Cooling centers offer heat relief

Published on August 27, 2025

When high humidity and triple-digit temperatures are in the forecast, older residents can feel more distress and often have fewer options for beating the heat. 

Below are a few resources for cooling centers and information for staying cooler at home without air conditioning.

Cooling centers (open to residents of all ages) are available at:

Bloomfield Park at 21420 Pioneer Blvd. (562-865-1717) Mayfair Park at 5720 Clark Ave. (562-866-4776)

The park facility hours are:

• Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Lakewood Center

Lakewood Center is another great option for staying cool.

Hours are:

• Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Also consider catching a movie at Starlight Cinemas, visiting the Angelo Iacoboni Library, or even stopping by Petco in Lakewood where pets are welcome to cool down and get a drink of water. 

A few tips for staying cool at home without air conditioning

• Get wet! Wet your wrists and neck with cold water, take a cool shower or bath, wet your hair or fill a basin with water and sit with your feet in it.
• Place a wet towel on the back of your neck and also on the top of your head.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing made of cotton or other natural fabrics that allow sweat to evaporate. Avoid synthetic materials like polyester.
• Take your shoes and hat off when you are indoors. 
• Use perspiration to cool the body down.  Water vapor produced by sweating actually takes heat away from your body if it is exposed to air and allowed to evaporate.  Put yourself in the path of a cool breeze or fan.
• Drink water, even if you are not thirsty!  You must replace the fluids lost in perspiration to prevent dehydration.
• Avoid fluids containing alcohol, caffeine or salt. If you have a problem with retaining water or a special medical condition, check with your doctor about the amount of fluids you should be drinking.
• Prepare your home against the heat. In the evening, open windows and use fans to create a cross-breeze, circulating cooler evening air through the rooms.  Open your kitchen cupboards at night; if you leave them closed, they store the heat and your house won’t cool off as much.
• Avoid strenuous activities; pace yourself and rest frequently.
• Stay out of direct sunlight and in a shaded area if possible.
• If you must go outside, put on sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher at least 30 minutes before going out. Sunburns affect your body's ability to cool itself and cause a loss of fluids.
• If you live alone, ask a friend or relative to check on you at least twice a day.
• The mildest form of heat-related illnesses is heat cramps, when the body loses water and electrolytes. Heat exhaustion is more serious and will cause the body's temperature to rise to 102 degrees. People may also experience headache, fatigue, heavy sweating, nausea and clammy skin.
• Contact a physician immediately if you experience any of the symptoms of heat stress: breathing problems, chest pain, muscle cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, dry skin (no sweating), great weakness, mental changes, confusion, nausea, rapid heartbeat, throbbing headache, extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit when taken orally) and/or vomiting.