Cold Weather Advisory: Low Temperatures Expected in Parts of Los Angeles County

For Immediate Release:
November 24, 2010

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 desert, valley and mountain areas due to the National
Weather Service's forecast for low temperatures in the 20s and low 30s
beginning Thursday and lasting through Sunday. Temperatures for the
greater Los Angeles area, including the coastal areas, are expected to
be in the 40s through the 60s.

"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.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and
improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles
County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and
services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control,
and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000
employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more
about Public Health and the work we do, please visit
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

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