In hopes of saving lives, I am sharing (with permission) my mother’s recent journey through heat stroke. Very active and independent at 93, she stepped outside late one morning two weeks ago to garden. She found herself squatting down to plant a new plant and could not get up. While pondering what to do–(did this qualify as a medical emergency and should she call 9-1-1? If she called for help, how would anyone get through the locked gate?)–the sun took over and knocked her out.
Eight hours later, when paramedics broke down the gate, she was unconscious, seizing, dangerously dehydrated, and near dead. After three days in intensive care, hallucinating and frightened, she is slowly getting her strength back, recovering from aspiration pneumonia in a rehab hospital. She says she did not know the sun was so strong.
Please make sure you and your loved ones know the power of the sun! Please don’t get stuck outside, and make sure pets and people you love know that yes, it’s an emergency if you’re on the floor and can’t get up! Anyone else have sun stroke tales? Let’s be safe!
Omg, she’s lucky to be alive People don’t understand the dangers the sun can cause. I’ve seen to much of heat stroke in the Marine Corps. Just a helpful tip here; when your outside sweating and all of a sudden you stop sweating that’s the onset of heat stroke, seek medical attention immediately.
I’m glad your mum survived this Jan - that could have so easily been a very tragic lesson! This sort of thing happens, unfortunately, nearly every summer in places that are not accustomed to the heat.
Even here in Perth where summer temperatures of 100+ for days in a row is not uncommon, the standard advice is to avoid sun exposure as much as possible and particularly between 10am and 2pm. We are very used to the heat - my thermal underwear and extra blankets on the bed comes out at 50 degrees - but we still have to be cautious.
Adding to Craigs comment about dehydration: what most people don’t realise is that by the time you are aware of being thirsty, you are already dehydrated. 8 - 12 pints of water should be your daily target depending on your activity level. Obviously, if you are sitting in air-conditioning, you don’t need to even think about this but if you are doing any outdoor activity, you absolutely must be totally aware of your fluid intake at all times - if you don’t need to pee, you are not drinking enough!
Long trousers and long sleeve shirts should be your default dress code for going outside as well. Lightweight material that “breathes” well such as cotton is the best and light in colour as well. Always wear a wide-brimmed hat and use SPF30+ sunscreen on exposed skin. Be particularly aware that the back of your neck is quite likely to be exposed no matter what you do.
Unless you are engaged in heavy activity such as construction, athletics etc, you probably don’t need to worry about your electrolyte levels. There is no harm in buying the electrolytic drinks but try to find the sachets that you can add to water rather than buying the bottles of sports drinks.
It isn’t difficult to survive the heat, the same as it isn’t difficult to survive a particularly cold winter, provided, in both cases, you have appropriate knowledge and a willingness to take care of yourself.
Thank you! Over age 65, Medicare provides good coverage, and Mom has a supplemental insurance plan that picks up where Medicare leaves off. This is such a good package that it’s understandable why some progressives are calling for Medicare for all. It certainly sweetens the 65th birthday in the U.S.
Your experience demonstrates exactly why healthcare should be considered, by the USA, a fundamental human right as it is in every other 1st world country.
If you lived in any other country I would not have to worry about your mums age or insurance status. I hope that we know each well enough now that you know I am truthful about worrying for you. Your geographical location adds a completely unnecessary and unwanted, by me, level of concern.
This is about you and your mum, I really don’t want to move away from that. I am delighted that your Mum was treated appropriately and looks like having a good recovery.
Again, I send you my love and best wishes and, of course, I wish the very best for your mother.
I’m so thankful I made the right decision at 18 years old and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Because of my military service I receive free healthcare for life. Surgery, eye care, dental, prescriptions etc with no copayment, I’m so thankful. Healthcare in the United States is astronomical and it’s a damn shame !!! Medicare with a supplemental is the way to go Prayers
Prayers for your Mom Jan–wow, I am a trauma nurse I know how bad that can be on anyone especially the elderly— how lucky she is she was found when she was!!
First of all Jan thank you for sharing your moms experience. I truly hope there are no long lasting negative affects from this experience. As someone who lives in Florida and with both work and playing golf is on a golf course five - six days a week, I am extremely aware of the dangers of dehydration but also electrolyte imbalance. I perspire profusely and there is always a layer of white salt on my skin. Drinking plain water further dilutes the electrolytes in the bloodstream. My physical therapist who is a marathon runner and invited to participate in the Olympic trials last summer, has always talked to me about the importance of electrolyte supplements, not products like Gatorade. She uses NUUM and I use Hammer products. These are designed to be added to water and to be consumed during intense activity in the sun. Now I don’t run marathons, so where the product may call for one tablet for 4 to 8 ounces of water, I will add half a tablet to 20 ounces of water. In other words, my activity is nowhere near that of a marathon runner or a triathlete. But I will be out in the sun for five hours at a time 5 to 6 days a week. So all of you who are out in the sun, please consider staying in balance with an appropriate product. Jan, you and your mom are in my thoughts.
Thank you so much! I see that many people know more about heat stroke than I ever did. I am glad this discussion has gathered wise comments, hoping to save lives. We have older folks here at Replay Poker, and many live in the Sun Belt in their retirement years. While exercise is essential, noon wouldn’t be the time to do it. So! Poker anyone? lol Hugs
Ahhh, vickik–then you do know how close she came to not making it. Too too scary. Thanks so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. She is on the mend, if only the nightmares and hallucinations would cease!
I never used to wear a hat and back in the 80s in central Illinois where the heat index was often 105 to 110, I got sick on a golf course. Learned my lesson. Besides having cancer on my nose and having to have plastic surgery, I wear what looks like a piss helmet. Piss PITH. I wear it down to my eyebrows and it covers my nose my ears in my whole face. The nice thing about it is the headband just touches my head above my eyes and over my ears. The rest of the helmet sits high so air circulates. In the summer I drink 40 to 60 ounces of my electrolyte prep while I’m on the golf course. Once was enough! Look forward to seeing you always on the tables
Thanks for posting this… Getting old myself, and trying to be careful with the sun nowadays… It ain’t easy, though, so I get it - very easily could’ve been me in your Mom’s shoes here… Your warning has opened my eyes a bit… Prayers for Your Mom, in the meanwhile…
People don’t understand the dangers the sun can cause. I’ve seen to much of heat stroke in the Marine Corps. Just a helpful tip here; when your outside sweating and all of a sudden you stop sweating that’s the onset of heat stroke, seek medical attention immediately.
Prayers