SAN DIEGO COUNTY (KGTV)-- San Diego County is heating up this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory until 6 pm Saturday in the Inland Valleys, and an excessive heat warning until 6 pm Sunday in the deserts.
But with coronavirus concerns, San Diego County will not be opening any emergency cooling zones. So here are some tips on how to stay cool and hydrated.
If you haven't felt it already, get ready. San Diego County is going through an early, mini heatwave.
According to the County, Cool Zones usually start to pop up in late May. So this heatwave is a bit too early for that.
“Over the weekend, no Cool Zones will be opened," County Public Health Officer, Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, said.
Plus, with COVID-19 concerns, residents do not have access to usual Cool Zones, such as beaches, community pools, senior centers, and libraries. Instead, the County said it is providing fans for the vulnerable populations.
Next week, the County's Extreme Heat Task Force is planning to open up the Borrego Springs Library as a Cool Zone. But with COVID-19, they will have to limit the capacity to only 17 people.
“We would have to social distance individuals, maintaining the 6 feet separation," Dr. Wooten said.
Here are some tips to make sure you do not get dehydrated at home.
- Monitor your urine. If the color is dark or you are not going as frequently, it is a sign you are not getting enough fluids.
- As a general rule of thumb, drink eight glasses of 8 oz. of water per day.
- Check the skin on your hand. If you pinch it and the skin returns right back to its original elasticity, you are good. If it does not, it is a sign you are dehydrated.
- Look out for heat exhaustion symptoms: confusion, dizziness, and excessive sweating. If your temperature is above 103 degrees, that is a heat stroke. So call 9-1-1.
“If you are feeling that alteration of mental status, that is always an emergency," Abi Olulade, MD, family medicine doctor at Sharp Rees Stealy, said.
5. Lastly, have a buddy system: Check on friends and neighbors via phone calls or by knocking on doors, while keeping a social distance.
“Make sure you check on your neighbors who are in that vulnerable population, which are older adults, or adults with chronic conditions, and kids," Dr. Olulade said.
San Diego County is asking for donations from the public to provide more fans to vulnerable individuals. If you are interested in donating, email COVID19-Donations@sdcounty.ca.gov.
