Aspirus | Aspire | Spring 2018

aspirus.org 9 SUMMER is nearly here, and it can be the ultimate laid- back time—think flip-flops, t-shirts, beaches and barbecues. Although it’s easy to be casual about many things this time of year, it’s not good to be casual about safety. Warm weather brings the risk for certain injuries and health problems, some serious enough to be life-threatening. This is especially true for older adults. “As we age, our bodies’ internal temperature regulation can decline,” said Jürgen Weber, PA-C, physician assistant with Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics. “Many older adults may have a chronic condition or take prescription medications that further impair temperature regulation and perspiration.” To help keep older adults healthy and safe all summer long, Weber offers the following tips: Ways to keep ticks at bay They’re creepy and crawly, and almost always hard to locate. That’s why it’s a good idea to take the following preventivemeasures against ticks to reduce your risk for Lyme disease. w w Dress in a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and shoes, not sandals. w w Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. w w Walk in the center of trails. w w Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET. w w Conduct a full-body tick check—don’t forget your kids, pets and clothing. w w Bathe or shower immediately after coming indoors. w w Wash clothing in hot water to kill off any remaining ticks. Even if you don’t remember being bitten by a tick, flu-like symptoms or an odd rash may be the first signs of Lyme disease, particularly if you’ve been in tick habitat. Check with your health care provider if you have symptoms. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Asafe PLAY ITSAFE Be sure you talk to your doctor to see if the medications you’re taking will lead to sunburn or sun sensitivity—and what you can do about it. Visit aspirus.org/healthinfo for more health tips and information. Wear sunscreen. There’s nothing cool about painful sunburns, early wrinkles or a raised risk of skin cancer. And yet that’s just what too much UV exposure can bring. When shopping for sunscreen, look for broad-spectrum with an SPF of 30. Broad- spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Of course, long sleeves, long pants, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses are even better protectors against the sun’s damaging rays. Watch out for heatstroke. As the temperature rises, so does the risk of a heat-related illness, especially for young children and adults ages 65 and up. Heatstroke is one of the most serious. Symptoms include a body temperature above 103 degrees; hot, red, dry or moist skin; a rapid and strong pulse; and possible unconsciousness. Call 911 immediately if you think someone has heatstroke. Move them to a cooler environment, and try to bring their temperature down with cool cloths or a bath. Get plenty of H 2 O. Older adults are more susceptible to dehydration because they lose their ability to conserve water. Drink more water than usual, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Fluids not only prevent dehydration, they help the body keep cool. isa funsummer JürgenWeber, PA-C