Mother Nature Extends Summer In South Bay

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — In reaction to the National Weather Service declaring a heat advisory for the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County is issuing tips to stay cool and opening up shelters throughout the South Bay with extended hours to provide respite from the heat of the day.

Temperatures are forecasted to be more than 10 degrees above normal Friday with continued heat persisting through the weekend.

Everyone is encouraged to take precautions against the heat, including drinking plenty of water and fluids with electrolytes, using air conditioning and going to a cooling center to find relief.

The following safety tips should help residents and visitors deal with the heat:

1. Drink plenty of water and fluids with electrolytes, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar because they will speed up fluid loss
2. Limit physical activity: Avoid physical activity during the hottest time of the day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3. Never leave people or pets in a closed, parked car
4. During the hottest part of the day, stay in an air-conditioned area. If you do not have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as cooling centers, shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool
5. Visit the Office of Emergency Management website for additional heat safety tips in English, Spanish, Vietnamese

The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing staff is working with service providers to allow shelters to remain open during the hottest time of the day to provide the unsheltered with respite from the extreme heat.

Outreach workers are making extra visits to encampments to distribute water and provide information about cooling centers and other services.

In San Mateo County: the heat advisory Friday running between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. have spurred the city of Menlo Park to designate several facilities as cooling centers:

• Belle Haven Branch Library - 413 Ivy Dr. until 6 p.m.
• Onetta Harris Community Center - 100 Terminal Ave. until 8 p.m.
• Menlo Park Main Library - 800 Alma St. until 6 p.m.
• Arrillaga Family Recreation Center - 700 Alma St. until 8 p.m.