At this time of year all of us are making the most of warm, sunny weather whenever we can. Your residents will be enjoying seeing your gardens and window boxes in full bloom and spending much more time outside. Staff will be doing plenty to keep them safe from the sun, but its always worth reminding them that your residents are likely to struggle with the heat more than their friends and family and may need some extra support.
As you’ll know from caring for them, that older people and those with heart or breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease or mobility problems struggle more with the heat.
You may not be aware however, that people on certain medications such as diuretics (water tablets) and some antidepressants, or those who are already ill and dehydrated will be even more likely to get unwell in hot weather.
· Headaches |
· Dizziness |
· Nausea or vomiting |
· Fast breathing |
· Excessive sweating |
· Fast heart rate |
· Tiredness |
· Weakness |
· A high temperature |
· Being very thirsty |
· Cramps (in arms, legs and stomach) |
· Becoming pale/clammy or getting a heat rash |
It may sound obvious but moving someone to a cool place, removing some clothing, giving them a drink and cooling their skin with a sponge or spray of water or applying ice packs wrapped in cloth – can go a long way to making them feel much better.
Given their job your team will know how very well how to make someone comfortable, but if your resident is still unwell after 30 minutes, has a high temperature or some more other symptoms such as
- hot skin that's not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- a fast heartbeat
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- confusion and lack of coordination
- a seizure or fit
- loss of consciousness
Call 999 for urgent medical help.
When unusually hot weather is forecast you will see something called a ‘heat health alert’ mentioned in the news and shared on social media. As part of the government that looks after people’s health, UKHSA shares a colour ‘alert’ to help explain how dangerous the heat is and how it may affect people, organisations and communities. It also shares an alert in cold weather.
You can sign up to receive these alerts directly here.
There is also a helpful check list for care homes and adult social care settings here.
There are a few very simple things you can do to keep your residents and staff safe when its very hot, many of these things you will do already.
More advice for care home managers staff, residents and their families
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UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.
UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.