Pima County Cooling Centers & Information
Hot Weather Tips
- Plan ahead (stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day if possible)
- Drink plenty of water
- Dress appropriately (wear loose light-colored clothing)
- Wear a hat (or use an umbrella to block the sun)
- Wear sunscreen (choose a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15)
Heat Dangers
Heat Exhaustion
- Faint or Dizzy
- Excessive sweating
- Cool, pale, clammy skin
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Muscle cramps
Get to a cool, air conditioned place. Drink water, if conscious. Take a cool shower or use cold compress.
Heat Stroke
- Throbbing headache
- No sweating
- Red, hot, dry skin
- Rapid, strong pulse
- May lose consciousness
Call 9-1-1
Heat Related Illness
Heat exhaustion or heat stroke is when we cannot properly cool our bodies. Our bodies normally cool down by sweating, but during extreme heat our body temperature might rise faster than it can cool. This can cause severe illness or death.
Some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include:
- Not drinking enough water
- Obesity
- Sunburn
- Having a fever
- Prescription drug use
- Heart disease
- Mental illness
- Poor circulation
- Alcohol use
Medications & heat Safety
Some medications can increase your risk of heat-related Illnesses. Talk to your provider about your medications and how you can protect yourself during hot weather.
Heat & Medications Resources:
Medications and Heat Safety (English)
Medications and Heat Safety (Spanish)
Know Your Medications (English & Spanish)
Heat resources - PCHD, AHDS, CDC, and More
Pima County:
Pima County: Beat the Heat-Public heat related resources and the cooling center map is here:
Beat the Heat | Pima County, AZ
Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness: Summer Sun Respite and Cooling Stations Available for People Experiencing Homelessness:
Heat Relief – Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness
National Weather Service (NWS) for Tucson at:
ADHS:
Arizona Department of Health Services; Extreme Weather Heat Safety:
Heat and Medications Information Sheet for Health Care Providers
Arizona.GOV
Quick access to Arizona’s key heat safety tools and data:
AZ.gov – Welcome to Arizona’s Central Heat Resource Hub
Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEIN)
The State of Arizona’s official source for emergency updates, preparedness advice and hazards information, and related resources. Bookmark this page to stay informed. We encourage you to also fan, follow and subscribe to AzEIN on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
AzEIN | Emergency Information Network
U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
About Heat and Your Health | Heat Health | CDC
Heat and Health Guidance Infographic_v9 (cdc.gov)
Make a Heat Action Plan with Your Doctor | Heat Health | CDC
Heat and Medications – Guidance for Clinicians | Heat Health | CDC
American Red Cross:
Extreme Heat Safety | Heat Exhaustion Safety | Red Cross
Site includes Heat Safety Checklists in various languages.
Additional Resources:
Other Resources
- Heat Safety Tips (PDF) (ADHS)
- Visitor Heat Handout (PDF) (Pima.gov)
- It’s Summer in the Desert—Heat Illness Prevention (PDF) (Pima.gov)
- The Heat is On—Staying Safe in Extreme Heat (PDF) (Pima.gov)
- CDC – Food Safety During a Power Outage (PDF) - English
- CDC – Food Safety During a Power Outage (PDF) - Spanish
- Be Cool with these Heat Relief Tips: Spanish (PDF) - (Pima.gov)
- The Sun and Your Medicine (FDA)
- Heat, medications don’t mix (Baylor College of Medicine)