10 | SUNRAYS JUNE 2014
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
We may have had a few hot days this spring,
but those can’t compare to the weeks of blis-
tering heat Sun City Texas will most likely
experience in the coming months. Many of us
“active, older adults” (aka seniors) enjoy being
involved in outdoor activities during the sum-
mer months. Common sense tells us to drink lots of water, to
wear loose-fitting clothes and to avoid being outside during the
hottest part of the day. However, do you know how to recognize
two serious conditions,
heat exhaustion
and
heat stroke
?
One of themain culprits of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is
de-
hydration
. The body needs water and electrolytes (i.e., sodium,
potassium, etc.) to cool down and work properly. Dehydration
occurs when the body isn’t able to replace them fast enough!
Unfortunately, as we age, our body’s ability to produce sweat
may not work. We can become dehydrated without noticeable
sweating! Often medications we take may cause dehydration or
affect the ability of our heart or blood vessels to react to heat.
Please remember, when it comes to dehydration―your
hot tub is not your friend and neither is alcohol, and the
two combined could spell big trouble!
Heat exhaustion
can cause severe muscle cramps or spasms
in any part of the body, but mainly in the arms or legs. Also,
the person may look flushed or appear to have
cool, pale skin
.
Theremay or may not be obvious sweating or moist skin. Nausea,
weakness, headache and dizziness are common complaints.
Call
911 immediately
. With seniors, heat exhaustion can progress
very quickly into heat stroke, a life threatening situation. Every
individual is different…let the EMS professionals determine
the best course of action!
Heat stroke
is always a true medical emergency. It occurs when
exposure to heat or high temperatures overwhelms the body’s
ability to cool itself; the body temperature rises, organs begin
to fail and death can follow. Those of us with a chronic disease,
such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or
congestive heart failure are more susceptible to this condition.
Ominous signs/symptoms can include:
•
hot, red
skin
• a weak, rapid pulse
• rapid shallow breathing
• nausea or vomiting
• reduced consciousness, confusion
If you see someone with any of these symptoms, call
911 immediately!
The Emergency Management Committee offers First Aid and
CPR/AED classes regularly in Sun City Texas. The cost is mini-
mal and the knowledge could save a life! Check out the EMC
site on the Sun City Texas website for the upcoming classes!
CA NEWS
The Heat’s Comin’
Submitted by Meg Johnson, RN, EMC Member
COPs Blotter
Quarterly Report of Selected COPs Patrol Activities – 1st Quarter, 2014
Compiled by Chuck Puckhaber, COPs Trainer
CPR/FIRST AID/AED CLASSES
CPR/First Aid/AED classes are taught monthly
in Sun City. For information, contact Barbara
Akers at
.
1/5 – 7:15 p.m., Patrol #2
– Noted a garage door open and no
one around. When there was no answer at the residence, called
a neighbor who said that both residents had passed away and
the house was for sale with a local real estate agent. Called
the real estate office and left a message. Checked later and
found the door was closed.
1/11 - Patrol #2
– Found water gushing from the ground along
Pedernales Falls and flooding the side of the street. Employees
from Georgetown Utilities were there and said that the issue
was not a city problem. Put out safety cones and called the
Monitor to report this problem to Carlton Mathis, CA Water
Manager. Waited for CA staff to arrive and shut off the water
before picking up cones.
1/20 – 5 p.m., Patrol #1
– At Monitor’s request, assisted a
woman who had locked her keys in her car. Team drove the
resident home to retrieve her spare keys and took her back to
the Social Center parking lot.
1/22 - 11:30 a.m., Patrol #2
– Resident called to report an
accident at Del Webb Blvd. and Sun City Blvd. Police, EMS
and Fire personnel were already present, but we stopped and
were asked by the police to help direct traffic. We did so for
about half an hour, after which the police thanked us and
said we could leave.
2/11 – 3:15 p.m., Patrol #2
– At resident’s request we checked
out a solicitor on White Wing Way. Found the solicitor had a
proper Georgetown permit; turned down the solicitor’s offer
of a free sample of the product.
2/20 – 10:05 a.m., Patrol #1
– At request from COPs Office,
checked Neighborhood 53 for a suspicious vehicle driving very
slowly taking pictures of houses. Drove that neighborhood
and several other adjacent neighborhoods, but did not find
the vehicle.
3/4 - 6:10 p.m., Patrol #2
– Saw a man fall into the street on
Sun City Blvd. Used the vehicle to block traffic then went to
him and found that the man was having breathing problems.
Continued on the next page
