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The following
information is from the NYS
Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for
Persons with Disabilities
Heat-related illness
occurs when one’s body is unable to properly
cool itself, a task normally achieved through
sweating. The elderly, children under the age of
four, people with certain chronic illnesses and
individuals on certain medications, including a
wide range of anti-psychotics, anti-depressants,
anti–cholinergics and mood stabilizers, are
particularly at risk for heat-related illness, as
their age, disability or medications may compromise
their cooling mechanism. Young, healthy
individuals, though, can also develop heat-related
illness if they engage in strenuous activities in
hot weather. Humidity also is a factor contributing
to heat-related illness: when the humidity is high,
sweat will not evaporate as quickly and the body
cannot readily release heat. The two major
categories of heat-related illness are heat
exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion
occurs when an individual is exposed for a
prolonged period of time to high temperatures
without an adequate or balanced replacement of
fluids. Its symptoms may include heavy sweating,
paleness, cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, cool
moist skin and a rapid but weak pulse.
Left untreated, heat
exhaustion can lead to heat stroke wherein the body
is unable to control own temperature: the sweating
mechanism shuts down and the body temperature
rapidly rises to over 106 degrees. Heat stroke
shares some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion
(dizziness, nausea, etc.), but others are distinct.
There is no sweating, the skin is hot and dry, the
pulse is rapid and strong, and the victim loses
consciousness. Without prompt emergency treatment,
heat stroke results in permanent disability or
death. Other less serious forms of heat-related
illness are heat cramps and heat rash (prickly
heat).
As an environmentally
influenced cause of death, heat-related illness
kills more Americans than hurricanes (pre-Katrina),
lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes
combined, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prevention
Heat-related illness
is preventable; the key is staying cool and
maintaining proper hydration. The CDC’s
National Center for Environmental Health offers
excellent advice on heat related illness,
prevention and treatment on its web site:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/
Program operators who
serve individuals at risk of heat-related illness,
particularly those serving the elderly, infirm or
people on psychotropic medications should visit the
CDC’s web site for more information. Among
other things facilities can do to ensure their
clients’ well being in warm weather are:
- Identify
individuals who, because of age, medications,
physical ailments, are at risk of heat-related
illness.
- Develop a heat
policy for implementation when outside
temperatures reach 80 degrees and ensure that
all staff is aware of the policy.
- Ensure that areas
of the facility in which clients can be
accommodated are air conditioned, if not all
rooms are air-conditioned. In other areas, use
ventilation systems and fans to keep air
circulating. Note, however, that fans are not
effective in preventing heat-related illness
when temperatures are in the upper 90s.
- Close windows and
blinds/shades on sun-exposed walls, open windows
on shaded walls, turn off heat generating
devices.
- Encourage clients
to avail themselves of cooler spots within the
facility, or out in the community, i.e., air
conditioned malls, libraries, movie theaters,
etc.
- Ensure that
clients have access to and are encouraged to
drink fluids. Discourage the intake of
caffeinated products, alcohol or overly sweet
beverages.
- Adjust menus,
incorporating cold servings and food items that
are rich in water, e.g. fruits, salads, etc.
- Encourage clients
to dress in light clothing and to avoid vigorous
activities.
- Monitor clients
for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
Promptly seek medical
attention when an individual displays signs and
symptoms suggesting heat-related illness.
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