Tips for staying safe, healthy in extreme summer heat
Updated: 6:08 PM EDT Jul 29, 2022
NEWSCENTER 5. JESSICA: IT WAS A HOT ONE TODAY, AND TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REALLY SOAR AGAIN NEXT WEEK. AND THAT COMES WITH HEALTH CONCERNS. BEN: JOINING US TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. ALI RAJA, DEPUTY CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT MGH. DR. RAJA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. JESSICA: IT’S ALREADY BEEN A HOT SUMMER, WHAT ARE THE REAL CONCERNS WITH PROLONGED HOT WEATHER LIKE THIS? WHAT DO YOU WORRY ABOUT MOST IN THE ER? >> I WORRY MOST ABOUT ART ELDERLY PATIENTS. OLDER PATIENTS, THEY DO NOT DISSIPATE HEAT AS WELL. THEY DON’T REGULATE HEAT AS WELL. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES. AND THEY ARE AT RISK FOR HEAT RELATED ILLNESS. THIS IS A TIME TO CHECK IN ON YOUR OLDER FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE OK. BEN: WE’RE STILL IN SUMMER CAMP SEASON, KIDS ARE STILL SPENDING A LOT OF TIME OUTSIDE, INCLUDING ON THE SPORTS FIELD. WITHOUT A LOT OF SHADE. WHAT DO PARENTS NEED TO WATCH FOR, AND HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN TO SAY THAT GAME OR PRACTICE JUST ISN’T A GOOD IDEA? >> THE FACT IS, ASIDE FROM OLDER ADULTS, KIDS ARE THE OTHER BIG HIGH RISK POPULATION. NOT ONLY DO KIDS SWEAT LESS THAN ADULTS, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY, THEY ARE NOT FOCUSED ON DRINKING WATER THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD. IN GENERAL, KIDS NEED TO TAKE ABOUT FIVE-10 MINUTES OF A BREAK EVERY HALF HOUR OR SO. IN TERMS OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY, IN TERMS OF WHEN TO CALL THINGS IF THINGS ARE TOO HOT OR HUMID. THERE IS A CHART ONLINE, WITH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY THAT WILL SHOW YOU ZONES WHERE YOU SHOULD CANCEL OR POSTPONE YOUR DAY. JESSICA: WE WANT TO SWITCH TOPICS, AND TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ANOTHER BIG STORY, MONKEYPOX. CASES ARE CLIMBING. AS WE SAID EARLIER, SOME COLLEGES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AT MGH, AND HOW EQUIPPED ARE WE TO MEET THIS OUTBREAK? >> WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING MORE CASES OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE MONKEYPOX AND PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AND NEED TO BE TESTED. DURING MY SHIFT, WE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO BE TESTED. WE SENT THEM HOME AND THEY WILL FIND OUT TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE IT. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE RESOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE PATIENTS WHO NEED TO BE VACCINATED, TESTED, OR TREATED. IF YOU’VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH MONKEYPOX AND YOUR DEVELOPING A NEW RANCH — A NEW RASH, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET THEM VACCINATED AND TREATED. >> THINGS FOR — THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT.
Tips for staying safe, healthy in extreme summer heat
Updated: 6:08 PM EDT Jul 29, 2022
Dr. Ali Raja, deputy chair of the department of emergency medicine at MGH, shares tips for helping keep everyone safe during days of unrelenting summer heat.
Dr. Ali Raja, deputy chair of the department of emergency medicine at MGH, shares tips for helping keep everyone safe during days of unrelenting summer heat.