Hot Weather Hints
Well, it's hot all over the country today. (Well, not the whole country: Barrow, Alaska, at the top of the state, and the top of the United States, is 36 degrees this morning. Maybe they envy the rest of us). But some hot weather hints for nurses working in the areas where it is hot.
1. Take care of yourself. If you are in a situation where you're exposed to the heat, do the things you know to do: keep hydrated, keep cool, and give yourself rest. If you are in a situation where you need to be outdoors for long periods, make certain you watch for signs of heat illness. If possible, work with someone else.
2. Watch for clients who may be suffering from heat illnesses, but may present with something symptoms that mimic something else. Keep "heat problems" as an operating thought in the back of your mind when assessing clients.
3. Encourage clients who don't have air conditioning to go somewhere else that does, at least for parts of the day. Some elderly folks are disinclined to leave their homes, and heat problems can get out of hand quickly, especially for people who have circulatory issues, or are older. If there are no heat shelters (such as are found in some larger cities) consider places like public libraries as respite facilites. Failing that, encourage them to visit with a neighbor who has air conditioning.
4. If you are transporting lab specimens, make certain you're keeping them at appropriate temperatures. A cooler will usually do the job for short-term transport, but try to get specimens to the lab as quickly as possible. While that's true for any time of the year, it's especially an issue during sweltering heat.
1. Take care of yourself. If you are in a situation where you're exposed to the heat, do the things you know to do: keep hydrated, keep cool, and give yourself rest. If you are in a situation where you need to be outdoors for long periods, make certain you watch for signs of heat illness. If possible, work with someone else.
2. Watch for clients who may be suffering from heat illnesses, but may present with something symptoms that mimic something else. Keep "heat problems" as an operating thought in the back of your mind when assessing clients.
3. Encourage clients who don't have air conditioning to go somewhere else that does, at least for parts of the day. Some elderly folks are disinclined to leave their homes, and heat problems can get out of hand quickly, especially for people who have circulatory issues, or are older. If there are no heat shelters (such as are found in some larger cities) consider places like public libraries as respite facilites. Failing that, encourage them to visit with a neighbor who has air conditioning.
4. If you are transporting lab specimens, make certain you're keeping them at appropriate temperatures. A cooler will usually do the job for short-term transport, but try to get specimens to the lab as quickly as possible. While that's true for any time of the year, it's especially an issue during sweltering heat.
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