‘Extreme Heat Advisory’ issued in Los Angeles
Posted by admin | Posted in Fire News | Posted on 24-08-2010
Tags: 'Extreme, Advisory', Angeles, Heat, issued
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The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services issued an ‘Extreme Heat Advisory’ due to the National Weather Service’s forecast that hot weather will affect much of southwestern California today.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is issuing an ‘Extreme Heat Advisory’ due to the National Weather Service’s forecast that hot weather will affect much of southwestern California today.
Highs are expected to range from the upper 80′s into the triple digits in the San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys.
“While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded how to take care of themselves, children, elderly and even their pets when the weather gets this hot,” said Jonathan Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Director and County Health Officer.
“When the temperature is this high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.” Also, the air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive individuals in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys.
Persons with heart disease or asthma and other lung disease should minimize outdoor activity in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. Poor air quality can make people even more susceptible to heat-related illness.
If you plan to be outdoors, please take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst.
Individuals with these symptoms should be removed to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms (such as disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing) may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and require immediate medical attention.
Health department officials recommend several ways to manage the heat:
- Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.
- Drink water often; don’t wait until you are thirsty.
- Offer assistance to shut-ins in your neighborhood; check on them frequently during hot weather.
- During peak heat hours stay in an air-conditioned area. If you don’t have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
- Cooling stations are available in many areas.
- Avoid unnecessary exertion if you are outside or in a non-air conditioned building.
- Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim.
- If you know seniors or people whose immune and respiratory systems are not working properly or who live alone, check on them regularly to make sure they are staying cool.An early warning sign of heat-related illnesses is diminished judgment. The use of the buddy system is important in all situations. Check on seniors frequently. Never leave children, elderly people or pets unattended in closed cars or other vehicles, since temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels.
Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 3,800 employees and has an annual budget exceeding 0 million.
-During the current Southern California heat wave, officials have opened cooling centers at community facilities in the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Fire Department encourage seniors and others at greatest risk to consider these sites when seeking refuge from the heat. To find a cooling center in the Greater Los Angeles area, local residents may call Infoline LA at 800-339-6993 or 2-1-1.
NOTE:The Los Angeles Fire Department offers additional information on Hot Weather Safety.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey & Erik Scott, Spokesmen
Los Angeles Fire Department
