Why are HEAT WAVES dangerous for OLDER PEOPLE?
Heat waves are dangerous because • As we become older we begin to lose the layers of fat in our bodies that act like insulation. One of the results is that the ability to control our temperature is weakened. In fact, we might not even feel hot; • We lose the ability to sweat as we get older. It is the sweat that carries away large amounts of heat in our bodies; and • If our body’s cooling system is already weakened, our heart has to take up the extra work. So, older people with heart conditions are very vulnerable to heatstroke or heat exhaustion. How can YOU keep COOL? • KEEP COOL by spending as much time as you can in cooler surroundings — a cooler room in your home, an air-conditioned shopping mall, senior center, public library or movie theater. Even a few hours a day in air conditioning is important. • KEEP SHADES AND DRAPES CLOSED in the early morning to keep the cooler night air inside the house. • USE AIR CONDITIONING. It can provide lifesaving relief from heat stress, especia
