Heat Takes a Toll on Washington Seniors

Experts Encourage Families to Keep a Close Eye on Older Loved Ones During Heat Wave
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Submitted by Home Instead Senior Care

Experts Encourage Families to Keep a Close Eye on Older Loved Ones During Heat Wave
Experts Encourage Families to Keep a Close Eye on Older Loved Ones During Heat Wave

Nobody likes extreme and prolonged heat, but such conditions can be very dangerous and potentially deadly for seniors.

According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year and even more heat-related illnesses.

“The elderly are often the most vulnerable to severe heat,” said Jeff Huber, president and CEO of Home Instead Senior Care® Inc. “Their bodies do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature, they are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat and they are often on a prescription medicine that impairs the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibits perspiration,” he continued.

Following are tips from the local Home Instead Senior Care office, to help seniors combat the heat:

  • Keep a glass of water in every room to quickly and easily access fluids. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Go through the closet and remove all heavy materials, long sleeves and dark colors. Instead look for short sleeves, lightweight rayons or cottons, and light-colored clothing that reflect the heat.
  • Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.
  • Save household chores, particularly washing and drying clothes and operating the dishwasher, for evenings when the weather is cooler.
  • Relax indoors during high heat times – between 3 and 5 p.m. in the afternoon.
  • Keep shades down and blinds pulled during the heat of the day.
  • Keep the house tightly closed, so it is more energy efficient.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Foods with a lot of protein increase metabolic heat production which can, in turn, increase water loss.
  • If increased use of a central air conditioning system causes higher utility bills that are a problem for your budget, consider purchasing a fan or small window unit that can cool down a home at a lower cost. However, do not rely on a fan as the primary cooling device during an extreme heat event.
  • Seek medical care immediately if your senior shows symptoms of heat-related illness like muscle cramps, headaches, nausea or vomiting.

For more information about the heat, visit the National Weather Service Web site and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site. Or, to learn more about Home Instead Senior Care, click here.

 

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