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 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, 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.
To view our original blog entry on heatstroke, click here.
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 ProMed will be closed on Monday, July 5 in honor of Independence Day. All Monday deliveries will be made on Tuesday, July 6 and all Tuesday deliveries will be made on Wednesday, July 7. Customers who normally order on Monday for Tuesday delivery will need to place their orders by Friday, July 2.
If you have any questions or concerns, our customer service team will be happy to help. You can reach them at 800-648-5190.
We hope you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
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In this section of LTC Connection, we're shining a spotlight on ProMed products that have earned rave reviews from our customers. This week, we're featuring our Urological and Bowel Care category.
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These Foley catheters feature a technologically advanced patented coating that combines Bacti-Guard® silver and hydrogel. This unique combination allows for smooth insertion and enhanced protection clinically proven to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
 This innovative, multi-purpose medical tube holder improves resident comfort, eliminates the need for constant retaping, permits repeated access to tubing without restricting the flow and may help reduce medical tube trauma.
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If you're a registered user on promedsupply.com, you can view items in this category by clicking on Online Catalog and then selecting Urological and Bowel Care. If you're not registered on the site yet, your ProMed Customer Care Professional will be happy to get you set up.
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