Page 16 avavvyvy avvy S iorn oreniioor a avvy iori by Jim Miller How Extreme Heat Affects Seniors: Tips to Stay Safe Dear Savvy Senior, I work for a county health department and every summer we’re seeing more and more seniors get sick and even die from heat-related illiness. Can you write an awarness piece on the aff ects extreme heat has on older adults, and what they can do to guard against this summertime risk. Thanks for helping keep seniors safe! Health Advocate Dear Advocate, Happy to oblige! Most people don’t realize that each year, extreme summertime heat kills more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, fl oods and tornadoes combined. While extreme heat can be deadly for anyone, older adults are uniquely vulnerable because of three key factors: biological changes that occur with age; higher rates of age-related diseases; and greater use of medications that can alter the body’s response to heat. Here’s how to gauge the risk for a heat-related illness for you or an older loved one and how to stay safe. How Heat Aff ects Seniors The human body has two main mechanisms to cool itself: sweating and increasing blood fl ow to the skin. In older adults, both of those processes are compromised. Seniors sweat less and they have poor circulation compared with younger people. Chronic health conditions that are more common in old age, most notably cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can also exacerbate these issues. A diseased heart isn’t able to pump as much blood, further reducing blood fl ow to the skin. And if the nerves become aff ected in people with diabetes, the body might not receive the message that it needs to start sweating. As people age, they also stop feeling as thirsty and so they tend to drink less. In hot conditions, that can cause them to become dehydrated faster. In addition, some older adults, particularly if they have some form of dementia or cognitive decline, may not perceive temperature changes as well. As a result, they won’t respond appropriately to heat, both biologically (through sweating) and behaviorally (by moving to someplace cool). Finally, certain medications many seniors take like diuretics and other high blood pressure drugs can aff ect people’s hydration, blood fl ow and even the sweat response, so be sure to ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking. How to Stay Safe On hot days, older adults and people with serious health conditions should limit outdoor activities like walking and gardening to the cooler mornings and evenings, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water even if you aren’t thirsty. Listen to your body. If the activity starts to feel harder than normal, that’s a signal to stop and fi nd a place to cool down. Signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, fl ushed face, a racing heart or feeling lethargic. Low energy is especially important to watch out for in people with cognitive impairment, who may not realize how hot they are or be able to express it. If heat exhaustion worsens to a heatstroke, it becomes a life-threatening emergency. While older adults face unique challenges when it comes to heat, the ways to cool down are the same for any age. If you or a loved one start to experience any of the above symptoms, the best thing you can do is to go somewhere that has air-conditioning. If AC isn’t available in the home, check if there’s a local cooling center. In the absence of air-conditioning, water is extremely helpful in reducing the risk for heat-related injury. Rubbing an ice cube or cold compress over your skin, spraying yourself with cool water or taking a cool shower or bath can also help. For more heat related safety tips, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at CDC.gov/extreme-heat. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. INSPECTIONAL SERVICES 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor Malden, Massachusetts 02148 (781) 397-7000 ext. 2030 City of Malden Massachusetts MALDEN PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 on the petition of Bruce Tangonan and Ken Chen, doing business as Khrome Tattoo Studio, on behalf of 100 Maplewood Street LLC (Permit Application # COO-066402-2024) seeking a special permit under Title 12.12.030 of the Code of the City of Malden, to allow body art use of property in the Industrial 1 zoning district, namely, a tattoo studio, in one storefront space of the building at the property known as and numbered, 888 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID 127 433 302. Petition and plans are available for public review in the Inspectional Services Department, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor, Malden, MA and under Permit Application # COO-066402-2024 at https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/ SelfService#/home By: Diane Chuha Clerk July 26, August 2, 2023 INSPECTIONAL SERVICES 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor Malden, Massachusetts 02148 (781) 397-7000 ext. 2030 City of Malden Massachusetts MALDEN PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The Malden Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 on the petition of Katherine Cruikshank and The Downtown Paw, on behalf of Dana Family Series LLC and Herman Dana Foundation LLC (Permit Application # CMID-064854-2024)seeking a special permit under Title 12.12.030 of the Code of the City of Malden, to allow kennel use of property in the Central Business zoning district, namely, to add overnight boarding services for dogs and cats at the existing dog/pet daycare business, in the storefront space known as 72 Pleasant Street at the building at the property known as and numbered, 72- 80 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA and also known by City Assessor’s Parcel ID 052 274 407.Petition and plans are available for public review in the Inspectional Services Department, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, 3rd Floor, Malden, MA and under Permit Application # CMID-064854-2024 at https://maldenmaenergovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home By: Diane Chuha Clerk July 26, August 2, 2024 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 26, 2024 BHRC | FROM PAGE 15 regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week July 15-19. the House met for a total of 19 hours and 59 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 13 hours and 42 minutes. Mon. July 15 House11:00 a.m. to 11:07 a.m. Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:44 a.m. Tues.July 16 No House session No Senate session Wed. July 17 House11:01 a.m. to7:33 p.m. No Senate session Thurs. July 18 House11:00 a.m. to5:48 p.m. Senate 11:04 a.m. to9:29 p.m. Fri. July 19 House11:04 a.m. to3:36 p.m. Senate1:10 p.m. to3:48 p.m. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.
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