FEELING THE HEAT; SANTA CLARITA SIZZLES IN SUMMER SUNSHINE.Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer By noon Wednesday the mercury in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, already had climbed near the century mark, and for those recalling the cool, rainy winter, the near future holds no drizzle - only sizzle siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. . It is hot, and with the possible exception of the coming weekend, the National Weather Service said temperatures should remain around 100 degrees and above for at least the next two weeks. ``By Thursday there could be record-breaking temperatures,'' the National Weather Service office in Oxnard said in a statement. ``The hot, dry weather for inland areas of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, is expected to persist for the foreseeable future.'' Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County fire Engineer Mark Savage of Station 73 in Valencia said this kind of heat can pose problems for firefighters. ``We have extra staff now because of the heat,'' Savage said. ``We have to be aware of the way it affects personnel, because you tend to wear down a lot faster and we must keep everyone hydrated hy·drat·ed adj. Chemically combined with water, especially existing in the form of a hydrate. Adj. 1. hydrated - containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate) hydrous .'' Savage said the extreme heat can also help to fuel brush fires. The heat may have boosted attendance at Valencia's Hurricane Harbor water park. David Balonick, a vacationing Los Angeles truck driver, said he had planned to take his children to neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. Magic Mountain, but because of the heat, the choice to go to Hurricane Harbor was unanimous. ``Are you kidding me?'' Balonick said. ``It is hotter than I imagined, so when me and the kids got here this morning the water seemed so appealing.'' National Weather Service forecasters said humidity is expected to remain low through the weekend, which should keep the heat index below extreme levels. ``Well, that's good to know, because if we had high humidity to go with this heat you'd be writing about a lot of heat-related deaths,'' said Margarette Bodner as she jumped into the Wave Pool at Hurricane Harbor. Officials at Castaic and Pyramid lakes said crowds were pouring in Wednesday as many sought relief from the heat wave. Red Cross officials warned that residents should avoid the heat and said people should be aware of the threat of heat exhaustion heat exhaustion, condition caused by overexposure to sunlight or another heat source and resulting in dehydration and salt depletion, also known as heat prostration. The symptoms are severe headaches, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, and sometimes unconsciousness. and stroke. When a person's temperature control system, which produces sweat to cool the body, stops working, the body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Warning signals include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; a rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing shal·low breathing n. Breathing with abnormally low tidal volume. shallow breathing, n a respiration pattern marked by slow, shallow, and generally ineffective inspirations and expirations. . BEAT THE HEAT With temperatures expected to average 100 degrees over the next 10 days, the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. Los Angeles Chapter offers the following safety tips for those hot days: Dress for the heat: Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear a hat or use an umbrella. Drink water: Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate dehydrate /de·hy·drate/ (de-hi´drat) to remove water from (a compound, the body, etc.). de·hy·drate v. 1. To remove water from; make anhydrous. 2. the body. Eat light: Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat. Slow down: Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning from 4 to 7 a.m. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--Color) Samantha Luk, 3, plays with lifeguard Jocelyn Sparks at Santa Clarita's aquatics center pool. (2--Color) Cory Hoffmaster beats the heat while taking swimming lessons. Myung J. Chun/Daily News BOX: BEAT THE HEAT (See text) |
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