ByEstherConteh,RN,VNSNYCHOICEHealthPlans,August11,2020Augustisheatingup,andwithallthestressesofthelastfewmonthsfromthecoronaviruscrisis,itismoreimportantnowthaneverforNewYorkerstobemindfulofsomeimportanthealthtipswhenitcomestobeatingtheheat.Thissummer,oppressivehumidity,combinedwithtemperaturesinthehigh80sand90s,putsolderandmorevulnerableNewYorkersatincreasedriskofheat-relatedhealthissues.Manyeldersmaynotrealizethedangersthatcanariseuponsteppingoutintohotweatherunprepared.Whentakingintoconsiderationadditionalfactorssuchasairqualityandcloudcover,temperaturescanoftenfeelmuchhotterthantheyactuallyare,posinghazardousconditionsforthosealreadyatelevatedriskofhealthproblems.Itmakessensetostaymindfulofhotweatherhealthcautions.

EstherConteh,RN,VNSNYCHOICEHealthPlans

MycolleaguesandIatVNSNYCHOICEHealthPlanscoordinatecareforhomeboundseniorssotheycanlivesafelyandindependentlyintheirownhomesforaslongaspossible.Becausetheweathermayslowdownorpreventfriendsandfamilyfromvisitinghomeboundseniors,itisimportanttoensurethattheyaresafeandcomfortableathomeamidsthightemperatures.BelowareafeweasywaysinwhichNewYorkers—oldandyoungalike—canstayfeelingtheirbestastheybravetheheat.1.DrinkupOneofthemostimportantwaystomaintainhealthduringthesummerisbydrinkingenoughfluidstoavoiddehydration.Drinkplentyofwaterandeatfoodscontainingwater,suchasfruits,vegetables,gelatin(Jell-O)andicepops.Aimfor6to8glassesoffluidaday(thisamountincludesthewaterinfoods).Bewareofcoffee,caffeineandalcohol,whichcanactuallydehydrate,ratherthanreplenish,thebodyoffluids.2.KeepahealthyappetiteThoughyourappetitemaydecreaseinsummermonths,itisimportanttocontinuetoeatwell.Besureyourdailymealscontainprotein(leanmeats,likechickenandfish)andcarbohydrates(vegetablesandwholegrains).Salad,fruitandothersmall,coolmealscanbeeatenthroughoutthedaytomaintainstrength.3.CooldownthebodyTakefrequentcoolbathsandshowerstokeepyourbodytemperaturefromrisingtoohigh(Besurethatthebathtubhasaslip-resistantmatorsafetybarstopreventslipsandfalls).Simplycoolingthefeetinabowlofcoldoricedwatermayalsohelpsustainbringyourtemperaturedown.Havingadampclothtowipedownyourfaceandarmsisconvenientaswell.4.Seekoutcoolplaces

SincetheCOVID-19pandemic,mostofusarealreadystayingindoorsandsocialdistancing.Keepingtheblindsdrawnsothathotsundoesn’tmakeapartmentsevenhotterisonestrategytoconsider.Butforthoseatincreasedriskinextremeheat,NewYorkCitydoesopencoolingcentersinair-conditionedfacilitiesforpeopleexperiencingphysicaldiscomfortinaheatwave.Visithttps://maps.nyc.gov/cooling-center/tofindacenternearyou.NYCalsooffersanAirConditionerProgramandyoucandial311tolearnmore.5.Considertemporarycareforanat-risklovedoneForelderlypeoplewhoarehomeboundorlivingalonevisitsfromalicensedhomehealthaide,wearingproperpersonalprotectiveequipmentandtrainedinsafetyprotocols,canalsobearrangedforafewhourstoprovidepeaceofmindforfamilymemberswhocan’treachlovedonesorcheckinwhentheheatisontomakesuretheyaregettingfluidsandstayingsafeathome.6.GetitdeliveredIfpossible,havesomethingbroughttoyourhomeratherthancookinginsideormakingthetrekoutsideyourself.Withmanyeateriesofferingdeliverythesedays,andserviceslikeFreshDirect,Amazonandlocalgrocerystoresabletobringalmostanythingtoyourdoor,youcanstaysafeinsideinsteadofcarryingextrathingsaroundintheheat.7.Skipthesun’speakhoursThehottesttimeofthedayisbetween10AMand2PM.Avoidcookingorspendingtimeoutdoorsduringthisperiod.Ifyoumustleavethehouseduringaheatwave,wearsunscreen,aswellasloose,light-coloredclothingandawide-brimmedhat.Alwayskeepafreshbottleofwaterintherefrigeratorandbringitwithyouwhenyouleavethehouse.Becarefultoavoidburnsonmetal,especiallyonwalkers,wheelchairsorbenches.EstherConteh,RN,isDirectorofUtilizationandCareManagementwithVNSNYCHOICEHealthPlans,apartoftheVisitingNurseServiceofNewYork.Tolearnmore,pleasevisitwww.vnsnychoice.orgorcall1-855-ATCHOICE(1-855-282-4642).