By Mary O’KEEFE

Record high temperatures in Southern California seem to be the norm these last few weeks and this week was no exception.

“It is very hot,” said Stuart Seto, weather specialist with the National Weather Service Oxnard.

During summer, the Earth’s tilt brings the northern hemisphere closer to the sun, providing more daylight each 24 hours. Temperatures that are already higher than other times of the year can jump upward when off shore winds are added, turning normally hot days into unbearably sweltering ones. Although winds can be common, the high temperatures faced by Crescenta Valley residents just after the Fourth of July were not normal.

“It was a pretty unusual extreme heat event with Burbank getting highs of 114 degrees Fahrenheit and Sherman Oaks seeing 117,” Seto said. This week the National Weather Service expected near record to record highs.

Seto reminded people to be careful during these days of high temperatures.

“If you are outside in the sun, if the forecasting is 99 degrees [Fahrenheit] and you are in the sun, it can [actually be] 15 degrees warmer,” he said. “And it is good to have a plan in case of a power outage.”

There is also an “elevated fire concern,” not to be confused with a Red Flag Warning but, due to the heat, there are worries about sparks that can lead to fire, Seto said.

While extreme weather conditions are of concern for the elderly and the very young, they are not limited to those two sections of the population.

“We have [been administering] a lot of IV fluids,” said Jessica Thomas, clinical director of the Emergency Dept. at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

The amount of water people are drinking may be the reason the hospital is seeing more patients with heat-related problems.

“I think part of the reason is people are over-estimating the amount of water they are [consuming],” she said. The rule of drinking eight glasses a day is normal but, Thomas said, on hot days or anytime someone is in the heat they should drink 10 to 12 glasses of water.

Physical exertion is another factor in heat-related issues.

“[People] under-estimate their amount of exercise,” she said.

Some people think that if they stay in the shade they will need less water or they can exercise more. They also think that if they are young and in good shape they can handle the heat better, but young people are vulnerable to higher temperatures, too.

Thomas said by the time someone shows signs of dehydration, like dry mouth or being thirsty, they are already dehydrated.

“The idea is not to get to that point,” Thomas said.

Other signs of dehydration can include sunken eyes and a furrowed line down the tongue. Another sign could be found in the elasticity of the skin.

“If your skin is dry or you pinch the skin on the back of your hand and it stays up, in place, that is a sign of dehydration,” she added.

It is important to drink water and not just beverages with electrolytes added to them.

“Two cans of [soda] are not the same as two cups of water,” Thomas said.

For those who have lost their power or do not have air conditioning, there are cooling stations people can go to in the far north Glendale and La Crescenta areas including the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. and the Sparr Heights Community Center, 1612 Glencoe Way. Other areas in Glendale include the Adult Recreation Center, 201 E. Colorado St., Maple Park Community Center, 820 E. Maple St. and Pacific Community Center, 501 S. Pacific Ave.

  Mary Okeefe