Due to an excessive heatwave in the Santa Clarita Valley, cooling centers are open and free to the public to go to during hot summer days.

The City of Santa Clarita Valley has opened cooling centers at local libraries in the community to help reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. 

The cooling centers located in the Santa Clarita Valley can be found at the three City library locations, and at the Cube:

• Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, 18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351
• Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main Street, Newhall 91321
• Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Boulevard, Valencia, CA 91355

The cooling center hours for all three libraries are expected to be from Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., for the duration of the heat event. 

Weekends are set to have shorter hours, open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to the City of Santa Clarita. 

Additional locations that residents can attend to cool off include The Cube Ice & Entertainment Center at 27745 Smyth Drive, Valencia, or pools at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center located at  20850 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.

To take precautions to avoid heat-related illness, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends the following actions be taken on days with high temperatures. 

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the day, wear light clothing, and double-check vehicles for pets and dependent parties such as children and the elderly before locking up. The best defense against heat-related illnesses is to think ahead, plan, and protect yourself. 

Check on people who are more at risk for heat-related illness, like those who are sick or have chronic conditions, older adults, pregnant people, children, those who live alone, pets, and outdoor workers and athletes.

Symptoms of heat-related illness are:

• High body temperature (103°F or higher)
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Damp Skin 

Heat-related issues are no joke and if these symptoms are noticed, seek medical attention immediately, according to Public Health. 

For more information about safety issues related to Excessive Heat, visit the Ready L.A. County website, or the Santa Clarita City website. 

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