City of Long Beach Issues Extreme Heat Alert, Advises Residents to Take Precautions Against Heat

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Due to excessive temperatures forecast from Friday, Oct. 2, through Monday, Oct. 5, City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada has issued an Extreme Heat Alert and is advising community members to take precautions to protect against heat-related illness. The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures in the mid 90s, with humidity making it feel as hot as 99 degrees, increasing the risk of heat-related illness. Additionally, elevated heat index temperatures are expected to continue through the evening hours, with humidity making it feel as hot as 80 degrees or higher past 9 p.m. on multiple days, providing limited relief from the heat.

City Parks, Recreation and Marine Community Centers and Long Beach Public Library locations are available as designated cooling centers and select locations will extend standard hours through Monday, Oct. 5. Please contact Community Centers and Library locations ahead of time to confirm hours of operation.

The below community centers will offer extended hours on Sunday, Oct. 4 from noon to 5 p.m.:

• Cal Rec Community Center at Ernest McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.)
• Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
• El Dorado Park West Community Center (2800 N. Studebaker Rd.)
• Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th St.)
• Silverado Park Community Center (1545 W. 31st St.)

Water will be available at these locations while supplies last. Residents are also encouraged to bring reuseable water bottles to utilize water fountains at these locations.

Additionally, the Long Beach Multi-Service Center (MSC) will extend its standard hours from Friday, Oct. 2, through Monday, Oct. 5, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that on Friday, Oct. 2, and Monday, Oct. 5, case management will be offered only until 4 p.m. The MSC will be open, however case management will not be available on Saturday, Oct. 3, or Sunday, Oct. 4.

Extreme heat may cause power outages. View Southern California Edison's outage map here.

Older adults, those with chronic illnesses, infants and young children are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. However, anyone can suffer from heat illness. People are encouraged to check on friends, family and neighbors who are home-bound to ensure they are not affected by the heat.

Please follow these tips to stay safe:

Stay Cool

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Limit activities to morning and evening hours when possible.
• Stay in air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours (noon to 6 p.m.) or take cool showers or baths.

Hydrate

• Drink plenty of fluids; don't wait until you're thirsty.
• Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and very sugary drinks; they can be dehydrating.
• Replace salt and minerals lost during sweating with sports drinks or salty snacks.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• If you have a chronic health condition, are on water pills or have been recommended to limit water by your doctor, check in with your health care provider for guidance.

Protect Against Heat-Related Illness

• Apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Make sure pets have access to shade and water. Be aware that asphalt can burn pets' paws.
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.

Signs of Heat-Related Illness
Get medical help right away if a person's temperature rises to 103 F or above; if a person loses consciousness; if they experience fast, strong pulse; or symptoms last longer than one hour or worsen. In addition to those listed above, signs of heat-related illness include:

• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Confusion

Power Outage Food Safety
Extreme heat can increase the risk of food spoiling during a power outage. Follow these safety measures during and after a power outage to avoid foodborne illness:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. Ensure the refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees or below and the freezer temperature is 0 degrees or below.
• Foods such as leftovers, milk, fresh meat and poultry should be moved to the freezer to maintain a safe temperature for a longer period.
• Any perishable food that has been above 40 degrees for two hours or more should be discarded. Never taste food to determine if it's safe to eat. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Dispose of perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, milk, leftovers) after four hours without power or a cold source.

Water Safety
Swimming pools are a popular way to cool off, but it is important to provide entry-proof barriers around pools and spas and always provide adult supervision while children are near water.

To learn more, visit longbeach.gov/extremeheat. People are also encouraged to follow the Health Department on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department's Public Affairs Office at [email protected].

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.