Credit: Daniel Dreifuss (file)

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(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is  issuing a Health Alert due to the Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National  Weather Service for parts of Santa Barbara County from 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 20,  2023 through 10 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023. The National Weather Service advised  of a heat advisory in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cuyama, and encompassing areas. The  Public Health Department is urging residents to take the necessary safety measures to  avoid heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  

Excessive heat watch remains in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cuyama, and encompassing  areas effective Friday, July 21st, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. through Saturday, July 22nd,  2023 at 9:00 p.m. Community members are strongly encouraged to take the following  precautions whenever temperatures are on the rise:  

Take care of those who might not be aware of the danger or be able to react  accordingly – especially the elderly, young children, and pets. Check on your  neighbors.  

Wear appropriate clothing. Lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing  works best.  

Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar  or caffeine. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. If you have fluid restrictions  from your doctor, ask to see how much you should drink while the weather is hot.  

Limit outdoor activity. Try to schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts  of the day, like morning and evening hours. Be sure to wear sunscreen and rest  often.  

Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room. A few hours in  air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Taking a cool shower or bath can  help too.  

If you do not have air‐conditioning, consider arranging to spend at least parts of  the day at another space that is cool. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when  the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness.  

For those who work outside, be sure to take frequent rest breaks in a shaded  area or air-conditioned room, if possible. Stay hydrated and take action by  moving to a cooler space if you feel signs of heat exhaustion.  

Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or  sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.  

Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat  exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot,  flushed skin. With heat stroke, the person often stops sweating and the skin will  be unusually dry. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke  is life threatening!  

Do not leave children (and pets) unattended in vehicles. It only takes a  matter of minutes on a relatively mild day for a vehicle to reach deadly  temperatures.  

Make a plan to keep cool during the hot weather days ahead. For more information  about the excessive heat forecast, visit https://www.countyofsb.org/3940/Heat Event-July-2023.  

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