HOT WEATHER TIPS
We all suffer in hot weather.
For the elderly & disabled & those with chronic health conditions
like vascular disease or diabetes,the weather does not have to hit 100 degrees
to cause heat stress or even deadly heat stroke.
As we age, we gradually lose the ability
to perspire & regulate our body temperature.
- Older people tend to overdress because they don't feel heat the same way anymore.
- Heart rates do not speed up or return to normal as fast during exercise.
- Older skin also thins & offers less protection from the sun.
- Poor circulation, heart, lung & kidney diseases plus high blood pressure increase the risk for heat related illness.
- Being overweight or underweight also increases risk.
Medications taken for a variety of diseases
& symptoms can also interfere with one’s ability to manage hotter weather.
These medications include:
- Antipsychotic drugs commonly given to Alzheimer's patients to control agitation,
- A\nticholinergic drugs
- Tranquilizers
- Sedatives including over the counter sleeping pills
- Amphetamines
- Diuretics & drugs to control blood pressure
- Antihistamines
- S\ome antidepressants
A person with cognitive impairment
- Whether from disease or injury,a person with cognitive impairment may not be able to communicate distress.
- In some cases, they may not even feel the heat or discomfort because of changes in the
brain's abilities to process sensory information or regulate their body’s responses to heat.
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TIPS FOR STAYING COOL
Caregivers can prevent a heat-related emergency (hyperthermia)
by keeping their patent cool & watching for signs of heat stress
-
Wear cool clothing
1. See that the person is dressed in light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, preferably of natural fabrics like cotton.
2. Use hats & umbrellas outside.
3. If the air conditioning appears to bother the person, offer layers, such as a long-sleeved
shirt or sweater over the shoulders, or a light cloth over the ankles. -
Use air conditioning
1. Keep the air conditioning on below 80 degrees F.
2. If you don’t have air conditioning, invest in a room air conditioner or use room fans to circulate inside air.
3. If possible, drive the person a short distance to an air-conditioned place where they can sit, such as a library, mall, restaurant or theater but avoid overcrowded places & rush hours. -
Cover windows
1. During the day, pull the curtains on all windows that are in direct sunlight.
2. Open windows at night & use fans or cross-ventilation to circulate cooler air.
3. An open, uncovered window during the day will simply make the inside temperature the
same as outside. -
Avoid direct sun|
1. Stay indoors during the hottest hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2. Drive as close to the door of destinations as possible, but don't leave the person in the car where temperatures can soar quickly.
3. If the person wants to be outside, make sure it’s during cooler hours & that they are in the shade, on a covered porch, or under an umbrella.
4. Check the news for information about temperatures, humidity levels & air pollution alerts. -
Eliminate or limit physical activity
1. If the person’s physician approves light exercise such as walking &movement exercises,
limit them to short periods during cool hours.
2. Eliminate even light exercise entirely on very hot days. -
Drink plenty of fluids
1. Give the person plenty of water & fruit or vegetable juice even if they say they’re not thirsty.
2. No alcohol, coffee or tea.
3. Seek medical help if you suspect dehydration. -
Light meals
1. Avoid hot, heavy meals
2. Don’t use the oven. -
Monitor medications
1. Find out if the person’s medications increase his or her risk for heat stress.
2. Be sure to ask a physician about all the medications being taken, including off-the-shelf items. -
Take cool showers
1. Help the person take a cooling shower or bath.
2. Lay a cool, moistened towel over the forehead or back of the neck & replace often. - Inform others
1. If the person is in a nursing home or other facility, make sure the facility has a plan for dealing with rising temperatures & is following the tips mentioned above.
2. Visit as often as possible.
If you know someone who lives alone
-
Check in often
1. Check in daily or another neighbor to take turns with you to look in several times a day.
2. If the person lacks transportation, make sure someone takes him or her to & from appointments, grocery stores, etc. -
Be alert
1. Remember that a cognitively impaired person may not be able to tell you when he or she
is feeling hot or ill.
2. Also, older people tend to feel colder than younger people so they may not sense the
danger of hotter weather.
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Heat Related Signs & What To Do | Health Directory
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