Unseasonably hot weather is expected this week throughout Southern California, with a heat advisory kicking in late Wednesday morning for parts of L.A. and Orange counties. Record-breaking temperatures are possible later in the week.
Now, how can Angelenos and other SoCal residents stay safe and cool this weekend? We've put together this short guide to make sure, as Nelly says, it doesn't get too "hot in herre"...
Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps all become common in extreme heat situations. Here's what to look out for:
And in more severe cases...
If you encounter a person experiencing these symptoms, move them to a cooler place immediately and try to lower their temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath. In situations of heat stroke, call 911 right away, as heat stroke is a medical emergency.
It's especially important to be mindful of high risk populations - this includes people 65 years and older, infants, young children, people with chronic medical conditions, people who have mental illness, and people taking certain medications.
L.A. County has set up cooling centers across the county for those experiencing homelessness or those without air conditioning at home. To find your closest cooling center visit ready.lacounty.gov/heat/or dial 211.
Also, don't forget to save energy when you can...
Set your air conditioning at 78 or higher. If you can turn it off and use a fan instead, even better. You can pre-cool your house to 72 in the morning hours when there is lower demand on the power system, then when you set it to 78 in the afternoon, it won’t be quite as unbearable.
Unplug “energy vampires” -- those appliances that are sucking power from the grid even when they are not being used, like a microwave oven, and phone chargers.
Close drapes and blinds to keep your home cooler inside. Turn off unneeded lights.
Wait until the early morning or late evening hours to run the washing machine or dishwasher, or vacuum.
If you have an electric car, don't charge it in those afternoon or evening hours
For those lucky enough to have a pool, do your part by turning off your pool pump.
Stay cool and stay safe this weekend, L.A.!
