Stay Safe in the Heat!

Helpful Tips from LAIST.com:

Los Angeles is hot and getting hotter, as we delve deeper into the summer season. Even if temperatures don’t always reach triple digits, the heat can still take its toll. We have tips to stay cool and protect against heat-related illnesses, and we’ve also collected maps and links to local cooling centers.

Below you’ll find practical advice from health officials, updated local resources, and DIY suggestions from formerly warm people. Do you have a dependable method for hacking your body temperature? Share your coolness on the Twitter or in the comments.

AND NOW A WORD ABOUT DRINKING

In the face of tyrannical temperatures, it’s essential to stay hydrated. Failing to drink enough water can result in a number of dangerous defeats — including, but not limited to, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. Not all beverages are on your side. To make sure you’re imbibing only allies, follow these basic guidelines:

Tip: Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water or electrolyte-replacements

Tip: Drink cool water, not extremely cold water (which can cause cramps)

Tip: Avoid sweetened drinks, caffeine, and alcohol

The CDC says that in extreme heat, you must increase fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. If engaging in “heavy exercise in a hot environment,” they recommend drinking:

2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids every hour.

SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Faintness
  • Headaches
  • Muscle cramps
  • Increased thirst

MORE SEVERE SIGNS

  • Diminished judgment
  • Disorientation
  • Pale and clammy skin
  • Rapid, weak pulse
  • Fast, shallow breathing
  • Unconsciousness
  • Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
  • An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)

HOW TO LOOK COOL

In times of excessive heat, authorities say to dress like you’re on vacation. That includes:

  • Hat, preferably with a wide brim
  • Loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts and pants
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses

WHERE IS THE CLOSEST COOLING CENTER

In L.A., Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, call 3-1-1 or call for a list of cooling centers. In the city of Los Angeles, you can also find a list of recreation centers, senior centers and libraries — all good choices for cooling off — online.

Tip: Call the center in advance to make sure seating is available.

Tip: If the center you want is at capacity, or non-operational, head to a local, air-conditioned library and cool off with a book about ice fishing in Antarctica.

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PROTECT A PET FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT

  • Never leave a pet or animal in a garage
  • Never leave a pet or animal in a vehicle
  • Never leave a pet or animal in the sun
  • Provide shade
  • Provide clean drinking water

PROTECT A HUMAN FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT

Check in frequently with family, friends, and neighbors. Offer assistance or rides to those who are sick or have limited access to transportation. And give extra attention to people most at risk, including:

  • Elderly people (65 years and older)
  • Infants
  • Young children
  • People with chronic medical conditions
  • People with mental illness
  • People taking certain medications (i.e.: “If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot,” says the CDC)

OTHER STAY COOL TIPS

  • Kiddie pool
  • Lotions in the fridge
  • Eat spicy foods in the basement (or on the floor) while wearing a damp shirt and listening to the rain setting on your white noise machine
  • Make sure ceiling fans are running counterclockwise
  • Wet paper towels. Fold into ankle and wrist cuffs. Freeze. Wear. Repeat.
  • Build a DIY AC
  • Build a mini cold air fan
  • Build an “evaporative cooler for immediate heat relief
  • Make a barricade of fans and ice cubes
  • Go to an air-conditioned public place (movie theater, for example)
  • Close all the curtains, preferably the heat-absorbing kind
  • Or open all the windows, depending on the breeze situation
  • Cool bath or shower twice a day
  • Wash your sheets before bed but don’t dry them — put them on your bed damp (provided you’re dealing with a dry heat)
  • Portable A/C unit

You can also check out some of our other previous stories about heat hacks:

COVID-19 TIPS

Public Health Hotline

Public Health has a hotline for those who have a confirmed case of COVID-19. If you have not yet connected with a public health specialist or need more information on services, please call the COVID-19 Case Info Line toll-free at (833) 540-0473. Residents who do not have COVID-19 should continue to call 211 for resources or more information.

Medical Sheltering

If you have COVID-19, are suspected to have COVID-19, or have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 AND are experiencing homelessness or are unable to safely isolate at home, medical sheltering may be available on a first come, first served basis through LA County. Call the Case Info Line at (833) 540-0473 or 2-1-1 for more information and to request a referral from the Department of Public Health.

Face Coverings are Essential to Stopping the Spread

It is critical everyone remembers how to use and care for their cloth face coverings correctly. Make sure you wash or sanitize your hands before you put it on and ALWAYS make sure it covers your nose and mouth securely. How to cover up properly:

  1. Sanitize or wash your hands
  2. Carefully put on your cloth face covering so it covers your nose and mouth, avoiding touching the front of the covering
  3. Sanitize or wash your hands before removal
  4. Remove the covering by only handling the straps or untying the part not touching your face
  5. Place the face covering in a paper bag
  6. Sanitize or wash your hands after handling the face covering.

COVID-19 Testing

LA County strongly encourages all LA County residents who are interested in being tested to first contact their Primary Care Provider or Healthcare Center about receiving a test at their facility. If you do not have access to this care or are unable to contact them, dial 2-1-1 for a referral to a provider.

Testing priority is given to those in the following groups:

  • People with the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
  • People working or living in places such as skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential care facilities, and persons experiencing homelessness.
  • People who were in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Visit the COVID-19 testing website for more information and to sign up for a free test.

And whether or not you get tested for COVID-19, remember:

  1. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you need to isolate. Keep your physician informed on your symptoms and, especially if you are elderly or have an underlying health condition, seek medical care if your symptoms worsen. If you don’t have a physician, call 211 to get connected to one. And if you are having trouble breathing or have other severe symptoms, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
  2. If you were exposed to someone with a known infection, you need to quarantine for the full 14 days. A COVID-19 test should never be used as a way to end quarantine early. It will never do that.
  3. The health officer orders are there to keep you and others safe, while still allowing society to reopen. A negative test cannot reassure you that you haven’t been exposed and won’t turn positive tomorrow. Don’t use a negative test as a “free pass” that allows others outside of your household to safely interact with you. It is not safe.

Click/tap here to learn more about COVID-19 testing in LA County.

You Are Not Alone

If the news surrounding COVID-19 is making you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, visit the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) COVID-19 mental health resource page, call their 24/7 hotline at (800) 854-7771 or text LA to 741741 to get help.

Speed Hump Application Cycle to Open Sept. 16, 2020

Reynier Village Neighborhood Association (RVNA) was asked to share the following information with our neighbors:

Speed Hump Application Cycle to Open Sept. 16

Starting on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 a.m., LADOT will initiate a new round of the city speed hump application cycle. Residents may petition the department for the construction of speed humps at new locations provided that certain criteria are met. The filing window, which occurs biannually, will continue until the set threshold for requests is met. Details may be found on the LADOT speed hump request page. Applicants are encouraged to apply promptly after the application opens due to high demand.

https://ladot.lacity.org/projects/safety-programs/speed-humps

Senior Lead Officer Christopher Baker – Commendations

Reynier Village Neighbors have frequently expressed positive stories of the help they have received from our Senior Lead Officer Christopher Baker!

If you would like to share your experiences of Officer Baker with his superiors at the LAPD, you can mail in the following form with your comments!

Covid-19 Recommendations for Our Neighbors