CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - As temperatures climb, please remember to keep yourself, your family, and your pets cool! The City also reminds neighbors to safely check on seniors and those with mobility issues at least twice a day during extreme temperatures.

If you are unable to cool off, please visit the City’s Cooling Center at the Community Center (6300 Fountain Square Drive). This service is open to the public to help our community avoid heat-related illness during the hottest times of the day. The City of Citrus Heights Cooling Center will be open Sunday, Sep. 6 and Monday, Sep. 7 from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Additional precautions are being taken to ensure the health and safety of visitors and staff while we work to provide air conditioning and water to those who need it. Please enter the Community Center from the rear, and look for signage including details on COVID-19 regulations that will be enforced.

Click here for a map of other Cooling Centers in Sacramento County. The City of Citrus Heights, Sacramento County, and the Office of Emergency Services will continue to monitor the temperatures over the next few weeks.
 

Heat-Related Reminders for Citrus Heights Residents

During extreme heat conditions please keep cool and hydrate as much as possible, and avoid doing activities during the hottest when possible. Cooling down a few hours a day will allow your body to recover and tolerate the heat better for the rest of the day.

Tips for Beating the Heat:

• Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of cool water. Avoid alcohol. Avoid hot, heavy meals.
• Limit sun exposure – When possible, stay in air conditioning on hot days. If you don’t have air conditioning, take cool showers, dampen or freeze a wet cloth to wipe down your head and neck.
• Check on loved ones – Be sure to check on less-mobile or older friends, family and neighbors who live alone, may not have or know to use air conditioning.
• Clothing - Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
• Beware of hot cars – Never leave a person or a pet in a parked car, even for a short time. On a mild 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach 100-degrees in fewer than 10 minutes.
• Avoid the hottest part of the day – If you have to be outside, try to stick to the cooler morning and evening hours. Wear light, loose clothing and take frequent, shaded or air-conditioned breaks. Do not exercise outside during the hottest part of the day.
• Keep your pets cool – Give your pets plenty of fresh, clean water. Don’t exercise your pets in high temperatures or when the pavement is hot. Make sure they have a shady place to get out of the sun or bring them indoors.
• Sunscreen – Protect your skin against cancer, burns and skin damage by using SPF 30 or higher.
• Stay informed – Watch your local weather forecasts so you can plan outdoor activities safely and pay attention to any extreme heat alerts.

Senior Specific Tips:
It’s important to know that seniors may not realize when they are overheated, dehydrated and in danger. Compounding the risk for seniors, some medications and chronic health conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, dementia, and diabetes, cause seniors to not sweat effectively to cool down and they can have poorer circulation. If seniors need additional services, call 2-1-1 to find out about available services.

Check on seniors twice a day and encourage them to:

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, such as cotton or other natural fabrics – stay away from man-made fabrics such as lycra and polyester.
• Drink water or juice throughout the day as some do not always sense thirst and will go long periods of time without taking in fluids.
• Use air conditioning or fans in their homes or rooms.
• Many seniors are on fixed incomes making them hesitant to use air conditioning even if it is available. Remind them that a few hours of cooler temperatures allows their body to recover.
• Minimizing activities that generate heat in the home, for example, use a microwave to cook instead of the oven.

All age groups need to take precautions to avoid heat stress. While older adults and children are at higher risk to develop heat exhaustion or heatstroke, those in their twenties visit hospitals most due to heat exposure.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

Warning signs for heat stroke are severe and include: 

• High body temperature
• Absence of sweating and hot red or flushed dry skin
• Rapid pulse
• Difficulty breathing
• Strange behavior/hallucinations/confusion/agitation
• Seizure
• Coma
• If you or someone you know is experiencing any severe symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.