San Diego County’s Cool Zones program is underway as hot weather is in the forecast.
The Cool Zones program is set to run through Oct. 31. Sites include the county’s 33 branch libraries, community centers and other locations across the county.
A complete list of Cool Zone locations, including their hours and pet policies, can be found on the county’s Cool Zones website. The site also has a map feature, allowing people to type in their address to find zones near them.
As inland areas deal with the heat, some of the community’s most vulnerable members are top of mind. NBC 7’s Dana Williams is in Poway with tips to keeping our furry friends safe during these hot summer days.
What is the Cool Zones program for?
The Cool Zones program was created more than two decades ago. It was designed to give older adults, people with disabilities and people with health concerns “free, safe air-conditioned shelters to visit to escape extreme heat,” a statement from the county read.
Extreme heat can be especially dangerous for the elderly and children. Working or exercising outside on a hot day or staying inside a hot space for too long can cause heat-related illnesses. Those can range from cramps to exhaustion and heatstroke, a condition when the body can no longer control its temperature.
Signs of heatstroke or exhaustion include having an extremely high body temperature, 103 degrees or higher, dizziness, nausea, confusion and headache. Anyone suffering these symptoms should call 911 and be cooled off immediately.
For the latest weather forecast, you can get daily updates here from our NBC 7 meteorology team.