Parts of eastern San Diego County are under an excessive heat watch through Friday at 8 p.m., which means temperatures may be much hotter or conditions may be more humid than average for those areas.
Heat-related illness is a serious concern and the CDC reports that, approximately 1,220 people die in the United States every year from issues from extreme heat.
Here are some health and safety tips to keep in mind during the current heat wave, as well as any hotter-than-usual day in San Diego County.
How to access your risk
Health officials maintain that babies, young children, people over 65 years of age and people with chronic conditions, as well as people without access to air conditioning or living in isolation are at risk for heat-related illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a HeatRisk application that allows people to explore a “health-based heat forecast” from the National Weather Service. It determines the level of heat risk for a community in these categories: little to none, minor, moderate, major and extreme. On Tuesday, San Diego County was given a minor ranking on the HeatRisk map, but that was increased to moderate for Wednesday and major for Thursday and Friday.
The platform offers location-based tips and health information in response to those rankings. Use your ZIP code to explore the application here: ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/HeatRisk
Tips for staying cool:
San Diego County offers cool zones, where locals can go to find air conditioning. Find a list of available locations, organized by ZIP code, at sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/ais/cool_zones.html. For transportation, call 2-1-1.
Other tips from the county’s Health and Human Services Agency for taking care during a heat wave include:
- Take a cold shower or bath
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
- Avoid drinks that contain alcohol, caffeine, and lots of sugar
- Wear light clothing and hats
- Avoid being outdoors during hottest part of the day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Avoid strenuous activity
- Do not leave children in cars on hot days
- Do not leave pets in cars
Learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illness
For anyone needing to be outside in such heat, including construction workers or athletes, it’s important to know the signs of heat-related illness. In extreme heat, the body may have a difficult time regulating its temperature, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Many symptoms for these distinct conditions can overlap, so it’s important to be able to distinguish them.
Heat cramps: These are involuntary and painful muscle spasms and cramps in the legs and abdomen that are usually accompanied by extreme sweating. To treat, apply pressure on the muscle and gently massage, according to the National Weather Service.
Heat exhaustion: Symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, fatigue, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse and thirst. If these signs occur, move to a cool area, loosen clothing and sip water.
Heat stroke: Heat stroke can be fatal. It is marked by confusion, dizziness, a fast and strong pulse and loss of consciousness. To treat, call 911 immediately, move to a cool, shaded area, loosen or remove extra clothing and cool off with water or ice on the body. Do not drink water.
Dehydration: A person may experience dry mouth, lethargy, headache, a lack of appetite and dark urine. To treat, take a rest and drink water. Consistently sip on water instead of taking huge gulps.
Sun rash: Usually occurring on sensitive skin, this rash looks like raised red or pinks spots on the skin that has been exposed to sunlight. It’ll probably occur within a few hours of exposure and can be treated with aloe vera, cool compresses or an anti-itch cream.
Energy tips from SDG&E
San Diego Gas & Electric announced on Tuesday a series of tips related to managing energy use during hot summer months, including:
Limit appliance use: Use a slow cooker, microwave or grill instead of ovens to help save energy and keep the home cooler. Also, use dishwashers and laundry machines outside of the on-peak hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Set Up Personalized Alerts: Stay informed by adjusting energy or spending alerts to avoid surprises on your next bill.
Use the Vampire Calculator: Find out what devices in your home that may be draining energy.
For more information from SDG&E, go here.
