State Instructs Nursing Homes, Care Facilities on Heat Protocols
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday directed the Department of Health Services and other state agencies to take steps to protect public safety during the ongoing heat wave (Office of the Governor release, 7/26). To date, 81 deaths in California have been attributed to heat-related causes since the heat wave began nearly two weeks ago (Barbassa, AP/Modesto Bee, 7/27).
Schwarzenegger directed DHS to contact each nursing home and residential care facility in California to ensure that the facilities have evacuation plans in place and understand how to proceed in an emergency. It will be the second time this week that DHS has contacted the facilities.
In addition, the directive calls for the Department of Social Services to contact county public health officers and welfare directors immediately and undertake onsite safety checks for all state residents who live in single-room occupancy hotels. The visits will be coordinated with In-Home Supportive Services workers (Office of the Governor release, 7/26).