Help Ward Off Heatstroke at Your Facility

Did you know that about 80 percent of heatstroke deaths occur in people over 50 years old? Part of the reason for this is that the physical changes of aging make elderly people more likely to suffer from heat-related problems.

As people age, sweating becomes less effective at cooling the body. Sweat glands can become scar-like, and the surrounding tissue becomes less vascular. Elderly people start sweating at a higher temperature and have less sweat output per gland, which puts them at a higher risk for developing heatstroke.

Other factors and medical conditions can put the elderly at risk for heatstroke, including lower socioeconomic status, impaired self-care ability, lack of air conditioning, mental illness, alcoholism, infection, dehydration, cardiopulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease and COPD. Certain medications can also put residents at a higher risk for heat-related complications, including anticholinergics, antihistamines, antiparkinsonians and antipsychotics. Residents on diuretics should also be monitored closely since these drugs can cause a diminished volume of blood, which can lead to heatstroke.

The following tips can help prevent heatstroke at your facility:

• Encourage residents to drink plenty of fluids.
• Don't serve fluids with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar. All of these can cause a person to lose more body fluid. Water or fruit or vegetable juice are better choices.
• During heat waves, keep residents indoors in the air conditioning.
• Keep sunlight from entering rooms by closing the blinds or curtains.
• If residents are outside, encourage them to stay in cool, shady spots, preferably in the early morning or evening.
• Have residents wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Be aware of the outdoor heat index (which measures what hot weather "feels like"). Full exposure to sun can cause the heat index to rise by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.