National Preparedness Month: Stay Vigilant in Extreme Heat
By Vanessa Lopez
We all know how important it is to prepare as best we can for the unexpected, and this September, LADWP supported this effort by recognizing National Preparedness Month once again. When you think of unexpected events, maybe earthquakes or wildfires come to mind. While we should prepare for these are natural disasters, one of the most prominent dangers we face as Southern Californians is extreme heat.
The dangers of extreme heat are undeniable—it is the cause of death for over 600 people every year. As part of the LADWP family, it is up to all of us to ensure our team members, families, friends and the wider Los Angeles community are aware of resources that can help combat high temperatures.
Power System Safety Superintendent Scott Mallon said, “Heat illness can come on very quickly while working in hot temperatures, and it can be difficult to recognize some of the symptoms in ourselves. We all can raise heat safety awareness as supervisors by ensuring our employees are trained and have access to shade, cooling stations, understand the need for rest periods, and access to cool water. As fellow employees we can watch for early signs of heat illness in our coworkers,” said Mallon.
While we work to make sure our employees who perform crucial tasks out in the field are taking proper safety precautions, we are also focused on keeping our customers safe. LADWP is working to help customers combat extreme heat by offering resources to those who may need some extra assistance. With the recently announced Cool L.A. assistance program, we hope to assist some of our most vulnerable customers with staying cool.
Through Cool L.A., LADWP customers will be able to purchase or replace various types of cooling units at a reduced cost and access electricity bill payment plan options to help them manage higher power costs resulting from increased air conditioning use.
Remember, stay vigilant and look out for yourself and others during periods of extreme heat. To learn more about extreme heat safety, visit www.ready.gov/heat and watch the webinar recording below.
Photo by Chris Corsmeier
Emergency Preparedness Month Panel
On September 15, 2022, in recognition of National Preparedness Month, LADWP’s Office of Emergency Management hosted a webinar titled, “A Lasting Legacy: The Life You’ve Built is Worth Protecting.” Over 300 employees tuned in for the informative panel that featured general safety information along with a focus on the timely topic of extreme heat. Panelists included representatives from the Water System, Power System, Corporate Health and Safety, and Security Services. If you missed it, take a look and note important tips to help yourself and your family stay ready and best prepared to weather extreme heat and any other emergency.
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