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

• Extra Large
• Large
• Normal
• Small

PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Due to ongoing excessive temperatures forecast this week, City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada has extended the Sept. 8 heat alert until 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11.

The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures in the mid to high 80s, with humidity making it feel as hot as 96 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 until 12 a.m., providing limited relief from the heat. Dr. Okada is advising community members to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness.

City Parks, Recreation and Marine Community Centers and Long Beach Public Library locations are available as designated cooling centers during their normal business hours. Please contact Community Centers and Library locations ahead of time to confirm they are open in the case of unexpected closures.

Additionally, the Long Beach Multi-Service Center will extend its standard hours on Friday, Sept. 11, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as an additional cooling center. Please note that case management will only be offered until 4 p.m.

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

Food Safety During Power Outages
Extreme heat can increase the risk of food spoiling during a power outage. Follow these safety measures during 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.

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

• Watch closely: Keep children within arm's reach and give them your full attention-without distractions from phones or books.
• Water watcher: Assign a specific adult to watch the water, taking turns with other adults.
• Pool fences: Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around home pools.

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.