Tips for seniors to beat the heat

SALISBURY, Md. – With a heat index well over 100 degrees and temperatures only dipping into the 80s at night, senior citizens are some of the most at risk to heat related illness.

We spoke with officials about how seniors can stay safe during periods of intense heat.

“Seniors are very vulnerable to extreme heat and in the United States 80% of heat-related deaths happen to people 60 years and older,” said Nick Cranford of Mac Inc. Area Agency on Aging.

Cranford said there are several important things to remember during periods of intense heat.

That includes staying hydrated, seeking air-conditioning, limiting physical activity during the high heat points of the day and also wearing light, loose-fitting clothing.

“This time of year, we do get a couple calls a day usually, especially on hot days where the heat index is over a hundred for heat-related emergencies,” said Rob Frampton, Salisbury Fire Chief.

Frampton said these types of calls are common during the summer months, some involving elderly people.

“Tips are keep a check on them, if you have air conditioning and they don’t invite them over to your house,” he said. “The county does set up cooling centers when the temperatures get above a certain temperature and heat index, so you can always check and see if those are open and available.

Mac Inc. is one of those locations that serves as a cooling center for seniors in the area.

“It’s just extremely important that we consider seniors during times of of high heat because they may not communicate with you and let you know that they’re hot or that their air conditioning isn’t working,” said Cranford.

Both Frampton and Cranford say that a simple phone call can possibly save someone’s life.

If you haven’t heard from a senior citizen near you, you can also call non-emergency services to perform a wellness check on them.