NORTH RICHLAND HILLS –As North Texas enters the hottest months of the year, Medical City North Hills experts are encouraging families, caregivers and communities to take extra steps to protect older adults from heat-related illness.
“Older adults and people with chronic conditions are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness,” says Curtis H. Johnson, MD, medical director of emergency services at Medical City North Hills. “Additionally, certain medications can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature. During extreme heat, stay hydrated, spend time in air-conditioned spaces and avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults 65 and older, people with chronic medical conditions and those without access to air conditioning are at increased risk of heat-related illness.
Medical City North Hills medical experts are offering the following steps to help older adults stay safe during extreme heat:
People experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms – heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea or fainting – should move to a cooler place, loosen clothing, sip water and seek medical care if symptoms worsen or do not improve.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke can include confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, very high body temperature, hot skin or profuse sweating. Call 911 immediately, move the person to a cooler place and begin cooling them with water or cold towels while waiting for help.
Learn more about emergency services at Medical City North Hills here.
ABOUT MEDICAL CITY NORTH HILLS
Medical City North Hills is a 164-bed, acute care hospital located in North Richland Hills, Texas. With a medical team of more than 500 physicians, Medical City North Hills offers a broad range of services including a Level III Trauma Center, a full range of cardiovascular services, comprehensive orthopedic and spine programs, neurology, graduate medical education and an internal medicine residency clinic.