Ozone & Heat Advisories: Important Health and Safety Information

Dear SWSD Families,

Please review the following important health and safety information from the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) regarding the current ozone and heat advisories affecting our area. With elevated temperatures and potentially unhealthy air quality expected this week, families are encouraged to take precautions, monitor local conditions, and follow the recommendations provided to help keep themselves and their children safe and healthy. 

In addition, the district is taking proactive measures to help keep students and staff safe and comfortable during the heat. Our schools are closely monitoring weather and air quality conditions throughout the day and will adjust outdoor activities as needed. We will continue to make appropriate adjustments based on changing conditions and keep our community informed of any new information, schedule changes, or cancellations. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe. 

For more heat safety tips, cooling center information, and additional resources, click HERE.

A multi-day high ozone (smog) event is expected to affect some Los Angeles County regions due to a heatwave according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Air Quality Index (AQI) may reach “Unhealthy” levels or higher in Santa Clarita Valley and portions of the San Gabriel Valley and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or higher levels in San Fernando Valley and Pasadena through Friday evening.

The advisory will be in effect starting on Monday, August 24 at 1 p.m. until Friday, August 28 at 8 p.m. Please monitor local Air Quality Index (AQI) updates during this period.

The following recommendations will help you protect yourself and your family from harmful effects of bad air quality:

• Avoid vigorous physical activity and remain indoors with doors and windows closed.

• Check air quality levels and limit outdoor activities as necessary. See health recommendations for each AQI level.

• Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment until evening hours.

• Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.

• Try to delay trips to the gas station and the use of household chemicals until the evening.

• If it’s too hot to keep windows and doors closed, go to a public place like a library or shopping center to stay cool and protect yourself from harmful air.

• If you experience symptoms like severe coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, palpitations, nausea, or unusual fatigue, contact your doctor or go to urgent care. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911.

For more information, see the EPA Guide for Ozone Pollution (PDF)." For more information, please view this ozone advisory.

Heat Advisory Through Aug. 25

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health urges residents to take steps to stay cool and hydrated as high daytime temperatures and unusually warm overnight conditions are forecast to impact the region.

Taking precautions is the most important way to prevent heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps as well as heat-related death.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Heat Advisory through Tuesday, August 25, with high temperatures forecast for the following areas:

Heat Advisory

(Hot weather is expected to cause discomfort and may lead to heat-related illness for some, especially those who are vulnerable to heat, as indicated below.)

• Northwest LA County Mountains (Interstate 5 Corridor)

• Malibu Coast

• Los Angeles County Beaches

• West San Fernando Valley

• Catalina

• East San Fernando Valley

• San Gabriel Valley

• Calabasas/Agoura Hills

• Palos Verdes Hills

• Santa Clarita Valley

• Los Angeles Inland Coast

• West Santa Monica Mountains

• East Santa Monica Mountains

• Santa Susana Mountains

• Western San Gabriel Mountains/Hwy 14 Corridor

• East San Gabriel Mountains

• Stay hydrated all day. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if not feeling thirsty.

• Take precautions when outdoors. If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, wear lightweight, light-colored clothes and wear a hat or use an umbrella and use sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).

• Keep your home cool. If your home becomes hot and you cannot cool it down, go to an air-conditioned space or cooling center.

• Never leave children or pets in a vehicle, even for a short time. Cars get very hot inside, even if the windows are ‘cracked’ or open. Call 911 if you see a child or pet alone in a vehicle.

• Check on those at higher risk for heat-related illness, like those who are sick or have chronic conditions, older adults, pregnant women, children, those who live alone, pets, outdoor workers, athletes and anyone without air conditioning.

• Call 911 right away for any one of the following: confusion, fainting/passing out, hot, red skin (may be dry or damp), high body temperature (103°F or higher), fast and strong pulse, headache, dizziness or nausea.

Remember: Staying hydrated and staying cool helps prevent heat-related illness.

If you don’t have air conditioning, follow these additional tips:

• Take cool showers or baths

• Use your stove and oven less to avoid making your home hotter

• Visit a library, cooling center, shopping mall or other air-conditioned space. If you need help finding a cool space, call 211.

Heat-Related Illness

It’s important to know how to recognize and help someone who is experiencing a heat-related illness.

Call 911 right away if you see these symptoms: high body temperature (103°F or higher), dizziness, nausea, passing out, headache, fast and strong pulse, confusion and hot, red, dry or damp skin.

Local Impact

To check the risk of heat-related impacts for your specific city, go to the NWS HeatRisk website and click on Location Search and enter your city or use the zoom (+) button in the top left corner to see nearby cities more clearly. For actions to take based on your city’s HeatRisk category, read the NWS’ Understand HeatRisk guide.

The NWS HeatRisk takes into consideration:

• How unusual the heat is for the time of the year

• The duration of the heat including both daytime and nighttime temperatures

• If those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)