As high heat temperatures continuing to soar across Southern California, the City of West Hollywood has extended the open hours of its Cooling Center at Plummer Park. The Cooling Center will continue to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, September 9, 2022.
The Cooling Center is located at the Plummer Park Community Center, Senior Lounge, at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. The Cooling Center in West Hollywood is activated when temperatures rise to 90 degrees or above, and it will be extended if there are continued temperatures above 90 degrees. Staff members at Plummer Park are available to direct people to the Cooling Center.
The City of West Hollywood provides free transportation to Plummer Park through its Cityline service. Cityline is a friendly and accessible alternative to the larger bus system and all shuttles are ADA-accessible. Cityline operates Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and shuttles arrive approximately every 30 minutes. Face coverings are required on Cityline vehicles. For additional information and a detailed route map, visit www.weho.org/cityline — route maps are also available on Cityline shuttles.
Due to the rise in COVID-19 community transmission in Los Angeles County, the City’s Social Services Division has activated its fan delivery service to serve the City’s older adults and other vulnerable residents who may have otherwise utilized the City’s cooling centers when temperatures rise above 90 degrees. This temporary program will provide a box fan to residents who do not have access to air conditioning, do not feel comfortable accessing the City’s Cooling Center, and who have not received a fan from this City program in the past. To request a fan, please leave a message for the City of West Hollywood’s Social Services Division at (323) 848-6510 with name, phone number, and address. Please plan ahead for the weekend, as the fan program only operates on weekdays during cooling center activation and will not be able to accommodate requests for deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.
High heat can make the weather dangerous as well as uncomfortable. The City reminds residents and community members to take precautions to keep as cool as possible during hot days. If possible, stay out of the sun; avoid strenuous activity; drink plenty of water; and wear lightweight clothing.
The City reminds community members that pets and children are particularly vulnerable to high-heat conditions. Every year, children and pets suffer and die when left unattended in parked vehicles. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked vehicle can soar to 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes — even with windows cracked open. Think twice before ever leaving a child or a pet in a parked vehicle, even for just a moment.
High heat is also extremely hazardous for pet paws. Ground temperatures can be much hotter than the surrounding air and pavement and sidewalks absorb heat quickly. A simple seven-second test to check whether pavement is too hot can help assess if conditions are too hot to take a furry friend out for a walk. Touch the pavement with the back of your hand for seven seconds. If the surface is too hot to hold for the full seven seconds, then it is also too hot for paws. Avoid concrete, brick, and asphalt during the heat of the day and, instead, walk when the ground is cooler, early in the morning or late in the evening.
For additional tips on coping with hot weather, please visit the City’s Cooling Center website page at www.weho.org/coolingcenters.
