A 70-year-old patient recently came to the SWLA Center for Health Services to pick up medication at the pharmacy. But she pedaled over on her bike on a sweltering day and was sick from the heat on arrival. Despite intervention from the health center staff, she developed seizures and had to be hospitalized.
Based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the center is seeing more cases like this over time. Agricultural workers in the region’s sugar cane industry are at heightened risk given the amount of time they spend outdoors. Heat affects people of all ages, particularly the elderly, and can have a significant impact on those with chronic conditions.
“We started a heat campaign this year,” said Crystal Decuir, the chief nursing officer.
Last summer the center had four patients in a single day who had to be hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses. “The heat index was 109,” Decuir said, noting that it was the highest ever recorded in the area. This March, the health center staff launched an outreach and educational program to help patients prepare for the onset of hotter weather.
The health center promotes community “cooling stations” during warmer weather and advises patients about staying properly hydrated. Staff give patients information about using air conditioning and fans during hot spells.
William Brent, the center’s CEO, said staff have learned that some elderly people on fixed incomes avoid turning on their AC. “Even if they have air conditioners, they don’t run them,” he said.
Staff also educate patients about how heat may affect various conditions. Those taking medicine for high blood pressure must be alert because diuretics may cause them to lose fluids rapidly on hotter days. Diabetic patients will sometimes experience rapid drops in blood sugar levels. And high humidity can trigger asthma problems in children.
Decuir said she hoped the educational campaign will pay off this summer but noted that such efforts may need to increase because of climate change increasing the incidence of hot and humid weather. “It’s much more often now than 15 years ago.”