take frequent breaks while working or playing outdoors
• Wear loose-fitting, light clothing, and wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face, ears and neck if outside
• Apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 15 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply at least every two hours— sunscreen prevents skin cancer
• Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid beverages that have caffeine or alcohol
• Plan strenuous outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day, and limit time outside during peak heat
• Pace physical activities, starting slowly and picking up the pace gradually
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100-percent UVA and UVB protection since chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts
• Check on frail, elderly or home-bound individuals to make sure they are not affected by the heat
• Move to a cooler location at the first sign of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), then rest and slowly drink a cool liquid
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in the direct sunlight
• Make sure pets have plenty of shade and water to drink
• Prevent children from drowning by providing adult supervision at all times and having an entry-proof barrier that surrounds the pool or spa
For more information on how to stay healthy during hot weather, visit the Health Department’s website at longbeach.gov/health .
Source: City of LB
