How To Survive And Stay Cool In This Heat

Updated Apr 7, 2022 10:26 PM

Published Jul 9, 2021 12:33 PM

An image of the downtown Los Angeles skyline with an orange sunset in the background.

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

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"...

How Do I Stay Cool?

Make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated (no, this doesn't include coffee or alcohol!). The CDC recommends 2-4 glasses of water every hour to prevent dehydration.
Wear light-weight and light colored clothes. Don't forget to bring a hat or umbrella to protect your face and wear sunscreen!
Avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day, if you can.

What Heat-Related Illnesses Should I Look Out For?

Chart outlining heat illness symptoms and what to do in each circumstance

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps all become common in extreme heat situations. Here's what to look out for:

Dizziness
Fatigue
Faintness
Headaches
Muscle cramps
Increased thirst

And in more severe cases...

Diminished judgment
Disorientation
Pale and clammy skin
Rapid, weak pulse
Fast, shallow breathing
Unconsciousness
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)

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.

Where Can I Go To Cool Off?

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.

How Do I Keep My Pets Safe?

Never leave your pets in the hot car: if you see a pet unattended in a hot car, call 911 immediately.
Avoid hot surfaces like asphalt that can burn your pets' paws.
Make sure they have enough shade and water.
Watch out for heat stress - this can include panting, excessive drooling, weakness, and reluctance to move.
Many cooling centers also allow pets! Call 211 to find out which ones allow your furry friends to tag along.

Anything Else I Can Do?

Soak in a kiddie pool
Wet paper towels. Fold into ankle and wrist cuffs. Freeze. Wear. Repeat.
Build a DIY AC
Build a mini cold air fan
Build an "evaporative cooler for immediate heat relief"
Make a barricade of fans and ice cubes
Go to an air-conditioned store and browse for as long as possible (Target is a good option for this).
Take a cool bath or shower
Portable A/C unit

Also, don't forget to save energy when you can...

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

How You Can Save Energy

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.!