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Aging Matters: Safety tips for summer heat

By CAROL MARAK Aging Advocate and Editor of SeniorCare.com

The heat of summer is a grave risk for older adults. The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org/) gives easy to apply guidelines to outsmart the heat when the thermometer rises. The council’s advice offsets the serious health risks that adults with chronic medical conditions encounter.
What factors directly affect the risks? Some include lack of fluids, the absence of cold air-conditioning, excessive clothing, overcrowded places, physical inactivity, and access to transportation.
What can people do to avoid the risks of heat and humidity? The Council suggests, wear appropriate clothing, put on a wide-brimmed hat, take frequent water breaks, apply sunscreen, and never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle. Older adults need to remain indoors where it’s cool.
For those living without air conditioning, visit public places like the local library, the shopping mall, the local senior center or movie theaters.
Being under or overweight or drinking alcoholic beverages could make you vulnerable to heat-induced illnesses. So, keep a watchful eye on severe cramping, nausea, headache, extreme thirst, weakness, dizziness and confusion.
Other vulnerabilities include heat stroke.
The Centers for Disease Control says that older bodies have difficulties regulating temperature. The elderly, the young, the obese and individuals living with compromised immune systems are at greater risk, especially individuals taking antihistamines, antipsychotic medications and cocaine.
High humidity like the kind we have in the south can interfere with the evaporation of sweat, a body’s way of cooling itself.
If you’re 65 and over, be cautious and pay attention to the warning signs and symptoms of a heat stroke:
—Body temperature at or over 103 F.
—Dry (hot and red) skin.
—Fast pulse.
—Excruciating headache.
—Dizziness, vomiting, and nausea.
—Extreme sweating.
—A light or whitish colored skin.
—Severe muscle cramps.
—Weakness.
—Dizziness.
—Cold and wet skin.
If you suspect a heat stroke, you must get immediate treatment to avoid organ damage. Call 911 immediately and give first aid until EMS arrives.
Secondly, cool-down the victim. Take them to a shady area and remove some of their clothing. Apply warmish water to the skin and fan the individual to promote sweating and evaporation. Put ice packs under the armpits and groin area.
If the victim can drink liquids, give them cool water. Do not give them caffeine or alcohol.
Monitor their temperature with a thermometer and continue with the cool-down efforts until the temperature reaches 101 to 102 F.
Avoid heat exposure by staying indoors during the hottest part of the day, around noontime.
To prevent heat stroke, drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration and lessen vigorous activities in hot and humid weather.
—Carol Marak is editor at SeniorCare.com. She’s earned a certificate in the Fundamentals of Gerontology from the University of California, Davis.

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