“Heat Ready CA” will help Californians stay safer from extreme heat

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: California launches “Heat Ready CA” campaign to help protect communities from extreme heat, which is the deadliest form of climate-driven extreme weather.

As California experiences more frequent and severe heat waves driven by the climate crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today launched Heat Ready CA (HeatReadyCA.com), one of the nation’s first statewide multi-ethnic awareness and education campaigns designed to keep Californians safe during extreme heat.

The two-year $20 million campaign focuses on heat-sensitive groups at highest risk, including those 65 years of age or older, workers, and individuals with chronic illness, disabilities or who are pregnant. The campaign is part of the Governor’s Extreme Heat Action Plan, which is backed by more than $400 million, to guide the state’s response to heatwaves, ensuring California is reaching vulnerable communities, protecting frontline workers and helping communities stand up cooling centers.

“The impacts of climate change have never been more clear – the hots continue to get hotter in our state and across the West putting millions of Californians at risk,” said Governor Newsom. “California is launching Heat Ready CA as another tool in the state’s arsenal to protect people from extreme heat. We’re asking everyone to stay alert to changing weather and take the necessary steps to keep themselves and their families safer from deadly heatwaves.”

Today’s launch comes as much of California and the southwestern U.S. are expected to experience extreme heat that the National Weather Service has said will “rival some of the worst heat waves this area has ever seen.” California is expected to move into Phase II of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan today, which calls for increased coordination among state agencies and local partners. Excessive heat watches and warnings are in effect across the southern half of the state, with additional watches, warnings, and advisories possible farther north, including the San Joaquin Valley. The hottest temperatures are currently forecast for Wednesday through Sunday.

“Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as well as respiratory problems, are among the potentially dangerous effects of extreme heat,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “But as with earthquakes, floods or other natural weather events, Californians can better protect themselves and others with a few simple tips.”

Californians are encouraged to follow these tips to stay safe during extreme heat events:

1. Stay cool. Close shades, windows and blinds. Set air conditioners between 75 and 80 degrees. If air-conditioning isn’t available, find a local cooling center or other air-conditioned public space (libraries, shopping malls, community centers, etc.). Try to stay indoors and wear loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing.​ While spending time in the water is refreshing on hot summer days, many California rivers are running faster, while lakes are deeper and colder than they’ve been in recent years. This makes them more dangerous than normal, even for strong swimmers.
2. Stay hydrated. Drink at least 2 cups of water every hour even if you’re not feeling thirsty. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
3. Look after each other. Check in on friends and family, especially elderly relatives or neighbors. Call 911 if there are signs of high fever (103°F or higher) or in case of other emergencies.

Scientists project that all of California will be impacted in the years and decades to come by higher average temperatures and more frequent and life-threatening heat waves, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable communities. Californians can learn more about these heat projections and what they mean for their community by using the California Heat Assessment Tool. Californians can find their community’s heat risk level by using the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk Prototype or by following local weather forecasts. Californians can find their local cooling centers here.

Heat Ready CA is a public awareness and outreach campaign led by the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC), a newly established office that manages the state’s highest priority public engagement efforts. Through integrated outreach, advertising, social media and influencer engagement, the campaign is meeting people where they are through a culturally responsive approach. Heat Ready CA is engaging trusted messengers including multiethnic community-based organizations, ethnic media, meteorologists and other partners statewide.

More than 100 community based organizations form the trusted messenger network that will be doing outreach in every California county in over 30 languages. Through door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, community activations and other outreach efforts, these organizations will help California’s most vulnerable communities better prepare for extreme heat.

The campaign’s website is available in English at HeatReadyCA.com, in Spanish at CuidateDelCalorCA.com, and soon in 10 Asian languages. The website offers tips and resources for Californians, including people most vulnerable to heat-related health concerns, such as older adults, people with disabilities and chronic conditions, pregnant people, young children, urban residents, and those without easy access to air conditioning or natural shade, among others.​

Visit HeatReadyCA.com or CuidateDelCalorCA.com for more tips and resources.

