Extreme Heat and Your Health
Be aware of yours and others’ risk for heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and fainting.
To avoid heat stress, you should:
- Drink a glass of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes and at least one gallon each day.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. They both dehydrate the body.
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Stay cool indoors ‐ if your home is not air conditioned, visit public facilities such as shopping malls and libraries to stay cool.
- Take frequent cool showers or baths.
- If you feel dizzy, weak, or overheated, go to a cool place. Sit or lie down, drink water, and wash your face with cool water. If you don't feel better soon, get medical help quickly.
- Work during cooler hours of the day when possible, or distribute the workload evenly throughout the day.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat illness. It happens when the body can’t control its own temperature and its temperature rises rapidly. Sweating fails and the body cannot cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency care is not given.
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but can include:
- Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Stay cool indoors ‐ if your home is not air conditioned, visit public facilities such as shopping malls and libraries to stay cool.
- Throbbing headache.
- Dizziness, nausea, confusion, or unconsciousness
- Work during cooler hours of the day when possible, or distribute the workload evenly throughout the day.
If you suspect someone has heat stroke, follow these instructions:
- Immediately call 911 for medical attention.
- Get the person to a cooler area.
- Cool the person rapidly by immersing him/her cool water or a cool shower, or spraying or sponging him/her with cool water. If the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him/her vigorously.
- Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
- Do not give the person alcohol to drink. Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
- If emergency medical personnel do not arrive quickly, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
San Joaquin County Extreme Heat Planning Grant
Grant Overview
- Funded by the Governor’s Office’s new program: Extreme Heat & Community Resilience
- An 18-month planning grant
- Potential to share our learnings with other Central Vally communities
Vision
Prepare Central Valley communities to be healthy and safe during extreme heat events
Key Partners
- San Joaquin County Public Health Services (PHS)
- California Nurses for Environmental Health & Justice
- California State University, Stanislaus – nursing program
- BrowneMusser
- PHS Resilient Community Advisory Committee
- Community organizations
- Individual community members
It’s Hot and It’s Going to Get Hotter!
In 2024, there were 124 emergency room visits in San Joaquin County due to heat-related illness – more than twice the number in 2023.
Everyone is at risk, but we are especially concerned about the following populations:
- Older adults
- People with severe mental illness
- Children aged 0-5 years old
- Undocumented residents
- School-aged children
- Pregnant women
- People experiencing homelessness or the unhoused
- Justice Involved
- People with electricity dependent medical equipment
- People with chronic diseases
- Low-income populations
- People with developmental disabilities
- Rural populations
- Outdoor workers
Phases of the Program
- Discovery Phase
- Do a deep dive into the community and find out what they know and how they have responded to extreme heat events. Find out how the community response could be improved.
- Planning Phase
- Take all this information and develop a plan for the community to review
- Final Output
- Create a community communications plan that is ready to be implemented
Last update: October 2025