San Diegans urged to take precautions during heat

Given the extreme heat the region will be experiencing this week, County health officials are encouraging San Diegans to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. People should especially pay close attention to children, the elderly and pets.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for San Diego County deserts, mountains and valleys that is expected to last until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26. [Ninety degree weather is to continue through next week.]

“Hot days followed by warm nights increase the likelihood of heat-related illnesses,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer.

The County operates the Cool Zones program and has designated more than 115 air-conditioned buildings as places people can get relief from the heat.

Fallbrook has three Cool Zone locations. Fallbrook Community Center, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Fallbrook Senior Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. are both open Monday through Friday. Fallbrook Library is open Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m .; Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m .; Friday/Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Locations and hours of operation for other areas can be found on a new interactive map on CoolZones.org, or by calling 2-1-1 San Diego (dial 2-1-1).

You can also call 1-800-339-4661 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sites are identified by a light blue polar bear Cool Zone logo.

“Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Do not rely on electric fans for cooling if temperatures exceed 90 degrees,” Wooten said.

To avoid heat-related problems, health officials recommend the following:

● Stay in an air-conditioned area during the hottest hours of the day

● Wear light, loose-fitting clothing

● Drink plenty of water (avoid alcohol and sugary drinks) and don’t wait until you are thirsty

● Take cool showers

● Never leave a child, elderly person, or pet unattended in a car

● Keep pets cool in hot weather

● Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities outside during the hottest part of the day

● Avoid unnecessary sun exposure and wear a wide-brim hat if you need to be in the sun

● Avoid using the oven to cook

An extremely high body temperature (103 or higher), dizziness, nausea, confusion, and headache are signs of heatstroke or exhaustion. If someone shows these signs, call 9-1-1 and begin cooling the individual by:

● Moving them to a shaded area

● Spraying with cool water and fanning them

● Placing them in a cool shower if they are alert

● Monitoring the body temperature and continue cooling efforts

● Do not give the victim fluids to drink

Elderly people (65 years and older), infants and children, and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat stress. People with elderly neighbors should check in on their well-being.

For more information on extreme heat, visit http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html.