Tips For Senior Veterans To Stay Safe In The Heat

Hot weather can pose serious health risks so to help you and your loved ones stay safe, we’ve created this easy-to-follow summer safety checklist. Whether you’re a Liberty user or caring for someone who is, these tips are designed to help beat the heat and stay protected all season long.

How Veterans Can Improve Safety In The Heat

1. Wear your Liberty device – If you start to feel dehydrated, dizzy or faint, especially due to hot weather, your Liberty device can get you the assistance you need quickly.
2. Stay hydrated – You should be drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Stay away from caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda during the hot summer months.
3. Keep cool indoors – No, we aren’t talking about wearing fashionable clothing (although we’ll get to dressing correctly for summer later). We’re talking about staying indoors in well-air-conditioned places when the temperatures rise.
4. Be aware of medication side effects – Certain medications may put you at additional risk when it gets hot out. Be aware of what medications can exaggerate the risks of increased sun exposure and dehydration.
5. Dress appropriately – Protect your skin with light-colored and loose-fitting cotton clothing to stay cool and comfortable. Hats are also great to protect your head and neck from increased sun exposure.
6. Wear sunscreen – Seniors Veterans have an increased risk of sun burns and skin cancer due to increased sun exposure. Sunscreen helps protect you from those conditions.
7. Wear sunglasses – Sun exposure can increase the risk of vision problems. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
8. Know the signs of heat stroke – Heatstroke can be fatal, especially to aging adults. If you feel any of the following symptoms, get to a cool place as quickly as possible lay down:

• Fainting
• Rapid Pulse
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hot but not sweating
• Dry, flushed skin
• Confusion
• Heavy breathing
• Body temp higher than 104 degrees

 We encourage all Liberty users and caregivers to share this checklist with friends, family, and fellow Veterans. A little awareness can go a long way toward staying safe and healthy during the summer. Let’s help beat the heat together.