{"id":6282,"date":"2015-08-14T07:49:31","date_gmt":"2015-08-14T12:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=6282"},"modified":"2015-07-29T13:50:37","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T18:50:37","slug":"summer-safety-tips-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2015\/08\/summer-safety-tips-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Safety Tips for Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer Safety Tips for Seniors\"Summer<\/h1>\n

Summer tends to bring with it a sense of excitement and a desire to get outside and be active. That\u2019s great, but for seniors who have a higher sensitivity to heat, a little more caution needs to be exercised when it comes to making plans in the sun.<\/p>\n

As long as you\u2019re careful and stick to a few main safety tips, you can enjoy most of the summer activities you can imagine. Here are 7 summer safety tips for older adults:<\/p>\n

1. Stay hydrated.<\/h2>\n

The standard suggestion is to aim to drink 6-8 cups of water a day<\/strong>. If you intend to spend much time out in the sun, you may want to aim even higher to avoid dehydration. Invest in a water bottle or two that it\u2019s easy to take along on your jaunts outside and challenge yourself to finish it before you get home.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just depend on your body to tell you when you\u2019re thirsty. One of the many small frustrations of aging is that seniors become less aware of their thirst. Be proactive in staying hydrated<\/a><\/strong> and make sure it\u2019s water, sports drinks or juice that you\u2019re drinking \u2013 sodas, coffee, and especially alcohol won\u2019t work as good alternatives for hydration.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t stay out for too long.<\/h2>\n

If you live somewhere where it gets really hot, you should keep your plans for outdoor activities reasonably short. Don\u2019t plan to spend the whole day out in the sun \u2013 stick to a couple of hours and then head inside for a break. You don\u2019t always feel the effect the sun is having on you in the moment, but it can build to something dangerous if you\u2019re not careful to temper the time you spend outside on hot days.<\/p>\n

3. Check the forecast before you go out.<\/h2>\n

You don\u2019t want to be caught unawares on a 104\u00b0 day. Make sure you know what to expect of the weather before you go out so you can dress appropriately and plan your day accordingly. Don\u2019t risk being stuck on a hike far from your car when record temperatures hit in the afternoon. When the heat starts to get extreme, make sure your plans give you an easy out from the outdoors so you can take breaks and cool off.<\/p>\n

4. Keep sunscreen where it\u2019s easily accessible and you\u2019ll remember to use it.<\/h2>\n

If you carry a purse, keep your sunscreen<\/a><\/strong> in it at all times. If you don\u2019t, stick some in your car or anywhere else you can think of where you\u2019re likely to have it when you need it. If you think you might forget to re-apply when needed, set yourself an alarm, pretty much all phones have that option these days.<\/p>\n

5. Check the side effects of your prescriptions.<\/h2>\n

Some medications make people more sensitive to the sun. Make sure you know if your prescriptions mean you need to take extra precautions. It probably won\u2019t mean you have to forego outdoor activities, just that you\u2019ll need to make extra sure to follow some of the other suggestions on this list to avoid problems.<\/p>\n

6. Use your air conditioning if you have it.<\/h2>\n

I know it costs money, but summer heat waves can have serious consequences for seniors. Making sure you\u2019re reasonably comfortable and safe in your own home is worth the splurge. If you don\u2019t have an air conditioner, consider buying one. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program<\/a><\/strong> may help if the cost is prohibitive.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have A\/C in your home and can\u2019t find a way to afford it, take trips in the hottest part of the day to the mall, the movies, or the closest library. You can take advantage of their A\/C for a little while before heading back home when the day starts to cool down.<\/p>\n

7. Know the early warning signs of heat-related illnesses.<\/h2>\n

Hopefully these tips can help keep you from encountering a heat related illness, but you should still be prepared for the worst just in case. Review the symptoms for dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat syncope here<\/a><\/strong>. \u00a0If you suspect you\u2019re experiencing any of these, don\u2019t be shy about speaking up and insisting on water, shade, or some time inside in air conditioning. It\u2019s better than a trip to the emergency room.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summer Safety Tips for Seniors Summer tends to bring with it a sense of excitement and a desire to get outside and be active. That\u2019s great, but for seniors who have a higher sensitivity to heat, a little more caution needs to be exercised when it comes to making plans in the sun. As long as you\u2019re careful and stick […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,35],"tags":[33,45,403],"class_list":{"0":"post-6282","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-senior-health-fitness","8":"tag-safety-tips-for-seniors","9":"tag-senior-health","10":"tag-summer"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSummer Safety Tips for Seniors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did you know older adults have a higher sensitivity to heat? 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