Health Officer Issues Heat Advisory for High Heat

With above average temperatures expected, the County of San Bernardino Health Officer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare has issued a heat advisory. Forecasted temperatures of 105 degrees to 110 degrees are expected for the inland valleys, mountains and desert regions. Residents are urged to take precautions that will help prevent heat-related illness. High or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. Most vulnerable are the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and people with chronic medical conditions. Take the necessary precautions to prevent serious health effects such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke by following the tips: 1. Stay cool. 2. Stay in air-conditioned buildings. 3. Find an air-conditioned Cooling Center open to the public by dialing the United Way’s toll-free resource telephone line at 2-1-1, or online at www.coolingsb.org. 4. Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device. 5. Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when it is the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight. 6. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. 7. Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature. 8. Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors at least twice a day. 9. Stay hydrated by drinking water more than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. 10. Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working. 11. Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar. 12. Make sure your family, friends and neighbors are drinking enough water. Pet owners should also be extra watchful in these higher than normal temperatures. San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control says pets are vulnerable to high temperatures, especially during a heat wave, and are unable to cool down their bodies as humans can. Animals left outside in high heat temperatures can suffer from heat-related stress, burned paws, sunburn, and even death. Pet owners are advised to follow these simple hot weather tips to keep their pets healthy, safe and alive: 1. Make sure pets have plenty of fresh, clean water every day and that the water container is stable to avoid tipping over and located in a shaded area. 2. If traveling or leaving the home with a pet, always carry sufficient drinking water for it. 3. Bring pets inside during the hot time of the day and let them rest in a cool part of the house. 4. Make certain pets have plenty of shade if they are to be kept outside. Remember, the shade your pets have in the morning will either change or diminish as the sun moves throughout the day and may not protect them. 5. Never leave pets in a parked vehicle-even in the shade with windows cracked, temperatures can reach a dangerous 120 degrees inside. The vehicle is quickly turned into a furnace and can kill any animal. 6. Don’t force animals to exercise when it is hot and humid. Exercise pets early in the morning or late in the evening. 7. In extremely hot weather, do not let pets stand on sidewalks or hot asphalt to avoid burning their paws. 8. Pets can get sunburned too! Keep pets out of the sun during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Put sunscreen on pet’s unprotected areas such as tips of noses and ear tips, especially on short haired fair-colored pets. 9. Remember pets can suffer heat-related stress and danger just as humans can, so take extra precautions during this summer’s rising temperatures and protect them.