Have a safe summer!

A message from Gloria: 

I don't always put out a newsletter in the summer, but I just felt like sending one out. One last message to you as I wrap up my role a President of Crescent Quilters. This is not quilting related, but I want all of our members to stay safe in the heat of this summer. This past heat dome was like no other we have experienced here. Most likely you have been hearing about all of the sudden deaths that occurred during the heat dome. Hopefully, stories you hear will prevent heat related incidents from happening to any of our members or our loved ones.

I had a very close call, and almost lost my mother during the recent heat wave. I want to share my story with you. My mother is not a fan of fans. She just doesn't like wind blowing on her. She knew it was hot, but still didn't want her fan on. She also probably wasn't drinking enough water. A homecare worker came at 1130 to fix her lunch. My mom seemed fine when she left. I arrived to her house a 3:30pm to find her slumped over and unresponsive, still by the table where she had her lunch. She had armrests on her chair and that is why she didn't fall on the floor. One arm was hanging down with her fingertips just touching the floor. The armrest of the chair was pressed into her armpit. Her whole arm was swollen. I was calling out to her, but she did not respond. When I touched her, she started having a heat induced seizure. It was very scary to find her this way.  I noticed right away that she seemed very hot to the touch. I called 911, put the fan on her, and put a cold wet towel on her head.  Luckily, the ambulance arrived within 10 minutes. Her temperature was 40.7 when the paramedic checked. He said it was one of the highest temperatures he had ever seen. Despite trying to cool her down with cold towels in the ambulance, her temp was up to 41 by time they arrived at the hospital. They started an IV and put her in a large cooling room full of other patients that were found in a similar condition due to the heat.  When my mom came to, she could overhear a Dr. making phone calls to family members telling them that they were doing their best to treat their loved one for heat stroke, but they were not sure if they would survive. My mom looked around and noticed some patients around her were not able to breathe on their own and needed to be intubated. Some did not survive. Luckily my mom did. I am happy to say that she is now back at home and doing OK. I asked her why she didn't press her help button that she wears around her neck. She replied by saying she didn't know that she was in trouble but just thought she was sleepy. My mom's neighbor was in trouble at 6:30 pm the same day in the same sort of way. They had to wait until midnight until the ambulance arrived despite  making multiple 911 calls. The family managed to keep him alive by continuously cooling him down with cold towels all of those hours. His recovery was slower because he didn't get to the hospital and receive IV fluids as fast. We heard about all of the deaths on the news, but on top of that there were many very close calls! Take it seriously when the heat gets intense. Protect yourself by using fans, cool wet towels, and drink plenty of fluids.

I want to include a message that Carol P. sent about keeping hydrated.

By: Arnaldo Liechtenstein, physician

Whenever I teach clinical medicine to students in the fourth year of medicine,

I ask the following question:

What are the causes of mental confusion in the elderly?

Some offer: "Tumors in the head". I answer: No!

Others suggest: "Early symptoms of Alzheimer's". I answer No!

With each rejection of their answers, their responses dry up.

And they are even more open-mouthed when I list the three most common causes:

- uncontrolled diabetes

- urinary infection

- dehydration

It may sound like a joke, but it isn't. People over 60 generally stop feeling thirsty

and consequently stop drinking fluids.

When no one is around to remind them to drink fluids, they quickly dehydrate.

Dehydration is severe and affects the entire body It may cause abrupt mental confusion,

a drop in blood pressure, increased heart palpitations, angina (chest pain), coma and even death.

*This habit of forgetting to drink fluids begins at age 60,

when we have just over 50%of the water we should have in our bodies.

People over 60 have a lower water reserve.

This is part of the natural aging process.*

But there are more complications. Although they are dehydrated,

they don't feel likedrinking water, because their internal balance m echanisms don't work very well.

*Conclusion:*

People over 60 years old dehydrate easily, not only because they have a smaller water supply,

but also because they do not feel the lack of water in the body.

Although people over 60 may look healthy,

the performance of reactions and chemical functions can damage their entire body.

So here are two alerts:

1) *Get into the habit of drinking liquids*. Liquids include water, juices, teas, coconut water,

milk, soups,

and water-rich fruits, such as watermelon, melon, peaches and pineapple;

orange and tangerine also work.

*The important thing is that, every two hours, you must drink some liquid. Remember this!*

2) Alert for family members: constantly offer fluids to people over age 60.

At the same time, observe them.

If you realize that they are rejecting liquids and, from one day to the next,

they are irritable, breathless or display a lack of attention,

these are almost certainly recurrent symptoms of dehydration

Your friends and family need to know for themselves and help you to be healthier and happier.

🌞Have a safe, healthy summer Crescent Quilters'. Remember to keep yourself cool and hydrated. And as always, enjoy quilting!🌞

Sincerely,

Gloria