Tips for staying cool and safe during hot weather:

  • Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. But when outside, use sunscreen and wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks.
  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
  • Infants and young children can get dehydrated very quickly. Make sure they are given plenty of cool water to drink. Keep children indoors or shaded as much as possible.
  • Check on family members, seniors, friends, neighbors, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Older adults and seniors should open windows, use fans, or seek refuge from the heat at a senior center or cooling center.
  • Never leave children or pets in closed vehicles. For more tips on taking care of your pets during the heat, visit http://www.laanimalservices.com/general-information/hot-weather-tips/

Our City’s libraries, recreation centers, and senior centers are all a part of L.A.’s network of cooling centers, and they are always available to you during regular business hours. Call 311 to find the center nearest you or visit the Mayor’s website to see a list of locations with extended hours so that Angelenos without access to air conditioning can visit and cool off past the usual closing time.