Try: Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids it is the body body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in a hot environment recognizing heat exhaustion warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following heavy sweating paleness muscle cramps tiredness weakness dizziness headache nausea or vomiting fainting the skin may be cool and moist the victim victim’s pulse rate will be fast and weak and breathing will be fast and shallow if heat exhaustion is untreated it may progress to heat stroke seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs symptoms are severe the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure otherwise help the victim to cool off and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour what to do cooling measures that may be effective include the following cool nonalcoholic beverages rest cool shower bath or sponge bath an air-conditioned environment lightweight clothing information references "extreme heat a prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety" by national center for environmental health 2009 available at www bt cdc gov

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Hot weather heat summer safety

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature the body body’s temperature rises rapidly the sweating mechanism fails and the body is unable to cool down body temperature may rise to 106u8c2b0f or higher within 10 to 15 minutes heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided recognizing heat stroke warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following an extremely high body temperature above 103u8c2b0f orally red hot and dry skin no sweating rapid strong pulse throbbing headache dizziness nausea confusion unconsciousness what to do if you see any of these signs you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim do the following get the victim to a shady area cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can for example immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low wrap the victim in a cool wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102u8c2b0f if emergency medical personnel are delayed call the hospital emergency room for further instructions do not give the victim fluids to drink get medical assistance as soon as possible sometimes a victim victim’s muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke if this happens keep the victim from injuring himself but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids if there is vomiting make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side information references "extreme heat a prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety" by national center for environmental health 2009 available at www bt cdc gov

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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References: n/a

Keywords: Hot weather heat summer safety

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead three steps to preparedness get a kit have a disaster supplies kit packed and ready in one place assemble enough supplies to last for at least three days store the supplies in one or more containers such as a backpack or duffle bag with an id tag it may be easier if the container had wheels label any equipment such as wheelchairs canes or walkers that you would need with your name address and phone number keep your kit up-to-date review the contents every six months or as your needs change check expiration dates and replace perishable items some things your kit should include are water – one gallon per person per day 3-day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home food – try to include foods that do not need cooking canned dried etc 3-day supply for evacuation and 2-week supply for home flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs battery-operated or hand-crank radio and flashlight first aid kit and manual medications 7-day supply and medical items multi-purpose tool several tools that fold up into a pocket-sized unit much like a large pocket knife or a small tool kit that comes in a zippered vinyl case sanitation and personal hygiene items toilet paper plastic garbage bags copies of personal documents medication list and medical information deed lease to home birth certificates insurance policies in a waterproof carrier cell phone with an extra battery and charger family and friends’ emergency contact information cash and coins in a waterproof carrier emergency blanket maps of the local area whistle to attract the attention of emergency personnel one change of clothing manual can opener pet supplies if a pet is involved including food and vaccination records extra set of car and house keys pack of cards to pass the time cold climate supplies jacket or coat long pants sturdy shoes hat gloves scarf sleeping bag or warm blanket warm climate supplies sunscreen lotion bug spray umbrella wide-brimmed hat vehicle supplies tire repair kit jumper cables flares granola bars shovel canned heat windshield scraper distress flag make a plan meet with family and friends and arrange for someone to check on you if a disaster strikes include caregivers in the meeting and planning efforts make sure any personal abilities and limitations that may affect your response to a disaster are taken into consideration and make sure the plan you develop fits those special needs carry family contact information in your wallet or purse choose an out-of-town contact person after a disaster it is often easier to make a long-distance call than a local call from a disaster area ask about emergency plans and procedures that exist in your community plan the best and quickest escape routes out of your home and out of your neighborhood decide on a meeting place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home know the safe places within your home in case you need to shelter during extreme weather events practice your escape drill every six months plan for transportation if you need to evacuate to a shelter post emergency phone numbers near your phone keep support items like wheelchairs and walkers in a designated place so they can be found quickly talk to your utility company about emergency procedures and know how and when to turn off water gas and electricity at the main switches or valves keep any tools you will need nearby test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for disasters keep copies of vital family records and other important documents in a safe location like a fire safe or safe-deposit box if you wear hearing aids store them in a bedside container that is attached to your nightstand using velcro some disasters may shift items that are not secured making them difficult to find quickly be informed make a list of what hazards threaten your community and how they might affect you think about both natural hurricanes flooding winter storms and earthquakes and human-caused hazardous materials and transportation accidents know how local authorities will warn you of a pending disaster and how they will provide information to you before during and after a disaster if you live in a senior community become familiar with any disaster notification plans that may already exist in some emergencies such as a chemical emergency you would need to know how to seal a room for safety on a temporary basis called "shelter in place " in the case of a winter storm you may be told to "stay at home " if you need to evacuate coordinate with your family and home care provider for evacuation procedures try to carpool if possible wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes take your disaster supplies kit lock your home use the specified travel routes – don’t take any short cuts let your out-of-town contact know when you left and where you are going be prepared to go to a shelter if your area is without power floodwater is rising your home has been severely damaged or police or other local officials tell you to evacuate immediately after a disaster if you are at home check for damage using a flashlight – do not light matches or candles or turn on electrical switches shut off any damaged utilities check on your neighbors call out-of town contacts stay away from downed power lines do not drive through flooded roads monitor local broadcasts for up-to-date information if electrical power is lost use a flashlight turn off or unplug all major appliances that could be damaged by the electrical surge when power is restored keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible if the disaster is a fire plan two escape routes out of each room choose a place to meet outside practice the fire escape every six months plan to use the stairs during a fire evacuation if you cannot use stairways make special arrangements for help in advance sleep with the bedroom door closed install smoke alarms inside and outside sleeping areas to give you warning of toxic fumes if your smoke alarm sounds never waste time to get dressed or collect valuables or pets get out of your home immediately do not try to fight the fire call for help from a neighbor’s phone and never go back into a burning building for any reason if you are in a wheelchair or cannot get out of your home stay by the window near the floor and signal for help if your clothes catch on fire drop to the floor and roll to suffocate the fire keep rolling running from the fire only "fans" the flames and makes it worse drop to the floor and crawl the cleanest air is near the floor information references adapted in part from disaster preparedness for seniors – american red cross