隨著氣候危機驅動的熱浪在加利福尼亞頻繁且加劇地出現，加州州長加文·紐森在今天開啟了「加州高溫防備（Heat Ready CA）」宣傳項目(HeatReadyCA.com)。這是全國首個面向多種族的、全州範圍內的意識與教育宣傳，旨在確保加州居民安全渡過酷暑。

這項為期兩年、總額2,000萬美元的宣傳項目著眼於熱敏感、風險指數最高的人群，其中包括年滿65歲者、工人以及患有慢性疾病、殘疾或懷孕的個人。該宣傳項目是州長「酷暑行動計畫（Extreme Heat Action Plan）」的一部分。該計畫獲得了超過4億美元的支持，旨在指導加州應對熱浪的措施，確保加州能夠宣傳到弱勢社區群眾、保護一線工作人員並幫助社區建立避暑中心。

「氣候變化的影響從未如此明顯——高溫在我們州以及整個西部地區都在不斷加劇，將數百萬加州人置於風險之中。」州長紐森說道，「加利福尼亞開展加州高溫防備宣傳，是州政府為群眾防範酷暑的又一個有力的武器。我們懇請每個人都保持警惕，留意天氣變化，並採取必要措施使自己和家人能夠安全規避這些致命的熱浪。」

今天宣傳項目的展開正值加州諸多地區及美國西南部地區預計迎來酷暑之時。國家氣象局表示，此次酷暑將「與該地區有史以來最嚴重的熱浪旗鼓相當」。預計加利福尼亞今天將進入本州「極端溫度應對計畫（Extreme Temperature Response Plan）」的第二階段，這就需要加州各機構與地方合作夥伴加強協調。在加州南部地區，過度高溫觀察與警報已經生效；而在更北部地方，包括聖華金穀，還可能出現額外的觀察、警報和公告。目前預測最高溫度將在週三至周日期間出現。

「脫水、中暑和熱射病等與高溫相關的疾病，以及呼吸問題，都在酷暑可能帶來的危害之中。」加州衛生與公共服務部部長Mark Ghaly博士說，「但與地震、洪水或其他自然天氣事件一樣，加利福尼亞人可以通過採取幾個簡單的建議來更好地保護自己和他人。」

加利福尼亞州鼓勵居民們遵循以下建議，以在酷暑天氣中保證安全：

1. 保持涼爽。關閉窗簾、窗戶和百葉窗。將空調設置在攝氏 75 到 80 度之間。如果沒有空調，儘量找當地的避暑中心或其他有空調的公共場所（圖書館、購物中心、社區中心等）。儘量待在室內並穿寬鬆、淺色、輕便的衣物。雖然在炎炎夏日待在水中很是愜意的，但加州許多的河流都流得更快了，湖泊也比近年來更深、更冷。這就讓它們比平常更危險，即使對於擅長游泳的人也是如此。
2. 及時補水。即使您不感到口渴，每小時也應至少喝兩杯水。避免飲用含酒精或咖啡因的飲料。
3. 相互關照。關心一下朋友和家人，特別是年長的親戚或鄰居。如果出現高燒（103°F或更高）或其他緊急情況，請撥打911。

科學家預測，在未來幾年和幾十年裡，加州所有地區都將受到平均溫度升高和更頻繁、更威脅生命的熱浪的影響，而這對最弱勢群體社區的影響最大。加利福尼亞人可以通過使用「加利福尼亞高溫評估工具」來進一步瞭解這些高溫預測以及它們對自己社區意味著什麼。加利福尼亞人可以通過使用國家氣象局的高溫風險模型或關注當地天氣預報來瞭解其社區的高溫風險水準。加利福尼亞人可以在這裡找到他們所在地的避暑中心。

「加州高溫防備（Heat Ready CA）」是由加利福尼亞州長辦公室社區合作夥伴關係和戰略傳播部（OCPSC）領導的公眾意識和外展項目。OCPSC是一個新成立的辦公室，負責管理州政府最重要的公眾參與工作。該項目通過整合的外展、廣告、社交媒體和影響者參與，採用具有文化敏感性的方式，接地氣的與民眾進行互動。加州高溫防備項目將通過受信任的信息傳遞者進行宣傳，其中包括多元文化的社區組織、少數族裔媒體、氣象學家及全州的其他合作夥伴。

超過100個社區組織組成了受信任的信息傳遞者網路，將在加利福尼亞州各縣使用30多種語言進行宣傳。通過上門訪問、電話遊說、社區啟動和其他外展方式，這些組織將幫助加利福尼亞州最弱勢的社區更好地準備應對酷暑。

該宣傳項目的網站提供英語版本，網址為HeatReadyCA.com，西班牙語版本網址為CuidateDelCalorCA.com，並即將提供10種亞洲語言的版本。該網站為加州居民提供了建議和資源，其中就包括那些最容易受到與高溫相關健康問題影響的人群，比如老年人、殘疾人、慢性疾病患者、孕婦、年幼兒童、城市居民以及無法便利使用空調或利用天然遮蔽的人群等。

訪問HeatReadyCA.com 或 CuidateDelCalorCA.com來獲取更多建議和資源。