LA County warns against ocean water contact ahead of heat wave

With a heat wave expected to begin Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned people to avoid ocean waters at several beaches due to high bacteria levels.

The affected beaches are:

• Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, entire swim area;
• Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps;
• Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier; and
• Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

Meanwhile, a previous warning was lifted for the following beach area where recent sample results identified water quality levels within state standards:

• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu.Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county’s beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-662.

A map of impacted locations and more information can be found at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.

Avoiding heat illness

• Stay hydrated! The more hydrated you are, the more effective your body will be at keeping you cool. Drink water – not fizzy and alcoholic drinks, which will dehydrate you.
• Avoid exercise in the middle of the day. If you need to exercise outside, do it early in the morning when the temperature is lower.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored natural fabrics like cotton and linen, as these will help your skin breathe and let your sweat evaporate, cooling you down.
• We sweat around half a pint daily from both feet (and we wonder why they stink!), so if you can, wear sandals or flip-flops to let your foot sweat evaporate.
• Use a fan to circulate air from open windows. Keep your blinds or curtains drawn during the day, so your home doesn’t heat up while you’re out. Turn off big appliances and help prevent brown-outs!
• To cool down quickly, run your wrists under a cold tap or keep a water spray in the fridge for a quick cooling spritz to the face.
• Keep some wet wipes in your bag so you can freshen up your hands, face and neck if you get hot or clammy.
• Want to stay cool at night? One way is to wash your feet in cool water or take a cold shower before bedtime – especially if you get hot during the night or have hot sweats.
• To cool down in bed, try keeping your pillowcase or sheets in a plastic bag in the fridge during the day. Put them back on the bed at night. The fabric will stay cool when you’re trying to get to sleep.
• And bring your pets in and make sure they have shade and water.
• Be prepared for power outages and know where cooling centers are!

Source: NBC Los Angeles