Print
Category: California News

Sacramento, California - As temperatures begin to warm up throughout the state, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Karen Smith advises California residents to prepare themselves for what could be a very hot, dry summer.

“Because this hot spell has come on rather suddenly, many people may be caught off guard by the warm up,” Dr. Smith Said. “It is important that all Californians take precautions to prevent heat-related illness and stay hydrated.”

In areas where air quality is impacted, people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory diseases should minimize outdoor activities. Summer schools and programs with children who have sensitive conditions, including heart disease, asthma and other respiratory diseases should not participate in outdoor physical activity and should stay indoors as much as possible.

Extreme heat poses a substantial health risk, especially in vulnerable populations including young children, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and people who are socially isolated. Heat-related illnesses include cramps, heat exhaustion and, most seriously, heat stroke and death. Warning signs of heat-related illnesses vary, but may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, nausea or vomiting, paleness, tiredness or dizziness.

Smith offers the following tips to stay safe in extreme heat: 

In California, employers with outdoor places of employment are required to prevent heat illness in their employees. For more information, please see Cal/OSHA’s webpage on Heat Illness Prevention: http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/HeatIllnessInfo.html

For more information, go to CDPH’s Preventing Summer Heat Injuries page.