San Diego Heat Wave: Health Officials Urge Public To Take Precautions Ahead Of Hot Weather

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – With the first heat wave of the season hitting the San Diego region, county health officials are reminding the public to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses and pay extra attention to children, elderly and pets.

The National Weather Service in San Diego issued an excessive heat warning effective from 11 a.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Wednesday at 9 p.m. for the desert areas of eastern San Diego County, including Borrego Springs. A less severe heat advisory has been issued for mountain areas with elevations lower than 5,000 feet, which includes Julian and Pine Valley, will run from 11 a.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will be in the 110 to 116 range Friday through Sunday with highs of 116 to 122 degrees Monday through Wednesday. Mountain and foothill areas in the county are expected to be 92 to 102 degrees Saturday and Sunday, increasing to 96 to 104 degrees Monday through Wednesday.

With hot weather expected throughout the region, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reminded community members Friday that children, elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat stress than others.

While even a few hours spent in an air-conditioned building can help significantly, health officials said community members should not rely on electric fans if temperatures exceed 90 degrees.

In an effort to help keep community members cool during the heat wave, the county's "Cool Zones" program has designated more than 115 air-conditioned buildings as public cooling centers. Locations and hours of operation can be found at CoolZones.org, or by calling 2-1-1 San Diego.

The county is extending the Cool Zone hours at the Borrego Springs branch of the San Diego County Library. The library will be open on Monday, when it’s normally closed, from noon to 5 p.m. The library is usually open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, but is shifting its hours that day to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The library is located at 587 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 125.

To avoid heat-related problems, health officials recommend:

• Staying in an air-conditioned area during the hottest hours of the day
• Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing
• Drinking plenty of water while avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks
• Taking cool showers
• Never leaving a child, elderly person, or pet unattended in a car
• Keeping pets cool in
• Avoiding unnecessary hard work or activities outdoors during the hottest part of the day
• Avoiding unnecessary sun exposure and wearing a wide-brim hat if venturing into unshaded areas
• Refraining from using ovens to cook

Signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion include an extremely elevated body temperature — 103 degrees or higher — along with dizziness, nausea, confusion and headache.

According to health officials, anyone who displays such symptoms should be immediately moved to a shaded spot and fanned, sprayed with water or placed in a cool shower if alert. Additionally, the victim's body temperature should be monitored. He or she should also keep from consuming any liquids until the condition passes or medical attention is sought, officials said.

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