PRESS RELEASE

Heat Safety

Water Safety

Food Safety

Drink plenty of fluids.

• Increase fluid intake regardless of activity level. During hot weather, drink more liquid than thirst indicates. This is especially true for those over 65 years of age.
• Ensure that infants and children drink adequate amounts of liquids.
• Give outdoor animals plenty of fresh water; leave the water in a shady area.

Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen.

• Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a wide-brimmed hat will keep the head cool.
• Dress infants and young children in cool, loose clothing, and shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella.
• A variety of sunscreens are available to reduce the risk of sunburn. Check the sun protection factor (SPF) number on the label of the sunscreen container. Select SPF 15 or higher and follow package directions.

Stay cool indoors or at a designated cooling center.

• Utilize the City’s cooling centers during peak heat hours of the day.
• Do not rely on electric fans as the primary cooling device during a heat wave. When the temperature is in the high 90s or higher, a fan will not prevent heat-related illness. A cool shower or bath is a more effective way to cool off.
• Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car. Bring pets indoors to protect them.

Use a buddy system.

• When working in the heat, coworkers should monitor each other’s conditions.
• Those 65 years of age or older should have a friend or relative call to check up twice a day during a heat wave. Residents are encouraged to check up on friends in this age group at least twice a day.

Monitor those at high risk.

Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include:

• Infants and children four years of age and under.
• People who over exert during work or exercise.
• People 65 years of age or older.
• People who are ill or on certain medications.
• People who are overweight.

It is important for those at higher risk to drink plenty of fluids, avoid overexertion, and get a doctor or pharmacist's advice about medications taken for high blood pressure, depression, nervousness, mental illness, insomnia, or poor circulation. They should also limit sun exposure during midday hours and in places of potential severe exposure such as beaches.

Thousands of Americans drown each year, and thousands more are injured or killed in boating accidents. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children age 14 and under. The community is advised to take these precautions for safe summer fun in the water:

• Always have an adult closely supervise young children any time they are swimming, playing or even bathing in water.
• Never swim alone or in unsupervised locations. Teach children to always swim with a buddy.
• Always swim near a lifeguard.
• Never drink alcohol before or while swimming, while boating or water skiing, or while supervising children.
• Learn to swim, as swimming lessons benefit adults and children ages four and up.
• Properly maintain the pool to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• Always observe signs and advisories posted at beaches.

For the latest information on recreational water quality, visit the Health Department’s website at http://www.longbeach.gov/health/inspections-and-reporting/inspections/recreational-water-samples/.

Summer is the season for outdoor barbecues and picnics. However, food-related illness can put a damper on those outdoor festivities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 76 million Americans get sick from food-related illness every year. More than 300,000 end up hospitalized and about 5,000 die each year from foodborne illness. Residents and visitors are advised to protect themselves and their family and friends in these ways:

• Cook meat, poultry and seafood thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer to be sure the grilled meats are fully cooked. Ground beef, for example, should be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds, and poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 seconds.
• Do not cross-contaminate one food with another. Wash hands, utensils and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry and before they touch other types of food.
• Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate leftover foods promptly.
• Wash produce thoroughly to remove visible dirt, and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.