Stay Cool Clark County

We know summers are hot in Southern Nevada. After all, it’s in a desert. But did you know five of the past six years have been the hottest on record for Clark County? Summers are starting earlier, staying longer and exceeding 100° F more often.

PUBLIC STATEMENT:

Community Canopy Project

Monday, 30 September 2024

Wow! That was Fast!

Due to an enthusiastic response to our Community Canopy Project, all 2,200 trees have been claimed within 72 hours of launch. We appreciate the public interest and thank our partners at the Arbor Day Foundation for facilitating all your requests for trees. Thousands of Southern Nevada residents stepped up to go All-In Clark County with us and plant trees to mitigate extreme heat and help us combat the urban heat island effect.

Due to the success of the Community Canopy’s Project fall campaign, we will be rolling out a second round of trees in Spring. Stayed Tuned!

Thanks again for going All-In with us!


Canopy Project FactSheet Preview


Community Canopy Project


Clark County is going All-In on planting trees across the community to improve air quality, reduce heat vulnerability, and save energy. As part of our smart, bold, and inclusive approach to creating a sustainable community, the Stay Cool Clark County Community Canopy Project will provide residents free trees to plant at their home.

The Stay Cool initiative focuses on solutions for reducing dangerous local heat and protecting the health of community members – especially those at higher risk for extreme heat vulnerability.


View Canopy Program Factsheet




Extreme Heat

Extreme heat days—days with temperatures exceeding 106° F—are projected to increase in Clark County. Currently, we experience about four extreme heat days per year. By 2064, that number could increase to 23 – 30 extreme heat days.

Staying cool in Clark County can be challenging, especially because not everyone experiences heat the same way. Due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, some of our neighborhoods are hotter than others. Although our extreme temperatures impact our vulnerable residents the most, everyone is exposed to extreme heat here in Clark County.


StayCoolClarkCounty.com

With StayCoolClarkCounty.com, we and our partners throughout the region are striving to make it easier for everyone to escape extreme heat.


Signup for StayCool


Cooling Station Hours and Location as of September 30, 2024 - October 3, 2024

For a complete list (English): Complete Cooling Station Locations
For a complete list (Spanish): Complete Cooling Station Locations



Heat And Your Health


Hot Days Can Impact Your Health!

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat kills more than 600 people in the United States every year, and during the years 2009-2018, heat killed nearly 600 people right here in Southern Nevada. Exposure to extreme heat can cause illness in anyone, but is particularly dangerous for infants and children, senior citizens, outdoor workers, people with chronic diseases, and unhoused individuals. For more information on heat and health, visit this page from the Southern Nevada Health District: Extreme Heat is a Potential Health Concern.

Follow These Hot Weather Tips from the CDC

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Stay Cool Indoors

Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.

  • Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully

Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.

Pace Yourself

Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

Wear Sunscreen

Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

  • Tip: Look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels- these products work best.
Do NOT Leave Children in Cars

Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:

  • Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
  • To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
  • When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.
Avoid Hot and Heavy Meals

They add heat to your body!

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

  • Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks: These actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace Salt and Minerals

Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

  • If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Keep your Pets Hydrated

Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.

Check for Updates

Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.

Know the Signs

Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses here and here, and how to treat them.

Use a Buddy System

When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

Monitor Those at High Risk

Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:

  • Infants and young children
  • People 65 years of age or older
  • People who are overweight
  • People who overexert during work or exercise
  • People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation

Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.


Follow These Hot Weather Tips from the CDC

Get Healthy Clark County: Where we live, work, learn, worship and play has an impact on our health. Important health and economic benefits can be shared by all when the community has safe neighborhoods with easy access to healthy food and beverage options, opportunities for physical activity, clean air environments and high-quality preventive health care.



Community Resources

Weatherization Resources
Utilities Assistance Resources
Toolkits for Renters and Homeowners