Infants and young children
Babies and young children don’t have the ability to hydrate themselves or know when to get out of the heat, according to the
Texas Medical Association.
- Never leave a child in a closed, parked vehicle, not even for a minute
- The temperature inside a parked car can soar into triple digits within minutes. We’ve all heard the horror stories. Don’t do it.
- Make sure babies and children drink plenty of fluids. If you are thirsty, chances are your little ones could also use a beverage. Avoid beverages with caffeine, or a large amount of sugar.
- Avoid bundling infants in heavy blankets or clothing. Like adults, babies need to air out in order to cool down.
- During the hottest hours of the day, keep children indoors in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible. Families without air conditioning should pull shades over the windows and use room fans.
The elderly or infirm
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the elderly are more prone to heat-related illness for several reasons:
- Their bodies do not adjust well to sudden changes in temperature.
- They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that upsets normal body responses to heat.
- They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.
Dr. Heine recalls a 78-year-old woman who was transported by ambulance to the emergency department after a neighbor noticed she hadn't been out of her apartment for two days.
The temperature had surpassed 90 degrees and the humidity was stifling. The woman was dehydrated, with a temperature of 104.7 degrees and a decreased blood pressure of 100/70. She was treated with intravenous fluids and then hospitalized.
You can help:
- Visit older adults at risk at least twice a day and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.
- Make sure older adults have an electric fan and can take a cool shower or bath.
People taking certain medications
Many medications also can put you in danger of heat stroke, according to
FamilyDoctor.org.
- Allergy medicines
- Cough and cold medicines
- Some blood pressure and heart medicines
- Diet pills (amphetamines)
- Irritable bladder and irritable bowel medicines
- Laxatives
- Some mental health medicines
- Seizure medicines
- Thyroid pills
- Water pills
Talk to your doctor about what medicines you are taking. He or she can tell you if your medicine puts you at risk for heat stroke.