Cold temperatures expected to dip into the low 30s in parts of LA County
(Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - A Cold Weather Alert has been issued for parts of Los Angeles County in anticipation of low temperatures expected to dip below 32-degrees Fahrenheit.
Affected areas include:
• Antelope Valley – Tuesday, October 29 through Friday, November 1
• Los Angeles County Mountain areas – Wednesday, October 30 through Thursday, October 31
“Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during cold weather. Extra precaution should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities."
Take precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones from the cold. The L.A. County Department of Public Health advises:
• Dress in layers of warm clothing if you plan to be outdoors.
• Protect the head, hands, and feet from the cold by wearing a hat, scarf, gloves, and socks.
• Check on, and help, family members, friends, and neighbors with limited mobility and limited access to heat, such as seniors or those who are ill. Check on them frequently.
• If you have pets, bring them indoors and do not leave them outside overnight.
Public Health officials say that if you don’t have a heater in your home, visit indoor public facilities such as shopping malls, libraries or senior centers, particularly during peak cold times.
People could develop hypethermia or risk frostbite if they are exposed to cold weather conditions for a prolonged period of time. The most common affected areas of frostbite are the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes.
Early symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, and confusion and disorientation. Late symptoms include no shivering, blue skin, dilated pupils, slowed pulse and breathing, and loss of consciousness.
Public Health officials suggest gently warm the person and seek immediate medical care if you believe someone is showing signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
"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," said Davis.
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning when heating your home:
• Only use approved heaters, such as electric or natural gas heaters and fireplaces. Never use stoves, barbecues, and ovens to heat your room or home, as these appliances can produce a deadly gas known as carbon monoxide that can collect inside your home.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to reduce the risk of poisoning.
• If you use an outdoor generator at home, place it at least 10 feet away from all doors and windows to avoid exhaust gases entering the home.