The Californer - City of Long Beach Reminds Community to Prepare for Summer Heat

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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - As temperatures continue to rise this summer, the City of Long Beach is urging residents to take precautions against extreme heat. While there is currently no heat alert in effect, the City is reminding people to be proactive in protecting themselves and others from heat-related illnesses.

According to the National Weather Service, Long Beach typically experiences an average of 16 high-heat days with temperatures at or above 90°F during July, August, and September. However, due to climate change, these extreme heat days are expected to become more frequent and intense. In fact, between 2022 and 2024, Long Beach recorded a total of 55 medical emergency calls related to heat-related illnesses. The majority of these calls involved infants and children up to four years old.

In light of these statistics, the City is highlighting available resources and safety tips that can help reduce the risks associated with extreme heat. These resources are especially important for residents living in communities that are disproportionately impacted by high temperatures due to a lack of shade and green spaces, air-conditioning, fans, Wi-Fi access, and transportation.

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During periods of high heat, air-conditioned public spaces can provide much-needed relief. All Parks, Recreation and Marine Community Centers and Long Beach Public Library branches serve as designated cooling centers during their regular business hours. For more information on locations and hours of operation, residents can visit longbeach.gov/coolingcenters.

In addition to physical cooling centers, the City has also created a digital Community Heat Safety Toolkit to educate and inform the community about staying safe in extreme heat. The toolkit includes downloadable flyers, social media graphics, and safety tips in multiple languages. It can be accessed at longbeach.gov/extremeheat.

Whether utilizing a cooling center or accessing the community heat safety toolkit online, residents are encouraged to follow essential safety practices during extreme heat. These include dressing in lightweight and light-colored clothing, staying indoors during peak heat hours (noon-6 p.m.), staying hydrated by drinking water regularly, never leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles, and checking on neighbors, especially older adults and those living alone.

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It is also important to be aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses. Heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache, or confusion can be symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If these symptoms are severe or persist, seek medical attention immediately.

The City is committed to keeping residents informed and safe throughout the summer and will issue regular heat alerts and notices during extreme heat events. For more information and updates, residents can visit longbeach.gov/extremeheat.

To receive emergency alerts and heat notifications, residents can sign up for Alert Long Beach. This service sends notifications via phone call, text message, or email. Sign up at longbeach.gov/alertlb.

For media inquiries, please contact the Health Department Public Affairs Office at he-publicaffairs@longbeach.gov.

Filed Under: Government, City

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