San Francisco is experiencing another day of hot weather

SAN FRANCISCO – Temperatures in San Francisco rose above 80 degrees for a second day. In a city known for foggy, chilly temperatures, medical experts say the heat can be particularly dangerous for people who aren't used to it.

“Remember that in San Francisco we are not used to this kind of heat,” said emergency physician Dr. Christopher Colwell. “So people who live in places that are typically hotter tend to acclimatize, but we don't. So it can affect us more easily and quickly than we would otherwise realize.”

Dr. Colwell advised people to stay hydrated and to recognize the early symptoms of heat-related illness, such as drowsiness or weakness, and seek treatment if symptoms, such as disorientation, worsen. “You won't always feel hot, even if the heat affects you,” said Dr. Colwell. “So you really have to pay attention to the symptoms that you have. Don’t wait until the heat overwhelms you.”

The head can also be the worst for older people, and Dr. Colwell recommends reaching out to older friends, family members and neighbors to make sure they can tolerate the heat wave.

Some community members took matters into their own hands. On the second day, Bless Alexander distributed water to thirsty people in the city's Tenderloin District. He said that just yesterday he gave a bottle of water to a man lying on the street and warned him to move to the shade across the street. “And maybe three hours later I went back and saw the ambulance on the corner and they were giving him CPR and I was like, 'Oh God,'” Alexander said.

Neither the fire department nor the coroner could confirm it was a heat-related call. But Alexander says he will continue to distribute water. After spending years in Las Vegas and Southern California, he said he knows heat can kill. “In Las Vegas and in LA, it’s really easy for people to get water when it’s hot,” Alexander said.

The temperatures were so hot that even in Dolores Park, where people often lounge in the sun, park visitors sought any shade they could find. And on the second day, the city allowed free entry to its swimming pools, so anyone who needed to cool off could take a refreshing dip. “We’re just cooling down,” Devon Devine said. “There’s a free swim at the Mission Pool and they’re all from my building. We decided this morning that we would go on a trip.”

Yesterday, schools in San Francisco canceled athletics or moved them indoors to keep kids out of the heat, but today many of those young athletes are back. The district says there are no cancellations for outdoor athletics.