As temperatures climb across California, staying cool is about more than comfort. Extreme heat can become dangerous quickly, particularly for children and adults with disabilities and others who may need additional support recognizing or communicating that they are becoming overheated.
At Canaan Cares, we encourage families, caregivers, and community members to plan ahead, stay connected, and keep a few important safety resources close at hand.
Find a Cool Place Before You Need One
If your home does not have adequate air conditioning, you do not have to stay there and try to manage the heat alone.
Consider spending the hottest part of the day at:
- Your local public library
- A community or senior center
- A designated cooling center
- An air-conditioned shopping center or other public indoor space
California public health officials specifically recommend libraries and cooling centers as places to get relief from extreme temperatures.
Need help finding a cooling center or getting there? Call 2-1-1.
211 can help connect California residents with local cooling centers and other community resources. Information is available in multiple languages, and transportation assistance to cooling centers may also be available.
Simple Ways to Stay Safer in Extreme Heat
During very hot weather:
- Drink water regularly, even before you feel thirsty.
- Limit outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
- Use air conditioning whenever possible.
- Take cool showers or use cool, damp cloths to help lower body temperature.
- Close blinds or curtains to help keep indoor spaces cooler.
- Check frequently on family members who may need additional assistance.
- Never leave a child or dependent adult alone in a parked vehicle, even briefly.
And remember: a fan may feel good, but during extreme temperatures, a fan alone may not be enough to prevent heat-related illness.
An Especially Important Reminder for Autism Families: Search Water First
Warm weather also brings another safety concern that families, caregivers, neighbors, and communities should know about.
If a child or adult with autism wanders or goes missing, call 911 immediately and search nearby water first.
The National Autism Association specifically recommends immediately checking nearby pools, ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers, fountains, canals, drainage areas, and other bodies of water. This is important even when the individual does not normally seem interested in swimming or water.
Some autistic individuals may be strongly drawn to water, and wandering can happen quickly. The National Autism Association reports that drowning remains a leading cause of death following autism-related wandering or elopement.
This message is also reflected in water-safety awareness efforts such as Ollie the Otter, a campaign shared through the San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center community to help bring attention to water safety.
If Someone With Autism Is Missing:
CALL 911. SEARCH WATER FIRST.
Then immediately check other high-risk areas such as busy roads and locations the individual is known to enjoy or seek out.
Families can also prepare before an emergency by identifying every nearby water source, including those that may not immediately come to mind. Consider pools in neighboring yards, apartment pools, fountains, ponds, creeks, drainage areas, canals, lakes, and other accessible water.
A Little Preparation Can Make a Big Difference
Extreme heat calls for extra awareness, especially for individuals who may have difficulty recognizing danger, regulating body temperature, communicating discomfort, or remaining safely with a caregiver.
Know where you can go to cool down. Keep water available. Check on one another. Have a wandering safety plan in place. And make sure everyone who supports your loved one knows the message:
If an autistic child or adult goes missing, call 911 and search nearby water first.
At Canaan Cares, our mission is to help individuals with developmental disabilities live with greater safety, dignity, independence, and connection to their communities. Sharing information that helps families prepare and stay safe is an important part of that commitment.
Need help during the heat? Dial 2-1-1 to find cooling centers and community resources near you.
If someone is missing or you believe there is an immediate emergency, call 911.
