Feeling the heat? Head to a cooling center to escape Southern California’s triple-digit temperatures this weekend
Senior centers and public libraries may not be the first places that come to mind when you want to chill out. But in the kind of excessive heat expected this weekend, you can’t get much cooler.
Those facilities make up the bulk of public cooling centers available for escaping temperatures predicted to hit triple digits.
Whether near home or out and about somewhere else in Southern California, here are links to help find a cooling center nearby if needed:
- Los Angeles County
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
Not all centers have extended or weekend hours, so call the number listed, if possible, before heading out.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, cooling centers must accept service animals. In past years, a few cooling centers have been pet friendly. Some, such as La Habra Community Center in La Habra, accept all pets if contained. Again, check first by calling a center.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also has hot-weather safety tips for pet owners at aspca.org
You can also call the 211 information service wherever you are to inquire about cooling center locations, hours and guidelines. Additionally, Los Angeles operates a 311 information line within city limits.
Health officials have issued reminders not to take extreme weather warnings lightly, especially anyone more sensitive to heat.
Related: 5 tips for being safe in the extreme heat blanketing Southern California
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are among the serious conditions that can be caused by prolonged exposure to excessive temperatures. For people who are more sensitive to heat, such exposure can be fatal.
What warning signs should you watch for?
- Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, nausea or vomiting and dizziness.
- Heat stroke: extremely high body temperature, unconsciousness, confusion, hot and dry skin (no sweating), a rapid, strong pulse, and a throbbing headache.
More information on heat-related illnesses can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.