Temperatures Expected to Heat Up This Weekend

Temperatures are expected to soar this weekend. That fact, coupled with increased humidity in some areas, make it that much more important to stay cool.

Local officials have set up cooling centers all over Los Angeles County, and some of them are in your neighborhood, including:

Griffith Park Adult Community Center, located at 3203 Riverside Drive, is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Call (323) 644-5579 for more information.

Echo Park Branch Library, located at 1410 W. Temple St., is open from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Call (213)250-7808 for more information.

Frances Howard Goldwyn-Hollywood Regional Library, located at 1623 Ivar Ave., is open from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Call (323)856-8260 for more information.

L.A. County has also issued a guide that includes the following tips to help protect you from the heat:

• Avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the burning rays are strongest.
• Reduce physical activity.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light colored lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when you are outdoors
• Avoid hot, heavy meals that include proteins.
• Set your air conditioner between 75° to 80°. If you don’t have air-conditioning take a cool shower twice a day and visit a public air conditioned facility.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcohol.
• Use sun screen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 if you need to be in the sun.
• Don’t forget about your pets, they need plenty of water and shade.
• Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst.

To find out about other cooling centers in nearby areas, call 3-1-1, or  visit http://lacoa.org/PDF/ESP_FocusSheet_Heatwave_0710.pdf

How do you plan to beat the heat? Tell us in the comments.