SerpApi.Org
Temperatures are rising in Southern California this week as the Southland faces what could be the hottest day of the summer. To help beat the heat, counties across the region have opened cooling centers.
With the heat comes fire weather warnings, risk of illnesses and a high UV index, so the cooling centers offer the public free relief from the sun.
See below for what resources SoCal counties are offering.
Los Angeles County
LA County opened several dozen cooling centers that stretch across its region.
From the high desert to the South Bay, public spaces offering air conditioning and a place to get a break from the heat are available for free to the public.
For a full list of cooling centers in LA County, click here.
And to see an interactive map of cooling centers nearest to you, click here.
Orange County
In Orange County, there are dozens of cooling centers available throughout the week to help the public escape from the heat.
The centers stretch from Brea to San Clemente to offer relief to as many residents as possible.
Some centers note whether they allow pets, as well. To see a list of centers open in the OC, click here.
Riverside County
Riverside County has also has an escape from the heat in the form of cooling centers.
A detailed list of the centers, including phone numbers to reach out to for further information, can be found here.
San Bernardino County
San Bernadino County offers dozens of Cool Places, depending on how high temps get. Check out the full list.
Ventura County
Ventura County said it operates some of its public libraries as cooling centers. To see which ones have been activated, click here.
Heat safety tips
- Stay hydrated! The more hydrated you are, the more effective your body will be at keeping you cool. Drink water – not fizzy and alcoholic drinks, which will dehydrate you.
- Avoid exercise in the middle of the day. If you need to exercise outside, do it early in the morning when the temperature is lower.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored natural fabrics like cotton and linen, as these will help your skin breathe and let your sweat evaporate, cooling you down.
- We sweat around half a pint daily from both feet (and we wonder why they stink!), so if you can, wear sandals or flip-flops to let your foot sweat evaporate.
- Use a fan to circulate air from open windows. Keep your blinds or curtains drawn during the day, so your home doesn’t heat up while you’re out. Turn off big appliances and help prevent brown-outs!
- To cool down quickly, run your wrists under a cold tap or keep a water spray in the fridge for a quick cooling spritz to the face.
- Keep some wet wipes in your bag so you can freshen up your hands, face and neck if you get hot or clammy.
- Want to stay cool at night? One way is to wash your feet in cool water or take a cold shower before bedtime – especially if you get hot during the night or have hot sweats.
- To cool down in bed, try keeping your pillowcase or sheets in a plastic bag in the fridge during the day. Put them back on the bed at night. The fabric will stay cool when you’re trying to get to sleep.
- And bring your pets in and make sure they have shade and water.
- Be prepared for power outages and know where cooling centers are!
