In this article from the Huffington Post, the author goes through the summertime heat danger signs and what to do if you encounter these problems.
Most people don’t realize that extreme summer heat causes thousands of heat-related illnesses in the U.S. each year, and kills more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined. Seniors are among the most vulnerable.
The reasons behind this are because of the body’s ability to regulate temperature through blood circulation and sweat glands tends to decline with age. Bodies of older adults also contain far less water than a younger person’s, and older brains don’t recognize thirst as easily, making them more likely to get dehydrated.
In addition, many seniors have certain health problems that can increase their risk of hyperthermia (when the body overheats).