Check on Elderly in Heat Wave, Authorities Advise

ATLANTA–HomeCare’s hometown really was Hotlanta last
week, with temperatures topping 100 degrees and a heat index of 110
for four days running. The city opened up more than 30 “cooling
centers” for seniors and others without access to air
conditioning.

As the nation sizzled under an extended heat wave through much
of the week, with highs in the 90s from the East Coast to the
western Plains, authorities urged the elderly to stay in
air-conditioned buildings and take it easy.

“People don’t realize it but heat is generally the number-one
killer” among weather-related causes, National Weather Service
meteorologist Ben Miller told the Associated Press. “We’ve gone all
year without a serious heat wave so we want people to be aware of
what to do to keep themselves safe.”

Health experts caution that the elderly, young children and
those who are sick or overweight are more likely to become victims
of extreme heat, but note that spending at least two hours a day in
air conditioning can cut down significantly on the number of
heat-related illnesses.

According to the National Disaster Education Coalition, people
living in urban areas may be at greater risk from an extended heat
wave than people living in rural regions. Respiratory problems can
worsen “when stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in
urban areas, thus adding unhealthy air to excessively hot
temperatures.”

The NDEC also advised checking on those who spend much of their
time alone, pointing out that a majority of deaths during the 1995
Midwest heat wave were persons who were alone.

For a list of precautions to take during a heat wave from the
American Red Cross, click here.