Hot Weather Safety by Gail K Kachnycz on 3 July 2026
As Philadelphia anticipates celebration of 250 years of independence, FIFA knock-out round game, parades and Welcome America concerts, we are in the midst of a heat wave requiring a health warning. Locals expect this type of weather pretty consistently through July and August. We hibernate in air conditioned spaces and escape "down the shore" or "up the Poconos."
The elderly and those with chronic illness are more sensitive to hot weather. Older folks have a decreased sense of thirst, and less ability to concentrate urine, so dehydration is a concern. Some medications cause increased urine output, predisposing to dehydration. Some drugs cause increased sensitivity to the sun, intensifying the danger of sunburn.
I recently received information from Community Support Connections, an organization in Waterloo, Canada, dedicated to improving the health of the elderly in that region. A link to McMaster University provided a video with 5 quick tips on beating the heat, as well as a short list of medications and how they impact the body's ability to keep cool.
