By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office
Residents are reminded to avoid activities that may cause overheating due to high temperatures this week in San Diego’s valleys and deserts.
“With hot weather comes huge risks for many San Diegans, especially our seniors and the disabled,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents much of East County. “In light of the current stay-at-home orders, it’s critical that we are in contact with family, friends and neighbors and make sure they are doing all they can to stay cool.”
The National Weather Service issued the heat advisory for county valleys including the cities of Escondido, El Cajon, San Marcos, Santee, and Poway. Temperatures will be in the 90s with a peak of 95 to 100 on Wednesday and Thursday. Forecasters also issued an excessive heat warning for the San Diego County deserts where temperatures are expected to reach 103 to 108 degrees in the afternoons.
During this hot weather, seniors can stay home and stay cool. Even with some Cool Zone sites opening at the end of May, not all seniors or persons with disabilities can leave home to escape the heat. Homebound individuals, those lacking transportation, and those who decide to stay home due to the risk of COVID-19, may not be able to take advantage of traditional Cool Zone sites.
To help these community members beat the heat, the County of San Diego, in partnership with SDG&E, provides free electric fans to those who are living on limited incomes. To be eligible, a resident must not have access to an air-conditioned space at their home or apartment building. To learn more about the fan program or to request a fan, call Aging & Independence Services at (800) 339-4661.
“We want to thank our SDG&E community partner for making this program available to give some relief from the heat to our more vulnerable residents,” said County Supervisor Jim Desmond
whose district covers parts of North County out to the desert.
Health officials recommend people do the following to avoid overheating
•If available, 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
Older adults (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. This can be done while adhering to social distancing recommendations in person or by phone or video conferencing if available.
For more information on extreme heat, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information on the Cool Zones program as well as tips to stay cool at home, visit www.coolzones.org.
Related: heatheat advisoryheat warning
Yvette Urrea Moe is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office
