Older Adults and Excessive Heat Events

By Paula Fenza

When summer brings excessive heat events, it is important to be aware that—according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention—more people die from heat waves each year than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. Excessive heat events are prolonged periods when temperatures reach 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more above the average high temperature for a region. Older individuals are particularly vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat events. During an average summer, approximately 1,500 people die from excessive heat events in the U.S. In 1995, a single heat wave in Chicago killed more than 700 people. In Europe, a record heat wave in 2003 claimed an estimated 35,000 lives. In both cases, the vast majority of the victims were 65 and older. Heat 1

Because of normal aging changes, older adults are at higher risk of being affected by excessive heat events. For the growing number of aging Americans, the body’s cooling mechanisms may become impaired. Living alone or being confined to a bed and unable to care for one’s self further increases this risk. Existing health conditions such as chronic illness, mental impairment, and obesity may also heighten an individual’s vulnerability, as can taking certain medications. Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people and communities need to be aware of those at greatest risk and what actions may be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death.

The best defense against excessive heat is prevention. Air conditioning is one of the best protective factors against heat-related illness and death. Even a few hours a day in air conditioning can greatly reduce the risk. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when temperatures are in the high 90s, fans do not prevent heat-related illness. During excessive heat events, older adults and their caregivers may use the following prevention strategies to protect their health:

Visit air-conditioned buildings in your community if your home is not air conditioned. These may include senior centers, movie theaters, libraries, shopping malls, or designated “cooling centers.”
Take a cool shower or bath.
Drink lots of fluids. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. If a doctor limits your fluid intake, make sure to ask how much to drink when it’s hot. Avoid beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar. These drinks cause dehydration.
Ask your doctor or other health care provider if the medications you take could increase your susceptibility to heat-related illness.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.
Friends or caregivers should visit at-risk individuals at least twice a day. Watch for signs of heat-related illness such as hot, dry skin, confusion, hallucinations, and aggression.
Call 911 if medical attention is needed.

Another method by which older adults and their caregivers can prevent heat-related events is through Heat-Health Watch and Warnings. The National Weather Service has initiated Heat-Health Watch and Warning systems to identify when a heat-related public health threat is likely. These systems use computer programs that analyze National Weather Service forecasts and other local data to predict dangerous conditions. Heat-Health Watch and Warning systems have been established in Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, St. Louis, and other cities in the U.S. as well as Europe. After a warning has been prompted, city health authorities communicate this information to older adults, their caregivers, and other at-risk groups.

The EPA has issued a fact sheet for older adults and their caregivers about planning for excessive heat events. The fact sheet can be viewed at:
http://www.epa.gov.

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