In light of extreme heat conditions, I want to remind community of safety and health info for families as well as pets. -Bob

The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Watch on the night of August 13, 2015. It has been upgraded to an Excessive Heat Warning beginning August 14th at 1:00 p.m. (1300 hrs) until Sunday, August 16th at 8:00 p.m. (2000 hrs) for the following areas: San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, lower mountain areas, Santa Monica Mountains, and Ventura County. The San Fernando Valley, specifically Woodland Hills, is currently experiencing temperatures of 104° F. Temperatures will be increasing tomorrow to 106° F - 107° F, with a possible high of 108° F. The lower mountain areas and the inland coast will also be affected. Downtown Los Angeles will experience highs in the lower 90s. Overnight lows in the Valley areas will be in the 70s. The surrounding Inland Area Empire will also be experiencing excessive heat.

Library Facilities

Hours of operation for libraries vary by facility. Visit www.lapl.org/branches or call (213) 228-7000 for specific hours of operation. 

Recreation and Parks (RAP) FacilitiesThe City will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure accessibility and effective communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Hours of operation for RAP facilities vary by facility. For more information, visit laparks.org, laparks.org/dos/senior/senior.htm or call 3-1-1 for specific hours of operation. The City will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure accessibility and effective communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

The following West Valley Recreation and Parks facilities will be operating with extended hours starting at 12:00 p.m. (1200 hrs) on Friday, August 14th and extending through 9:00 p.m. (2100 hrs) Sunday, August 16th.

L.A. County Facilities

For information on cooling center locations outside of the City, contact L.A. County 2-1-1.

Tips to Beat the Heat

During periods of extreme heat, there is an increased risk of heat exhaustion, heat cramps and sunstroke. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself against extreme heat:

• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated. Persons who are on fluid-restricted diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing fluid intake.
• Avoid unnecessary sun exposure, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, when in the sun and use sunscreen.
• Check on family members, seniors, friends and neighbors and people with disabilities and other access and functional needs who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• During excessive heat, it is recommended that older adults and seniors open windows, use fans or seek refuge from the heat at a Senior Center or Cooling Center.
• Never leave children in closed vehicles. It is illegal to leave an infant or child unattended in a vehicle (California Vehicle Code Section 15620). 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. Dress children in loose, lightweight, and light colored clothing.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
• 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.
• Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
• 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.

Pet Safety in Extreme Heat

• Never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows ‘cracked’ or open. Outdoor animals should be given plenty of shade and clean drinking water. Do not leave pets outside in the sun. Pets should not be left in a garage as garages can get very hot due to lack of ventilation and insulation.
• If your pet spends time in the yard, make sure he or she has access to shade. Shaded trees, a covered patio or a cool spot under the porch can help keep your pet comfortable.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Should power outages occur, residents who require power to run medical or other life saving equipment can contact DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397), or go to www.ladwp.com for more information about their Lifeline Services Program.

To learn more preparedness tips, visit www.readyla.org, the City’s official readiness, response and recovery website. Sign up for emergency notifications from the City of Los Angeles at www.notifyla.org.