The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has issued a Health Alert due to Excessive Heat Warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) for parts of Santa Barbara County for July 2-8 .

The NWS also issued a Fire Weather Watch; detailed weather forecasts are available at https://www.weather.gov/lox/.

Community members are advised to stay hydrated and take necessary safety measures to care for themselves and loved ones to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

In addition to community-based cooling options, such as malls, movie theaters, parks and beaches, the following locations are available to the public to seek relief from the excessive heat.

The list will be updated on www.ReadySBC.org if more locations are made available.

Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 805-962-7653

• Hours: Closed July 4; open Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• The Central Library has air conditioning
• Service animals are welcome, however non-service animals that are pets are not allowed at the site.

Goleta Valley Public Library, 500 N. Fairview Ave., 805-964-7878
• Hours: Wednesday, July 3, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed July 4; Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 7, 1-5 p.m.
• The Goleta Valley Public Library has air conditioning
• Service animals are welcome, however non-service animals that are pets are not allowed at this site.

Paratransit Resources

Individuals who have a disability or other access or functional need (AFN), and require transportation to a community cooling relief location, are advised to contact a paratransit provider near you.

Easy Lift Santa Barbara – Call 805-681-1181

Heat Precautions and Tips

Here are some precautions and tips to stay cool when it’s hot outside:

  • 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.
  • Take care of those who might not be aware of high temperature dangers or be able to react accordingly – especially the elderly, young children, and pets. Check on your neighbors.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Wear appropriate clothing. Lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing works best.
  • 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 (or pets) unattended in vehicles. It only takes a matter of minutes on a relatively mild day for a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures.