Mayor Bass Leads City Preparations to Keep Angelenos Safe During This Week’s Record-Breaking Heat

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LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass is leading City action to protect Angelenos from the record-breaking heat that will impact Los Angeles this week. An Extreme Heat Warningwill be in effect beginning Tuesday, March 17, at 10:00 AM through Friday, March 20, at 8:00 PM. Hundreds of City libraries, recreation centers, and other locations are available for Angelenos seeking to beat the heat, in addition to dedicated cooling centers that will operate in the Valley, near the Eastside, and in South LA. These centers will be open to pets as well.

Angelenos are encouraged to call 3-1-1 or visit laparks.org/reccenterand lapl.org/branchesfor information about the cooling centers.

"As a former nurse and a physician assistant, I know first-hand that this heat is something to treat extremely seriously, and I'm making sure the City is preparing accordingly," said Mayor Bass. "Hundreds of City facilities, including libraries and recreation centers, are available for Angelenos who need to stay cool. Do not hesitate - get indoors and into air conditioning and protect yourself."

The Mayor's Office of Public Safety continues to coordinate with the Emergency Management Department, LAFD, LAPD, Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and other City Departments to keep residents safe. Angelenos are also encouraged to sign up for weather alerts at NotifyLA.org.

Cooling Centers

The City of Los Angeles has hundreds of locations open for relief from the heat, including Recreation and Parks facilities and local library branches. For locations and hours of operation, visit laparks.org/reccenterand lapl.org/branches. Angelenos can also call 3-1-1 to learn more.

In addition, the City has identified the following locations to operate under extended hours (9:00 AM - 10:00 PM) and open exclusively to Angelenos and their pets seeking relief from the heat beginning Tuesday, March 17, and through the duration of the heat event:

San Fernando Valley

• Canoga Park Senior Citizen's Center (7326 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303)

• North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center (5301 Tujunga Ave. North Hollywood, CA 91601)

Downtown L.A.

• Pecan Recreation Center (145 S. Pecan St., Los Angeles, CA 90033)

South L.A.

• Algin Sutton Recreation Center (8800 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles, CA 90044)

Pools and Splash Pads

Department of Recreation and Parks public pools and splash pads will continue to be open to the public during normal hours of operation. Click herefor more information.

Los Angeles Fire Department

The LAFD is actively monitoring the weather conditions and is prepared to respond to any incidents that arise due to this heatwave.

Residents can sign up for LAFD alerts here.

Safety Tips For Angelenos To Avoid Heat Injury:

• Seek shade and refuge from the hot sun if you need to be outside.

• Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water - especially if you drink coffee or soda.

• Check in on and prepare your household, family, friends, pets and workplace.

• Limit your exposure to direct sunlight between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the sun's rays are strongest.

• If you feel ill, tell someone immediately. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, and headache.

• Symptoms of heat stroke include:

  • High body temperature (103°F or higher)

  • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

  • Fast, strong pulse

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Nausea

  • Confusion

  • Loss of consciousness (passing out)

• In the event of a heat stroke:

  • Call 911 right away - heat stroke is a medical emergency

  • Move the person to a cooler place

  • Help lower the person's temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath

  • Do not give the person anything to drink

• Listen to your body and remember that those with chronic illness such as asthma, heart disease etc., are more vulnerable to extreme heat. Please take extra precautions.

• Clickherefor safety tips in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more.

Protecting Pets From Extreme Heat:

Below are tips to keep your pets safe from the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services:

• Never leave your pet alone inside a vehicle. A car can overheat even when a window has been slightly opened.

• Pets can get dehydrated quickly in hot water, always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water to drink.

• Keep pets indoors (if possible) during hot weather. If they are outside, ensure they have adequate shade to escape the sun and plenty of fresh water nearby.

• Avoid walking pets during the warmest parts of the day (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM).

• Avoid hot surfaces. Touch the ground first before venturing out. If the surface is too hot to touch with your hand or bare feet, it's too hot for your pet's paws.

• For more hot weather pet safety tips, visitLAAnimalServices.com/hot-weather-tips.

Protecting Unhoused Angelenos

LAHSA is conducting outreach to inform Angelenos of the extreme heat and provide them with heat safety information, cooling center locations, water bottles, and other supplies.

Climate stations that provide cold beverages, seating, shade, and more are open in Skid Row for Angelenos to stay cool. Stations are operating at:

• Towne St. (between 5th St. & 6th St.) across the street from the ReFresh Spot

• San Pedro St., mid-block between 6th St. & 7th St.

• 5th and Maple

The ReFresh Spot located at 544 Towne Avenue is also open and provides the Skid Row community access to drinking water, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. The ReFresh Spot is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to anyone in the community, free of charge.

Conserving Energy While Staying Cool

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reminds Angelenos to conserve energy use where possible as demand for electricity may increase as customers run air conditioners. LADWP recommends the following to conserve electricity safely while helping reduce any potential strain on neighborhood electrical infrastructure:

• Adjust air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees. If you are away from your home and do not have pets inside, turn off the air conditioning system.

• Limit the use of major appliances such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and dishwashers to before 4:00 PM or after 9:00 PM.

• Ventilate your home in the early morning and evening by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate. Close curtains, shades or blinds during warmer hours to reduce heat from direct sunlight.

• Turn off lights and other electrical equipment when not in use.

• Unplug energy vampires like cellphone and computer chargers, and other appliances that use energy when not in use.

• Avoid using the stove and oven if possible, which can help keep indoor temperatures down.

In the event of a power outage:

• Report power outages atwww.ladwp.com/outagesor by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).

• LADWP customers can sign up to receive outage alerts via text or email atwww.ladwp.com/outagealert.

• LADWP also shares updates on outage restoration progress to affected communities via NextDoor.com.

To find out more about LADWP's rebates and programs, click here.