Page 26 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2017 - 24-07
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Page 26
Senior Times - July 2017
Extreme Heat
I t was 241 years ago today that our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence.Today let us celebrate our freedom and honor those that fight for our liberty.
223 N. Bedford Rd. • Battle Creek • 269-965-5145 www.bachmanhebble.com
Pre-planning is important for life.
Preparedness Tips
By: Kristi Angelo, MSP Community Service Trooper
Q: What is heat stroke?
A: Heat stroke, also known as hyper- thermia, is a condition that occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.
Q: What are symptoms of heat stroke?
A: Symptoms may include dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, slug- gishness, seizure, hot or dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of conscious- ness, rapid heartbeat, or hallucinations.
Extreme Heat Preparedness Tips Exposure to extreme high temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause serious or life-threatening health prob- lems. Infants and the elderly are particu- larly at risk, but anyone can be affected. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know what to do when tem- peratures rise to extreme highs and how to prevent heat-related health problems. You can help reduce risks by taking the following precautions:
To prepare before extreme heat, you should:
• Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if necessary.
• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
• Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.
• Keep storm windows up all year.
• Install temporary window reflectors
(for use between windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered card- board, to reflect heat back outside.
During a heat emergency, you should:
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
• Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such
as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
• Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid bever- ages that contain alcohol, caffeine or a lot of sugar.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• Never leave any person or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
• Check on family, friends, and neigh- bors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
When outdoors, you should:
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Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun block, and light-colored, loose fitting clothes. At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better. Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after coming inside from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly or very young people.
Battle Creek’s assisted living choice for seniors, owned and operated by Cretsinger Care Homes, Ltd. Offering supported or full care for a fixed rate. Please contact Renee Kelly for information.
(269) 964-8292
Pennfield Premier Living
632 North Avenue Battle Creek MI 49017
www.CretsingerCareHomes.com
Happy Independence!
Licensed Adult Foster Care
Calhoun County Medical Care Facility
Short-Term Therapy
Short term therapy is used to transition individuals home by providing on-site physical, occupational & speech therapies.
Therapists work with residents to help them restore their mobility & function, manage pain, and achieve outcomes.
Our goal is to increase independence with daily tasks & to make sure residents recover quickly before returning home.
Marian E. Burch Adult Day Care Center
Restorative Exercise
Restorative exercise is a part of the activities at the adult day care center.
Restorative exercise includes riding the NuStep bike, using the pulleys, and walking on parallel bars.
Maintaining joint functions through simple movements is an important part of a daily routine.
1150 E. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49014 (269)962-5458or(269)962-1750 www.ccmcf.com
Social Security
Avoid sunburn: it slows the skins ability to cool itself. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.
Familiarize yourself with extreme heat terms to help identify potential hazards:
• Heat Wave: Prolonged period of excessive heat often combined with excessive humidity.
• Heat Index: A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees.
• Heat Cramps: Muscular pains
and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
• Heat Exhaustion: Typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body flu- ids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, caus- ing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim's con- dition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
• Heat Stroke: A life-threatening condi- tion. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
• Sun Stroke: Another term for heat stroke.
Question: How can I protect myself against identity theft?
Answer: First, don’t carry your Social Security card with you. Keep it secure at home with your other important papers. Second, don’t readily give out your Social Security number.
While many banks, schools, doctors, landlords, and others will request your number, it is your decision whether to provide it. Ask if there is some other way to identify you in their records.
If you are the victim of identity theft, you should report it right away. To report identity theft, fraud, or misuse of your Social Security number, the Federal Trade Commission (the nation’s consumer pro- tection agency) recommends you:
• Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the following companies (the company you contact is required to contact the other two,
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which will then place alerts on your reports):
Equifax, 1-800-525-6285; or Trans Union, 1-800-680-7289; or Experian, 1-888-397-3742.
Review your credit report for inquiries from companies you have not con- tacted, accounts you did not open, and debts on your accounts you cannot explain;
Close any accounts you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently;
File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place; and
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338 (TTY 1-866-653-4261).
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