Medical Bracelets are crucial during Summer for the elderly, adults, and kids.
Summer may not be a happy time for everyone. There are some medical conditions that don’t play nicely with heat or some other temperamental weather shifts.
The CDC classifies 4 basic risk levels when it comes to the summer heat:
When you stay out in the heat and humidity for too long, especially without drinking enough fluids, different types of heat-related problems arise. Illnesses that can be blamed just on the heat happen when your temperature control system can’t keep up with how hot it is. Your body temperature will spike very quickly and you can’t sweat fast enough to cool you down.
Kiddo’s have to be extra careful because they adapt to environmental changes, especially heat, slower than adults do. The almost battery powered way they play means they don’t think to rest and drink some water when playing with friends or participating in sports. If a child has chronic health problems, taking certain medicines, are overweight, or wear heavy clothing when outside (like football or marching band uniforms), they may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
What are the heat-related illnesses?
There are Three big types of heat-related illnesses that escalate in severity:
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
The fourth type of heat-related illness…
But I thought you only said three?!
I lied; but only because the first three are the severe ones.
…is heat rash.
What do they look like and how do I make them go away?
The secret fourth type:
Of all natural disasters, heat waves kill more Americans. A 2006 heat wave in New York caused 40 heat stroke deaths and approximately 100 additional deaths related to underlying medical conditions that were exacerbated by the heat.
Risk Factors:
AGE
Adults over 65 or Kids 4 and younger
ENVIRONMENT
No Air Conditioning at home / no access to a place with AC
Limited Mobility or on Bed Rest / Confinement
Social Isolation (whether you’re just a lone wolf or because you live 20 minutes from your neighbor)
CHRONIC MEDICAL or MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS (including but not limited to):
Congestive Heart Failure / other Cardiovascular diseases
Diabetes / other Endocrine diseases
Emphysema / other Respiratory diseases
Liver Failure or Renal (kidney) Failure
Cerebrovascular Diseases
Cognitive or Psychiatric Disorders (dementia, schizophrenia, etc)
Obesity and Hypertension
TAKING MEDICATION THAT IMPEDES THERMOREGULATION (including but not limited to):
If you’re unconscious, confused, or impaired in any way – wearing your medical bracelet can reduce your risk of being misdiagnosed, unnecessary hospitalization, having an allergic reaction, etc. A mild case of heat exhaustion for someone else might be deadly to you.
Prevent Heat-Related Complications or Illness
HYDRATE (one of the MOST important!)
Drink, drink, and drink some more. Don’t wait till you’re thirsty
Drink water or a sports drink with electrolytes
Avoid dehydrating liquids such as alcohol or fluids with caffeine (tea, coffee, and soda)
CLOTHING
Wear light colored clothing with sunscreen on underneath
Choose breathable, loose fitting fabrics
If you get hot, take excess off (just make sure to slather on the sunscreen)
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses – you will look smart and fashionable
Use an umbrella
Did I mention sunscreen? At least SPF 15, preferably 30 (otherwise you might as well just use milk)
BE COOL DUDE
Crank up that AC or find somewhere that has AC
Stay in the shade
Take a cool shower
Have a cool wet towel to wipe off your face, neck, then armpits if outside
BE SMART / PLAN AHEAD
Avoid the hard work or activities in mid-day sun
Schedule sports for cooler times and have a shady area to rest
Gradually increase time spent outside to build up your heat tolerance
Practice & teach kiddos “warm- up” and “cool-down” before and after exercising
Avoid using the oven to cook
NEVER, Ever, Ever, EVER leave a child, elderly person, or pet in a parked/ unattended car.
Seriously. Lawmakers are working (many successfully) to legalize breaking car windows in rescue attempts. So don’t do it.
CALL THE PROFESSIONALS
Call a doctor if you or someone else is experiencing early signs of heat-related illness.
Call 911 if you or someone else seems to be experiencing signs of Heat Stroke
If you have a kiddo on medication or has a medical condition, ask your pediatrician for more advice on preventing heat-related illness
Some Heat-Aggravated Medical Conditions
Multiple Sclerosis: Magnified Symptoms
Many people with MS, a debilitating central nervous system disease, report that hot or humid weather exacerbates their symptoms. The slightest increase in core body temperature (even just 1/4 of a degree) can bring on Uthoff’s phenomenon.
Uthoff’s phenomenon is caused by optic nerve damage. With an increased body temperature, vision becomes blurry. It’s generally one of the first signs of MS.
With such a small body temp increase, summer heat is a serious concern. In these hot conditions, the addition of blurred vision often accompanies general fatigue and weakness. To combat the weak and tired feeling, it’s important to slow down, get water, and take a break! You will thank yourself later.
Lupus: Sun Sensitive
Lupus, an autoimmune disease, has a history of causing sensitivity to sunlight. When the sun is cooking and the UV rays are blasting, people with lupus are particularly susceptible to burns. Remember, just because it’s not “sunny”, doesn’t mean the UV index is low. Make sure to check the index before going outside.
Painful skin irritations are a common result of the photosensitivity that comes with Lupus, especially for those with cutaneous lupus. Many of the medications taken for Lupus increase your photosensitivity! So to play or work outside, throw on sunscreen and a hat and don’t leave without a big bottle of water at the very least.
ALS: Motor Shorts & Meltdowns
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This impaired physical function and weakened muscles mean most people with ALS rely on motorized equipment like stair glides, power chairs, even respiratory equipment.
Every year, thunderstorms leave thousands without power. This scenario is very scary and very real for many with ALS.
One of the best techniques for staying safe is to make a support network of people to help at a moment’s notice. It’s also suggested to make a list of your motorized / power equipment and come up with a backup plan.
GastroIntestinal: Heating Upset
A study in Zurich Switzerland found that a heat wave, classified as higher temperatures above daily average for more than 6 days, brings bad news for people suffering from gastrointestinal problems. Heat waves increase the risk for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares and infectious gastroenteritis (IG).
Longer periods of the hot weather showed a 4.6% in hospitalization due to IBD relapse. Every day the heat wave continued, the percentage increased. There was a 4.7% increase in persons hospitalized with infectious gastroenteritis.
Engravable Medical Alert Bracelet and Flip Flop Style Medical Necklace
Infectious gastroenteritis may result in vomiting and stomach cramps, and can be caused by a virus, such as norovirus; a bacteria, such as salmonella; or a parasite, such as giardia.
Fun in the Sun with Medical Bracelets
Wearing your medical bracelet is important to do every day. With increased risk due to heat, having at least one medical bracelet you love to wear is needed for summer fun.
Find a bracelet for every day this summer at StickyJ. You can have fashionable beaded and sterling bracelets for daytime lunches, and mildew resistant/water resistant paracord or silicone options for your active days!
The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, 3rd Edition, edited by Mark H. Beers, and Robert Berkow. Copyright 2000 by Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station. Available at www.merck.com/mkgr/mmg/tables/67t1.jsp
