āThe summer season, along with its potential for fluctuating high temperatures, is approaching. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Center for Health Care Quality, Licensing and Certification Program (L&C) reminds all health care facilities that the elderly and other health compromised individuals are more susceptible to temperature extremes and possible dehydration. Facility administrators should monitor weather predictions for fluctuations in extreme temperatures and take extra precautions to be sure appropriate air conditioning equipment is well maintained and operating effectively.
Facilities must have contingency plans in place to deal with the loss of air conditioning, or in the case when no air conditioning is available, take measures to ensure patients and residents are free of adverse conditions that may cause heat-related health complications. Facilities should use portable fans and other temporary cooling devices when indicated.
L&C recommends facilities review CDPH's Fast Facts: Preventing Summer Heat Injuries and implement the following measures to keep residents and clients comfortable during extremely hot weather:
- Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting clothing
- Keep residents well hydrated with particular attention to dependent residents
- Minimize physical activities during the hottest parts of the day
- Stay indoors and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day
- Use fans as indicated in the "Fast Facts" page on preventing summer heat injuries
- Ensure fans are used properly:
- Avoid the use of high-speed settings on fans.
- Orient fans to promote airflow from clean-to-less-clean direction, for example, from other parts of a facility towards locations with known or suspected COVID-19 cases, and then to the outside.
- Mount fans in open windows or place them near open windows to direct indoor air to flow outside.
- Position fans so that air does not blow from one person to another.
- Do not have residents congregate in outside areas where window fans are located.
- Open windows where feasible if screens are intact, to allow fresh air to circulate
- Use cool compresses, misting, showers, and baths to promote cooling
- Avoid hot and heavy meals
- Encourage frozen treats such as "popsicles" between meals
- Keep a hydration station readily available to residents, family, and staff
- Be alert to adverse changes in patient and resident conditions that may be heat related
- Develop and implement a system to monitor hydration status and be prepared to take appropriate interventions
- Pay special attention to patients with medications that make the patient susceptible to high temperatures, e.g., psychotropic medications
While implementing these measures, healthcare providers and facilities should continue to follow the latest Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CDPH AFLs.
Hot weather brings mosquitoes and the risk of contracting West Nile Virus. If mosquitoes are abundant, residents and clients should remain indoors in the early morning and at twilight, when mosquitoes are most active. Use repellents cautiously, especially on children and the elderly. For additional information on the use of chemical repellents, administrators or infection control practitioners should consult the CDC website at CDC - Natural Disasters and Severe Weather.
Licensing regulations require facilities to report all emergency and/or disaster-related occurrences that threaten the welfare, safety, or health of patients to the L&C Program. If the extreme heat conditions affect your facility by compromising patient health and safety and/or require an evacuation, transfer, or discharge of patients, you must contact your L&C district office. Please follow these guidelines for reporting such occurrences:
| During normal business hours (8:00 a.m. ā 5:00 p.m.) | Contact the local L&C district office you customarily work with for your geographical location. |
| For after-hour reporting or if the local L&C district office is non-operational due to an emergency and/or disaster | - For facilities outside Los Angeles County, contact the State Office of Emergency Services Warning Center at (916) 845-8911. Ask that they notify the CDPH duty officer.
- For facilities in Los Angeles County contact the Los Angeles County Operator at (213) 974-1234. Ask that they notify the on-call Health Facilities Inspection Division supervisor.
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If you have any questions regarding the content of this AFL, please contact your respective district office.
Sincerely,
Original Signed by Cassie Dunham
Cassie Dunham
Acting Deputy Director
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