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Beat the heat before it beats you
By Simone Gaunt & Laura Feakes
People aged 65 years and older are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:
Seniors do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature. They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that upsets normal body responses to heat. In addition, seniors take prescription medicines that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.
You can follow these prevention tips to protect yourself from heat related stress:
- Drink cool, non alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverage. ( If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, be sure to ask how much you should drink when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause cramps.)
- Rest.
- Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
- If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment.
- If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned
- shopping mall or public library to cool off.
- Keep warm areas ventilated if not cooled. Proper ventilation will
- promote adequate sweat evaporation to cool the skin.
- Wear lightweight clothing.
- If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.
- Do not engage in strenuous activities.
- Sunblocks and sunscreens with a protection factor of 15 (SPF 15) can
- be very helpful when one is exposed to extreme direct sunlight.
What you can do to help protect senior relatives and neighbors
If you have senior relatives or neighbors, you can help them protect themselves from heat-related stress:
- Visit seniors at risk at least twice a day and watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.
- Make sure seniors have access to an electric fan whenever possible.
What you can do for someone with heat stress
If you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. Do the following:
- Get the person to a shady area.
- Cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the person in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower: spray the person with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
- Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-120 F.
- If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
- Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
- Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106 F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Heat stroke warning signs vary, but may include the following:
An extremely high body temperature, red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating) rapid strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced or unbalanced replacement of fluids.
Heat exhaustion warning signs vary, but may include the following:
- Heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness headache, nausea or vomiting and fainting.
- Skin: may be cool and moist.
- Pulse rate: fast and weak.
- Breathing: fast and shallow.
Simone Gaunt and Laura Feakes are Elder Services Information and Referral Specialists.