Cold Weather Advisory

 

For Immediate Release:                                                       

December 12, 2008

 

Cold Weather Advisory:

Low Temperatures Expected in Parts of Los Angeles County

 

LOS ANGELES – The County Health Officer is issuing a Cold Weather Advisory for the Antelope Valley due to the National Weather Service’s forecast for low temperatures in the mid 30s beginning Thursday night and lasting through Tuesday morning. Temperatures for the greater Los Angeles area, including Valleys and coastal areas, are expected to be in the mid 40s to low 50s.

 

“Because children and the elderly are especially vulnerable during such cold snaps, care should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities. We also want to remind people not to use stoves, barbeques or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

 

A Winter Shelter Program is available for seniors and those looking for a place to stay warm. Locations and transportation information can be found on the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's website at: http://www.lahsa.org/year_round_shelter.asp, or by calling the LA County Information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. For the deaf and hearing disabled, please call the TDD line at 1-800-660-4026.

 

Take precautions to protect yourself from the cold:

·         Dress in layers of warm clothing if you plan to be outdoors.

·         Protect extremities from the cold by wearing a hat, scarf, gloves, and socks.

·         Offer to help those in your neighborhood with limited access to heat, such as seniors or those who are ill. Check on them frequently.

·         During peak cold times, if you don’t have a heater in your home, visit indoor public facilities such as shopping malls, libraries or senior centers.

·         If you use an outdoor generator, place it as far away from the home as possible.

·         Stoves, barbeques and ovens can produce a deadly gas known as carbon monoxide when used to heat a home. Never use these appliances in place of approved heaters such as electric, natural gas, or fireplaces. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to reduce the risk of poisoning.

 

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include shortness of breath, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide could lead to death within minutes. Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should be taken outside, into fresh air, immediately, and should be taken to an emergency room for immediate medical treatment.