56.7 F
Clarksville
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsAARP Tennessee Offers Top Ten Tips on Beating the Heat

AARP Tennessee Offers Top Ten Tips on Beating the Heat

Temperatures near 100 as summer starts

Summer officially started Monday, but the stifling heat hit Tennessee weeks ago and doesn’t appear to be going away, according to weather forecasters who are predicting 100-degree days in parts of the state this week. High temperatures can cause serious health problems, especially for older adults, so AARP Tennessee wants to share some tips that can help everyone beat the heat.

AARP Top Ten Tips

  1. Stay indoors during the hottest times of the day and postpone outdoor chores.
  2. If you don’t have air-conditioning at home, stay on the lower level because heat rises.
  3. Close your shades to keep out the sunshine, but open the windows to let air circulate.
  4. If you need a fan or an air-conditioner but cannot afford one, find out if you are eligible for assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at www.aarp.org/quicklink. Contact your LIHEAP agency here.
  5. Ask your local LIHEAP agency for cool places you can go such as libraries and other public buildings, movie theatres or malls. Some communities are opening cooling shelters.
  6. If you must go out, wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing and protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat and sunglasses or use an umbrella.
  7. Drink water even if you are not thirsty. This helps keep your body cool. Avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
  8. If you don’t have air-conditioning in your car, open the windows to let air circulate.
  9. If you have a chronic medical condition, talk with your doctor about other precautions. Some conditions and medications may place you at higher risk.
  10. Neighbors, friends or family should check in on older people in their homes to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.

To determine whether you or someone you know is suffering from a heat-related illness, read this fact sheet from the state Department of Health.

Call 911 for immediate medical assistance if you believe someone is experiencing heat stroke. Symptoms include body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit; red, hot and dry skin without sweating; rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and loss of consciousness.

While waiting on emergency assistance, get the person to a shady area, place cold wraps on their body and monitor temperature until it reaches 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not give fluids to drink.

For more about AARP Tennessee, please visit www.aarp.org/tn, www.facebook.com/aarptennessee or www.twitter.com/aarptn.

About the AARP 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.  AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.  We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org.  AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.  We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

RELATED ARTICLES

Latest Articles