PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – Due to excessive temperatures forecasted to begin Monday, Sept. 1, and continue through Tuesday, Sept. 2, City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis has issued a Heat Alertand is advising community members to take precautions to protect against heat-related illness. The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures ranging from the mid-90s to low 100s in parts of Long Beach.

With Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) community centers and Long Beach Public Library locations, which typically serve as cooling centers during normal business hours, scheduled to be closed for the Labor Day holiday, the City of Long Beach is opening temporary cooling centers from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1 at select PRM community centers across Long Beach to provide community members with safe, air-conditioned spaces to seek relief from the heat. In addition, the City’s Multi-Service Center (MSC), which supports people experiencing homelessness, will also open as a temporary cooling center on Monday, Sept. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please note that no case management services will be offered at the MSC on Monday, Sept. 1.

Temporary cooling center locations open on Monday, Sept. 1:

• El Dorado Park West Community Center(2800 Studebaker Rd., 90815) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Long Beach Senior Center(1150 E. 4th St., 90802)from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Silverado Park Community Center (1545 W. 31st St., 90810)from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave., 90805) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• MSC(1301 W. 12th St., 90813)from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Transportation services to the MSC will be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the 702 Year-Round Shelter (702 W Anaheim St.), Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway, 90802), Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St., 90813) and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave., 90805). Return trips from MSC will also be available upon request. Homeless Services Bureau staff will conduct outreach to notify people of the cooling center and transportation opportunities.

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, all PRM Community Centers and Long Beach Public Library locations will resume their regular schedules and be available as designated cooling centers during their normal business hours. Please contact Community Centers and Library locations ahead of time to confirm they are open in the case of unexpected closures. Additionally, the MSC will extend its standard hours on Tuesday, Sept. 2 and be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please note that case management will only be offered until 4 p.m.

People are encouraged to check on friends, family, and neighbors who are homebound to ensure they are not affected by the heat.

Older adults, those with chronic illnesses, infants, and young children are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. However, anyone can suffer from heat illness. Please follow these tips to stay safe:

Stay Cool

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Limit activities to morning and evening hours when possible.
• Stay in air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours (noon to 6 p.m.) or take cool showers or baths.

Hydrate

• Drink plenty of fluids; don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
• Stay away from alcohol, caffeine and very sugary drinks; they can be dehydrating.
• Replace salt and minerals lost during sweating with sports drinks or salty snacks.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• If you have a chronic health condition, are on water pills or have been advised to limit water by your doctor, check in with your health care provider for guidance.

Protect Against Heat-Related Illness

• Apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Make sure pets have access to shade and water.  Be aware that asphalt can burn pets’ paws.
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.

Signs of Heat-Related Illness
Get medical help right away if a person’s temperature rises to 103 or above; if a person loses consciousness; if they experience fast, strong pulse; or symptoms last longer than one hour or worsen. In addition to those listed above, signs of heat-related illness include:

• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Confusion

Swimming pools are a popular way to cool off, but it is important to provide entry-proof barriers around pools and spas and always provide adult supervision while children are near water.

To learn more, visit longbeach.gov/extremeheat. People are also encouraged to follow the Health Department on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Health Department’s Public Affairs Office at HE-PublicAffairs@longbeach.gov.