Summer is here! Across the country, we see the heat index beginning to rise. In many cases, the rising heat can affect our most vulnerable populations; young children and senior citizens. Senior citizens are the most susceptible to heat fatigue because their bodies do not adjust well to sudden changes in temperature.

This population is also more likely to have a chronic medical condition or take prescriptions that make it difficult to regulate body temperature. Check on senior citizens to ensure they protect themselves from heat exposure. Be sure to visit older adults at least twice a day to see if they show signs of heat stroke or other heat related ailments. Encourage them to drink lots of water and transport them to air conditioned locations, if necessary.

Many areas have cooling stations available at local community or senior citizen centers. Check with your local government to see where the cooling stations are available in your area.

For more valuable tips on keeping senior citizens cool visit:

• National Institutes of Health
• New York City Office of Emergency Management
• AARP
• Ready.gov