Long Beach Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, is advising residents to take precautions against the heat today, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 25. The National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the 80s and mid-90s in parts of Long Beach.
People who are elderly, those with chronic illnesses, infants and young children are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. However, everyone should take precautions to reduce the risk of heat-related illness and injury:
- Visit air-conditioned environments during peak heat (noon to 4 p.m.) such as stores, malls, theaters, etc. All Parks, Recreation and Marine Community Centers and libraries are designated cooling centers; for more information, visit http://bit.ly/LongBeachCoolingCenters.
- Check on friends, family and neighbors who are frail and elderly or home-bound to make sure they are not affected by the heat.
- Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.
- Drink plenty of water before, during and after outdoor activities.
- Make sure pets have plenty of shade and water to drink.
- 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 you will be outside.
- Apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 15 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply at least every two hours.
- 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. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
- Move to a cooler location at first sign of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), rest and slowly drink a cool liquid.
- Prevent children from drowning by providing entry-proof barriers around pools and spas. at all times, and always provide adult supervision while children are near water.
For more tips, visit: www.longbeach.gov/healthand follow Health and Human Services on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.