Seniors, infants and young children are at the greatest risk for heat exposure, a potentially fatal condition that is largely avoidable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has issued these tips for protecting yourself in extreme temperatures:
When the temperature goes up, Marian Adams goes shopping.
"It's either this or sitting inside with the air conditioning on," said Adams, 77, as she wandered the aisles of Wal-Mart on Eastern Avenue in Henderson.
The high temperature in the Las Vegas Valley has been more than 100 degrees for all but nine of the past 30 days, according to the National Weather Service. The highest temperature so far this month was recorded July 2, when the weather service's thermometer in Las Vegas reached 113 degrees.
Seniors and young children are most vulnerable to heat exposure, researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said. Some elderly residents are already weakened by poor health or disease, and young children, especially infants and toddlers, must rely on others to notice warning signs of heat exposure and provide adequate protection, health care professionals say.
Many seniors take daily medications for heart disease and high blood pressure; the drugs draw salt and fluids from the system and make dehydration more likely, said Dr. Tom Higgins, who works in the emergency room at University Medical Center.
Some types of medication can also prevent people from sweating, the body's natural way of cooling itself. And, as people age, their "thirst mechanism" becomes less sharp, which means older people are less likely to notice that they are already becoming dehydrated.
"If you're feeling thirsty you're probably already a little behind the game," Higgins said.
The most dangerous result of heat exposure is heat stroke, which occurs when a person's temperature rises quickly and the sweating mechanism fails. A person's body temperature can climb to 106 degrees or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Other symptoms include a throbbing headache, rapid pulse and confusion.
UMC's ER has treated 132 cases of sunburn since January. Seven people with heat stroke and 34 people with heat exhaustion have been treated, as well.
Tourists are frequent visitors to the ER, Higgins said. People don't realize heat exposure isn't limited to desert settings and can happen anywhere, he said. It doesn't take record temperatures for people to become seriously ill, Higgins said. The average temperature this July has been 90 degrees -- more than high enough to prompt health troubles, Higgins said.
"You can get heatstroke just as easily on the Strip as you can hiking out at Red Rock," he said.
To avoid the ill effects resulting from too much sun, people should stay well-hydrated and drink plenty of alcohol-free, caffeine-free fluids, Higgins said. Outdoor physical activity should be limited to the early morning or late evening.
Some seniors avoid the heat entirely by retreating to the air-conditioned indoors, making them frequent visitors to libraries, matinee movies and casinos. The West Sahara Senior Center is especially busy on high-temperature days, said recreation specialist Tina Stergios.
"We know a lot of seniors are watching their budgets, which is why we encourage them to stay cool on our dime, not theirs," Stergios said.
Home-bound seniors who can't travel to air-conditioned malls or community centers are also at risk, said Deanna Taha, social work supervisor for the Clark County Senior Citizens Protective Services. In extreme temperatures people often call the county to report an elderly neighbor who is alone at home without utilities of any kind, Taha said.
"If people are having problems paying, we try and work something out with the utilities," Taha said. "We try to let them know there's help available."
Nevada Power has pledged $5 million to help low-income residents, including seniors, pay energy bills. The announcement came recently from Nevada Power President Mark Ruelle. The power company has already provided more than $1.2 million for ongoing low-income energy-assistance programs.
The typical residential electric bill for July was $99.17 for 1,100 kilowatt hours, said Nevada Power spokeswoman Sonya Headen. The average bill in November 2000 for the same kilowatt usage was $81.46.
Toni DeBruyn of Henderson, a senior living on a single fixed income, said her monthly energy bill determines how much she has left to spend on other necessities, such as medication and groceries.
"I keep my shades closed and try to conserve, but the bill just keeps going up and up and up," DeBruyn said. "After you pay, there's hardly anything left."
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