With the National Weather Service forecasting highs in the 90s and low 100s in parts of Long Beach, as well as high humidity, today and tomorrow, city officials are advising residents to take precautions against the heat.

“Sickness can occur if someone has been in extreme heat for too long,” said Long Beach Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis in a statement today. “It is important for people to be familiar with and practice heat precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illness and injury.”

Except for the Antelope Valley, the entire Southland is under a red flag warning today, which reflects “a long-duration fire weather threat” that will be in effect through Wednesday, with the most critical fire conditions expected today through Tuesday, according to a National Weather Service statement.

The red flag warning will be in effect until 6:00PM Wednesday in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

In response to the forecasted heat, the Long Beach Unified school District (LBUSD) has also announced that all of its schools will be on a “minimum day schedule,” meaning students will be released early on Monday and Tuesday. Parents should contact individual schools for information about exact release times.

Those with chronic illnesses, infants and young children and who are elderly are at greater risk for heat-related conditions, health officials stated.

Take the following precautions to reduce the risk of heat-related illness or injury:

  • Seek air-conditioned environments during peak heat at stores, malls, theaters, etc.
  • All Parks, Recreation and Marine Community Centers are designated cooling centers; for a list of Community Centers and their hours, visit http://bit.ly/LongBeachCoolingCenters.
  • Check on individuals who are frail and elderly or home-bound to make sure they are not affected by the heat.
  • Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in direct sunlight.
  • Remain hydrated by drinking water before, during, and after outdoor activities.
  • Make sure pets have plenty of shade and water to drink.
  • Take frequent breaks while working or playing outdoors.
  • Wear loose-fitting, light clothing, and wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face, ears and neck if you will be outside.
  • Apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 15 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply at least every two hours. Sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer.
  • Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid beverages that have caffeine or alcohol.
  • Plan strenuous outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day, and limit time outside during peak heat.
  • Pace physical activities, starting slowly and picking up the pace gradually.
  • Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
  • Move to a cooler location at first sign of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), rest and slowly drink a cool liquid.
  • Prevent children from drowning by providing adult supervision at all times and having an entry-proof barrier that surrounds the pool or spa.

For more information and summer safety tips, visit: www.longbeach.gov/health.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.