Heat safety

Heat Safety for Seniors in Victorville and the High Desert

Hernandez Health

Victorville & the High Desert

Heat Safety for Seniors in Victorville and the High Desert

Know the risks, recognize the symptoms, and learn when to get help 5 min read

Published by Hernandez Health

Go to the 911 warning signs

Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It can worsen existing illness. [1] [2] Older adults in Victorville and the High Desert are at risk even inside a hot home. [3]

Why older adults face greater risk

Sweating and blood flow toward the skin help cool your body. Aging, medicines, and health conditions can make cooling harder. Adults 65 and older adjust less well to sudden temperature changes. [3] [4]

Older adults may feel less thirsty despite needing fluid. Do not depend on thirst alone to tell you when to drink. [5]

Health conditions and other risks

Heart or kidney disease

Heat can worsen these conditions. Too little or too much fluid may be harmful. Ask your care team how much fluid is right for you during hot weather, especially if you have a fluid limit. [2] [6]

Diabetes

Diabetes complications can damage nerves and blood vessels, affecting sweating and cooling. High blood sugar increases urination and fluid loss. Dehydration can then raise blood sugar further. Ask how often to check your blood sugar. [7]

Illness and fluid loss

Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and medicines that increase urination can worsen fluid loss. [5]

Difficulty getting help

Living alone, trouble walking, or no air conditioning can make cooling and getting help harder. Arrange support before extreme heat. [8]

Dehydration: when your body loses too much fluid

Dehydration happens when you lose more fluid than you take in.

Watch for:

  • A dry mouth or darker urine
  • Urinating less than usual
  • Feeling unusually tired or dizzy [5]

Severe dehydration can cause low blood pressure, kidney injury, and shock, when organs receive too little blood. Treatment may require fluids through a vein, called an IV. [9] [10]

For mild symptoms, cool down and follow your fluid plan. Seek care if symptoms do not improve. Get medical help right away for very little or no urination, continued vomiting, or a fast heartbeat with weakness. Call 911 for confusion, fainting, collapse, or a change in alertness. These symptoms can have other causes. [5] [9]

Heat exhaustion: cool down and get care

Heat exhaustion often happens after the body loses too much water and salt through sweating.

Watch for:

  • Heavy sweating or muscle cramps
  • Headache, dizziness, or unusual weakness
  • Nausea or feeling sick to your stomach

A normal temperature reading does not rule out heat exhaustion. [1] [11]

What to do:

  1. Stop activity and move to a cool place, preferably somewhere with air conditioning.
  2. Loosen extra clothing and cool the skin with wet cloths.
  3. Offer small sips of water only if the person is fully alert, can swallow safely, and is not vomiting. [12] [10]

Older adults should get medical care right away for suspected heat illness, especially with vomiting or worsening symptoms. Do not wait to seek help. Heat exhaustion can become heat stroke. [3] [12] [11]

Heat stroke: call 911 immediately

Heat stroke is dangerous overheating that affects the brain and other organs. Without rapid treatment, it can cause permanent disability or death.

Call 911 for these warning signs during heat exposure:

  • Confusion, unusual behavior, or slurred speech
  • Seizures
  • Passing out or not responding

A person with heat stroke may have very hot skin and may still be sweating. Do not wait for sweating to stop or for a thermometer reading. [1]

Call 911 and start cooling immediately. If safe, move the person somewhere cooler and remove excess clothing. Wet their skin and clothing with cool water and fan them, or apply cool, wet cloths. Stay with them and follow the emergency operator's instructions. Do not wait for help to arrive before cooling. [10] [1]

Do not give anything to drink if heat stroke is suspected. [13]

Drowsiness or confusion can make swallowing unsafe. A drink could cause choking or aspiration, when liquid enters the airway or lungs. Do not offer a sip to test swallowing. Emergency professionals will decide whether and how to give fluids. [14] [15]

Medicines can increase heat risks

Some medicines change how your body handles heat:

  • Water pills increase fluid loss.
  • Some blood pressure medicines can lower blood pressure further or affect cooling.
  • Certain allergy, sleep, and mental health medicines can reduce sweating or alertness.
  • Pain medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen can increase the risk of kidney injury when you are dehydrated. [16]

Ask a clinician or pharmacist to review your medicines, including those you buy without a prescription. Do not stop or change a medicine on your own. Keep medicines out of hot cars and follow their storage instructions. [4]

Food and drink choices for hot days

Make water your main drink

Coffee contributes fluid. In a typical serving, its water usually balances caffeine's effect on urination. Large amounts of caffeine at once can make you urinate more, especially if you rarely have it. [17]

  • Follow your fluid plan. Keep water nearby. If you have a fluid limit or take water pills, ask your care team how much to drink during hot weather. [3]
  • Choose water during extreme heat. Limit alcohol and drinks with lots of caffeine. [18]

Watch sodium in foods and seasonings

Sodium is a mineral in salt. Too much can cause extra fluid buildup, swelling, and higher blood pressure, straining the heart and kidneys. [19] [20]

  • Check the label. Compare sodium per serving in seasoning packets, canned soups, and packaged sauces. Taste alone does not tell you how much sodium a food contains. [20]
  • Season with care. Try plain herbs or spices instead of extra salt. Follow your care team's sodium limit. [20] [19]

Simple ways to lower your risk

Spend time in air conditioning and avoid hard physical activity during extreme heat. A fan does not replace a cool room. CDC advises using fans only when the room is below 90°F. Above 90°F, a fan can make your body hotter. Check the National Weather Service HeatRisk forecast before outdoor activities. [18]

Drink water regularly. If your clinician has limited your fluids, ask how to manage hot days before drinking more. Have someone check on you, especially if you live alone. [3]

Heat safety resources in Victorville

Find a cooler location through San Bernardino County's Cool Places to Go resources. Check the hours before traveling, or call 211 for help.

For routine care, the Hernandez Health senior primary care clinic in Victorville is at 16460 Victor St, Victorville, CA 92395, in San Bernardino County. Call (760) 245-6925 to ask about appointments, English or Spanish support, and insurance participation.

Before the next hot spell, ask your care team about your medicines and any fluid limits. Learn about Hernandez Health primary care services. Call 911 for emergency symptoms.

This article provides general health information. Your care team can help you make a plan for your own needs.

Medical sources

Read the guidance used to prepare this article.

  1. CDC: Heat illness
  2. CDC: Health risks from heat
  3. CDC: Heat and older adults
  4. CDC: Heat and medicines
  5. MedlinePlus: Dehydration
  6. CDC: Heat and heart disease
  7. CDC: Diabetes in the heat
  8. CDC: Heat risk assessment
  9. MedlinePlus: Dehydration and complications
  10. American Heart Association and Red Cross: First aid guidelines
  11. National Institute on Aging: Heat illness
  12. CDC: Warning signs and first aid
  13. National Weather Service: Heat illness first aid
  14. CDC: Heat stroke and aspiration precautions
  15. Cambridge University Hospitals: Aspiration and swallowing safety
  16. NIDDK: Medicines and kidney safety
  17. Mayo Clinic: Caffeine and hydration
  18. CDC: Heat and your health
  19. NIDDK: Sodium and kidney health
  20. FDA: Sodium in everyday foods

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