Getting Ready for Summer
As usual, too much of a good thing can be bad for us, and the sun is no exception.
Dear Caregivers,
When you live in a place as beautiful as Florida, being outdoors is appealing. It is the Sunshine state after all! But as usual, too much of a good thing can be bad for us, and the sun is no exception. When Gershwin wrote “summertime and the livin’ is easy,” he certainly captured the allure of the season, but I doubt he ever lived in Florida in June, July or August! For you and your loved one, these coming summer months of heat, humidity -- and hurricanes! -- present potential risks. But as your mother always said, “An ounce of prevention….”
Read on to know the risks, learn how to take steps to protect yourself -- and then go ahead and enjoy this Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summertime!
Keep your cool:
As summer temperatures climb into the 90s, older people are in danger of conditions caused by extreme heat, which can lead to heat exhaustion and its most serious form, heat stroke. Two of the critical factors that cause injury and death in a heat wave are dehydration and hyperthermia -- and elderly patients are at increased risk for both conditions. Learn more about the risks of overheating, and what you can do about it.
Weather the storms:
As everyone should know, June 1st is the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season. And you need to be prepared in case a storm comes our way. If you are at all skeptical of the need for preparation just ask anyone who has lived through the hurricanes that have battered Florida in recent years. Here’s how to make sure you ensure that your loved one’s medical needs are met and treatment is not disrupted during stormy weather.
Know the skinny:
The risk of developing skin cancer is directly related to sun exposure over the years. And malignant skin cancers are most often diagnosed in people over age 65. Here are some tips on how to become aware of unusual spots on your skin and make be sure they aren’t a potential cancer.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald
