Now that the summer’s first extreme heat advisory is over, it is a reminder, if anyone had forgotten, what summer can be like in The Dalles. But knowing there will surely be more hot days ahead (July and August are the hottest months of the year with the all-time high in The Dalles reaching 111 on July 26.1998), it might be good to review some of the precautions you should take when it becomes extremely hot again.
Heat is a particular concern for older adults and anyone with a chronic illness because they are at a high risk for heat related illnesses. But heat related illnesses can be prevented by “staying cool, hydrated and informed”.
Stay cool. If you do need to go outside during extreme heat conditions, early morning or later evening are the best times. Limit your sun exposure between 11 am – 5 pm. Dress in loose, light-weight, light-colored clothing that covers the skin. Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hat. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or more 10 minutes before going out.
Know the signs of heat stroke: high body temperature (104 F or higher); altered mental state or behavior; changes in sweating; nausea or vomiting; flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing heart rate, and headaches. If you notice any of these symptoms call 911.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids regardless of your level of activity even if you are not thirsty. If you have lost your mind and need to work outdoors in the heat (we should leave that to the young bucks) drink between 2-4 cups per hour. And not all fluids are beneficial – avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks.
Stay informed. Stay connected with family, friends and neighbors, in case you need to help each other. On those extended stretches of extremely hot weather, a broken air conditioner, can be a life threatening situation.
By staying cool, hydrated and informed, you can avoid serious heat related illnesses, because as Dinah Shore once sang, “Baby, it’s hot outside” – or something like that.
In The Dalles there are excellent facilities that provide a variety of long term care options. But there are occasions when it is important that an advocate is available to support the resident if he or she has a complaint. The Long Term Ombudsman was created to provide that type of support and at 11:00 on June 23rd, Gretchen Jordan, Coordinator of Volunteers for the Oregon Long Term Care Ombudsman program, will be speaking about the Ombudsman program. Certified Ombudsmen Volunteers are independent citizen advocates who visit the residents of long-term care facilities, identifying complaints and concerns. They investigate these complaints and work with the staff of the facilities to resolve problems, advocating from the resident’s point of view to protect their rights and dignity.
It has been said that as long as the first and last letters in a word are in their proper place, you can scramble the rest of the word and it’s still readable. Let’s test that theory by scrambling the letters in the Center’s Tuesday Night Music announcement. Tseuady Ngiht Misuc and Dnace at the Cneetr on Jnue 23rd wlil frutaee the Eldrley Brtoerhs – and conarrty to rorums, tehy are no ritlaoen to the Eevrly Brreohts. Droos oepn at 6:00, msuic sattrs at 7:00 and oevr by 9:00. All aegs are wocelme and daoniotns are aywals acietaprped.
The 1950’s television drama starring Richard Carlson and based on the life of Herbert Philbrick, who infiltrated the U.S. Communist Party on behalf of the FBI was I Led Three Lives. You may also remember Richard Carlson starring in several of the Bell Laboratory Science specials that by the mid-sixties had been seen by an estimated five million schoolchildren and half a million college students. For this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the host of this series that included Hemo the Magnificent and About Time. Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of Dr. Research and Dr. Fiction Writer.
Well, it’s been another week, spending too much time looking for the delete key. Until we meet again, you know you are getting older if you meet an attractive young women and wonder if she is single – because you’d like to introduce her to your unmarried son.
“When my grandmother was sick in the hospital, I foolishly quoted her the saying, ‘never regret growing old; it’s a privileged denied to many.’ She glared at me and responded, ‘spoken like a truly young idiot.” ― Dan Pearce
