Now that the summer’s first extreme
heat advisory is over, it is a reminder, if anyone had forgotten, what summer
can be like in The Dalles. But knowing there will surely be more hot days ahead
(July and August are the hottest months of the year with the all-time high in
The Dalles reaching 111 on July 26.1998), it might be good to review some of
the precautions you should take when it becomes extremely hot again.
Heat is a particular concern
for older adults and anyone with a chronic illness because they are at a high
risk for heat related illnesses. But heat related illnesses can be prevented by
“staying cool, hydrated and informed”.
Stay cool. If you do need to
go outside during extreme heat conditions, early morning or later evening are
the best times. Limit your sun exposure between 11 am - 5 pm. Dress in loose,
light-weight, light-colored clothing that covers the skin. Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed
hat. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or more 10 minutes before going out.
Know the signs of heat stroke:
high body temperature (104 F or higher); altered mental state or behavior;
changes in sweating; nausea or vomiting; flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing
heart rate, and headaches. If you notice any of these symptoms call 911.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of
fluids regardless of your level of activity even if you are not thirsty. If you
have lost your mind and need to work outdoors in the heat (we should leave that
to the young bucks) drink between 2-4 cups per hour. And not all fluids are
beneficial - avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks.
Stay informed. Stay connected
with family, friends and neighbors, in case you need to help each other. On
those extended stretches of extremely hot weather, a broken air conditioner, can
be a life threatening situation.
By staying cool, hydrated and
informed, you can avoid serious heat related illnesses, because as Dinah Shore once
sang, “Baby, it’s hot outside” – or something like that.
In The Dalles there are
excellent facilities that provide a variety of long term care options. But
there are occasions when it is important that an advocate is available to
support the resident if he or she has a complaint. The Long Term Ombudsman was
created to provide that type of support and at 11:00 on June 23rd,
Gretchen Jordan, Coordinator of Volunteers for the Oregon Long Term Care
Ombudsman program, will be speaking about the Ombudsman program. Certified Ombudsmen
Volunteers are independent citizen advocates who visit the residents of
long-term care facilities, identifying complaints and concerns. They
investigate these complaints and work with the staff of the facilities to
resolve problems, advocating from the resident’s point of view to protect their
rights and dignity.
It has been said
that as long as the first and last letters in a word are in their proper place,
you can scramble the rest of the word and it's still readable. Let’s test that
theory by scrambling the letters in the Center’s Tuesday Night Music
announcement. Tseuady Ngiht Misuc and
Dnace at the Cneetr on Jnue 23rd wlil frutaee the Eldrley Brtoerhs – and
conarrty to rorums, tehy are no ritlaoen to the Eevrly Brreohts. Droos oepn at
6:00, msuic sattrs at 7:00 and oevr by 9:00. All aegs are wocelme and daoniotns
are aywals acietaprped.
The 1950’s
television drama starring Richard Carlson and based on the life of Herbert
Philbrick, who infiltrated the U.S. Communist Party on behalf of the FBI was I Led Three Lives. You may also remember
Richard Carlson starring in several of the Bell Laboratory Science specials
that by the mid-sixties had been seen by an estimated five million
schoolchildren and half a million college students. For this week’s “Remember
When” question, what was the name of the host of this series that included Hemo the Magnificent and About Time. Email your answer to
mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or mail it with a picture of Dr.
Research and Dr. Fiction Writer.
Well, it’s been another week,
spending too much time looking for the delete key. Until we meet again, you
know you are getting older if you meet an attractive young women and wonder if
she is single - because you’d like to introduce her to your unmarried son.
“When
my grandmother was sick in the hospital, I foolishly quoted her the saying,
'never regret growing old; it’s a privileged denied to many.' She glared at me
and responded, 'spoken like a truly young idiot.” ― Dan Pearce
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