Temperatures are expected to soar over 100 degrees this weekend, with some forecasters predicting a high of 110 on Saturday. But Davis High School’s outdoor graduation ceremony Friday evening will proceed as planned, with some extra precautions being taken to ensure crowd comfort and safety.

The commencement processional is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m. at Ron & Mary Brown Stadium. Athletic director Dennis Foster, who has been involved in graduation preparations for several months, said hot weather contingencies have been part of the planning process from the outset.

“For our graduation ceremony, we routinely upgrade our EMT (emergency medical technician) status from basic life support to advanced life support,” so help will be nearby if someone faints from the heat during the ceremony, Foster said. “We will also have bottled water on sale in multiple locations, and our graduates will have water available in the gym before the ceremony. … They’ll probably be allowed to take the bottles from the gym out onto the field.

“We encourage people to dress appropriately for the heat,” he added.

City officials also are concerned about the heat wave. Assistant City Manager Kelly Stachowicz said, “We urge people to take basic safety precautions. Stay out of the sun. If your house is hot, consider going to the public library and reading a book for a few hours.”

Other traditional hot weather options include going to a movie or attending a concert — the UC Davis University Chorus, for instance, will be singing its final concert of the season at the Mondavi Center at 7 p.m. Friday. Admission is $12 general or $6 for students.

The city sometimes opens a building on a temporary basis as a “cooling center” during long heat waves, typically in July. But with temperatures forecast to peak on Saturday and then dip on Sunday and Monday, the city has no such plans this weekend.

Experts from the UC Davis Health System advise people to be aware of signs that can indicate heat-related health problems, such as muscle cramps due to salt depletion. Prolonged hot weather also can trigger heat exhaustion, which is marked by weakness, nausea, dizziness, and cool and clammy skin. When heat exhaustion is not relieved, it can lead to heat stroke, with dangerous consequences, including confusion, agitation and blurry or double vision.

Senior citizens are especially at risk when the weather gets hot, according to Calvin Hirsch, a geriatrics specialist with UCD.

“No one is comfortable when the temperature soars, but seniors account for a disproportionate number of heat-related hospitalizations and deaths,” Hirsch said. Poor blood circulation, and the use of medications like diuretics that cause water loss, can make seniors more vulnerable to the heat, he added.

Adults who enjoy exercise may want to modify their routine, suggested Jeff Tanji, a sport medicine specialist with UCD.

“Exercise and activity are crucial to help you stay healthy, but it is important in the summer to avoid heat stroke, dehydration and other consequences of overexertion,” Tanji said. He suggested exercising during the cooler morning and evening hours.

Parents with young children also should make sure their kids take regular timeouts and water breaks — 10 minutes for every hour of exercise.

Tanji also encourages people to have a big glass of a cool drink before starting exercise — plain water is best, but fruit juices and Gatorade-type sports drinks also work well. Alcohol and caffeine contribute to dehydration and should be avoided.

The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine likewise recommends providing pets and animals with extra water, a bit of shade and perhaps a fan for cooling indoors, or a gentle mister for pets that stay outdoors. And remember that a car is not a safe place for any pet for any amount of time on a hot day.

Plants also need a bit of extra attention during a heat wave. Don Shor, owner of Redwood Barn Nursery and host of a weekly garden show on local radio station KDRT, 95.7 FM, said plants in small pots are especially at risk during hot weather.

“At the nursery, we’ll water the outdoor plants in smaller pots two or three times a day during a heat wave,” Shor said. “With a plant in a small pot, there is no margin of error.

“Early in the morning, or close to dusk, is best. Perhaps work in the garden until 10 or 11 a.m., then go inside and do something else for a while.”

Shor said he’s often asked whether it is OK to plant during a heat wave.

“If it goes in the ground, water it thoroughly, get all the soil around the plant wet enough for three or four days,” he said. “But there is a risk of watering too much.

“I like to garden when the delta breeze is blowing in,” Shor recommended. “Judging from the forecast, Sunday or Monday might be better” than Friday or Saturday.

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District is forecasting moderate air quality on Friday and Saturday, with Saturday’s expected air quality reading of 90 ranking below the 101-point threshold at which air quality is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

However, parts of Sacramento County and the foothill counties are expected to have an “unhealthy for sensitive groups” rating on Friday and Saturday. Air quality is typically better in the morning than in the evening, since heat and sunlight trigger higher ozone readings late in the day.

PG&E encourages customers to minimize electrical use — especially major appliances — between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and recommends turning off any unnecessary lighting. Keep the thermostat set for 78 to 80 degrees when you’re at home, and 85 when you are away.

When possible, PG&E recommends cooking with a microwave rather than a conventional oven, because it produces less heat. Keep window blinds and curtains closed to prevent sunlight from heating up indoor areas.

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