Beating the Heat and Staying Cool 

As the gloomy rains of the wet season depart around June, summer begins to make its warm presence apparent. Summer brings joy, adventure, and new opportunities, but it also comes with intense heat. 

The importance of staying hydrated cannot be highlighted enough. It’s important to actively remain hydrated, rather than waiting until you feel thirsty, which may already be too late. Your body sweats to cool itself down. If it gets to a point where you are no longer sweating, this puts you at risk of having heat stroke or developing other forms of heat-related illness.  

Thankfully, this can be avoided if good habits are developed and practiced.  Some suggestions include:  

• Drinking plenty of water.  
• Limiting your activity during the hotter times of the day. 
•  Staying inside insulated areas with fans or air conditioning, such as a local cooling center, a movie theater, or an indoor mall.

Santa Clara County has numerous cooling centers throughout the region. County libraries and community centers often serve as cooling centers if you are in need of a place to cool down. Visit oem.santaclaracounty.gov  to see which locations are near you.  

Staying cool is integral to your health year round, but especially during the summer months. Remember to keep an eye out on friends, family, pets, and others you may come across as the weather continues to get warmer. 

For more information about cooling centers available in Santa Clara County, contact a Community Resource Specialist at (408) 350-3200, option 1.