Lately, no matter when you turn on the television to listen to local, world news, or even listen to The Weather Channel, you continually hear how the weather pattern over the years has changed.
In May we experienced a couple of days where the temperature soared to the mid to upper eighties. Hot and humid and summer hasn’t even arrived. Could this be an indication of what the summer may be like? When planning your summer activities, please keep one thing in mind — anyone can be vulnerable to the summer heat. However, those that are particularly at risk are seniors.
With summer officially starting on June 21, this is the start of the season for family get-togethers, picnics, backyard barbecues, vacations and other fun festivities that make summer an enjoyable time of year.
Older adults appear to be more active today. An older adult’s body is less able to detect the heat and will not adequately respond to rising temperatures. This may be related to medical conditions that can change normal body response to heat. Older adults are more likely to take prescription medications that can impair or reduce the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or, in some instances, prevent perspiration. Older adults should take a moment to talk with their physician or pharmacist regarding the side effects of medications and adhere to the warnings of those that state, “Avoid extreme heat and sun.”
The scorching summer temperatures, however, don’t have to put a damper on an older adult’s ability to enjoy the season. While getting outdoors to engage in summer activities with family and friends, it is important to maintain good health, wellness and make common sense choices in staying cool and hydrated.
The most important thing for older adults to remember is to slow down. Curtail strenuous activities and, if need be, reschedule to when the weather is cooler. If you must go for your daily walk, do yard work, gardening, mow the lawn or any other strenuous activities, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the early morning between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. or late afternoon after 6 p.m. Remember, when working outside, to wear sunscreen of 30 SPF (sun protection factor) or higher, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, pace yourself, take frequent breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty. Older adults on fluid restrictions, or who have problems with fluid retention, should consult their physician before increasing their fluid intake.
During the hottest part of the day, stay indoors — this may be your home, library, mall, grocery store, or some place in the community that will get you some relief from the heat. Some tips on how to keep your home cool: close blinds, shades, and drapes to reduce the amount of sunlight entering your home. If it is safe to do so, leave the windows open at night. Use room or ceiling fans to keep the air circulating. When at all possible, avoid using home appliances like the dishwasher and clothes dryer during peak daylight hours. These appliances generate heat and also add humidity to the home. It is best to use these appliances during the early morning or late evening when it is cooler.
It is very important to dress appropriately for the season. Older adults tend to layer their clothing; they should wear only one layer during the summer. Wearing loose fitting, light materials (such as linen and cotton) will allow air movement over the skin to help cool you off, and light colors will help reflect the sun and heat; wearing materials such as rayon and polyester tends to trap the heat.
When it is extremely hot and humid, it is important to drink and eat as normally as you can. Avoid drinks such as soda, coffee, teas, alcohol and energy drinks as they pull water from the body and promote dehydration. Fresh fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, fruit slushies and yogurt are cool and refreshing at the same time are another way to keep hydrated. Eat cold foods such as sandwiches and salads and avoid heavy foods like meats and cheeses as they make your body work harder to digest them, and therefore will make you feel hotter.
Lastly, you need to make sure pets are taken care of during the hot weather. Pets have become more of a part of our life and our lifestyle than ever before. For example, like going for a ride in the car, whether it be running errands or on a family vacation, you need to keep in mind the dangers in leaving a pet inside a parked car during the summer heat. Simply parking in the shade or leaving the window cracked is not enough for the safety of your pet. Studies show that a car’s temperature can increase as much as 40 degrees in an hour with 80% of that increase in the first 30 minutes. On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car with the windows cracked slightly can reach 97 to 100 degrees within 10 minutes.
If you feel you need to leave your pet in the car while you run errands you may want to consider carrying two sets of car keys with you, so you can leave the engine running with the air on and take the second key with you. How many times do you see a pet in a parked car with the windows slightly cracked? If you see a pet in a parked car on a hot summer day with the windows slightly cracked, report this immediately to your local police or, if the car is parked in front of a store, have the owner paged.
With these suggestions on keeping cool and avoiding the sun and heat, I hope each and every senior has an enjoyable summer. Take time in making memories with your family and friends.