Drink up, it's hot out there

The Somerton/Cocopah Fire Department has seen an increase recently in heat-related illness among senior citizens as temperatures have climbed, the department's spokesman said.

In any given week, firefighters with the department are responding to five to eight calls for assistance to people suffering heat-related assistance, Robby Rodriguez said, adding they typically get no such calls during the winter months.
 
Rodriguez said temperatures higher than 100 degrees can be very dangerous and that the body needs time to adjust to the hot weather, especially during the early summer months.
 
"Senior citizens are at an especially high risk of experiencing heat stress and heat-related injuries throughout the summer. Your body doesn't work as well the older you get."
 
Rodriguez said that compared with a younger person, an older person may not be able to sense elevations in temperature as quickly or be able to cool down as readily.
 
Certain medications for chronic illness that many older people take, Rodriguez said, can also affect the body's normal responses to heat.
 
"We aren't saying to stop what you do. Just stay hydrated. We want everyone to take precautions, especially when you go outside during the day."
 
The biggest danger, Rodriguez said, is as temperatures rise, so does the risk for heatstroke and other heat-related injuries. And oftentimes the warning signs for these conditions go unnoticed.
 
Rodriguez said there are things people can do to keep their body temperature down.
 
"If you know you are going to be outside for an extended period of time, start drinking lots of liquids the day before."
 
Rodriguez urged limiting activity to morning and evening hours. Also wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
 
Also drink more fluids during the day, regardless of activity level. Don't wait until you are thirsty, Rodriguez said, explaining that thirst is a late response of the body to fluid depletion. People who feel thirsty are already low on fluids.
 
Heat-related injuries range from minor issues such as muscle cramps due to loss of water and salt through perspiration, to heat exhaustion in the form of headaches, nausea and weakness, to potentially fatal heatstroke.
 
In severe dehydration, Rodriguez said, these effects become more pronounced and the person may develop symptoms such as diminished consciousness, lack of urine output, cool moist extremities, a rapid and feeble pulse, and low or undetectable blood pressure. Death follows soon if rehydration is not started quickly, Rodriguez said.
 
There is a simple way to tell if you are dehydrated, Rodriguez said, and it is a technique called "skin tenting."
 
In this technique, pinch and lift up the skin on the back of the hand to form a tent, then quickly let it go. The amount it stretches is an indication of its extensibility.
 
The faster it returns to normal, the more hydrated you are. The slower it returns indicates you may be dehydrated.
 
Other signs of dehydration are in the color of urine. Dark yellow urine is a sign of dehydration. Clear urine is a sign of proper hydration.
 
Rodriguez also suggested using a sunscreen that has at least SPF (sun protection factor) of 15.
 
"We want all of the residents in our cities to be well hydrated, from the farm worker to the office worker," Rodriguez said. "If you work outside fixing our roads or making sure we have power, those people need to drink more water. For those in the military that are training and those protecting our borders, please keep hydrated."

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SYMPTOMS OF EARLY OR MILD DEHYDRATION

• Flushed face

• Extreme thirst, more than normal or unable to drink

• Dry, warm skin

• Cannot pass urine or reduced amounts, dark, yellow

• Dizziness made worse when you are standing

• Weakness

• Cramps in the arms and legs

• Crying with few or no tears

• Sleepiness or irritability

• Headaches

• Dry mouth or dry tongue with thick saliva

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SYMPTOMS OF MODERATE TO SEVERE DEHYDRATION

• Low blood pressure

• Fainting

• Severe muscle contractions in the arms, legs, stomach and back

• Convulsions

• A bloated stomach

• Heart failure

• Sunken fontanelle - soft spot on an infant's head

• Sunken dry eyes, with few or no tears

• Skin loses its firmness and looks wrinkled

• Lack of elasticity of the skin (when a bit of skin lifted up stays folded and
takes a long time to go back to its normal position)

• Rapid and deep breathing - faster than normal

• Fast, weak pulse

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TIPS FOR A SAFE SUMMER

• Slow down: When temperatures begin to reach extreme highs, you should stay in the coolest place available out of the sun or in an air-conditioned room, and reduce or eliminate all strenuous activities.

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. You should minimize the amount of caffeinated beverages and alcohol that you drink, and grab a water bottle or a sports drink instead. A good test of hydration is to make sure that your urine is always clear in color.

• Avoid salt tablets: Those on salt-restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.

• Don't get too much sun: Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult. Always remember to use sunblock (SPF 15 or greater) when outdoors for prolonged periods of time in the summer months, even on hazy or cloudy days.

• Dress cool: Lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.