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Categories: Medical Physical

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*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Falls are a major cause of accidents for older adults the following are found to be the most common causes of falls around the home tripping over items left in the way missing the last step on the stairs tripping on doorsills slipping in the bathroom tripping on uneven sidewalks not using the handrail on stairs simple changes in the home can prevent many falls and injuries to make the home as safe as possible use the following checklist to do a safety inspection and develop a plan to correct any safety hazards to avoid falls floors secure your rugs throw rugs should have a non-skid back or be taped down with double-sided carpet tape phone and electrical cords should be out of walking paths avoid carpet with thick or uneven pile repair frayed edges of carpets keep walking paths through rooms clear of clutter move furniture if necessary to provide an obstacle free path clean up spills right away to avoid a slippery surface stairs light switches should be at both the top and bottom of stairways install handrails ideally on both sides of the stairs top and bottom steps must be easy to see you can make them more noticeable with a contrasting color of carpet a strip of carpet tape or paint don’t store items on the stairs develop a plan to get items up and down the steps such as using a basket which will allow the use of the handrails bathroom install grab rails in the tub shower and around the toilet the tub and shower should have a non-skid surface decals or no-slip mats consider installing a shower chair and hand-held shower general all room entrances should have accessible light switches avoid glare and shadow especially on uneven surfaces store items where you can easily reach them without having to bend over or reach up avoid using step stools avoid furniture that is low has wheels or tips easily place nightlights along routes between bedrooms and bathrooms position the telephone so that you don’t have to hurry to answer a ringing phone get an answering machine so no call will be missed information references adapted from health article on the oasis internet website www oasisnet org

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Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

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*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The caregiver (cg) should be aware of the following symptoms of a stroke and monitor the Care recipient (cr) accordingly unexplained dizziness sudden fall without cause unable to communicate loss of speech sudden vision problems sudden weakness numbness on one side of the body arms legs face information elderly people are more prone to stroke if they have high blood pressure if they smoke have heart disease diabetes or if they’ve already had a stroke references adapted from the mayo clinic internet website www mayoclinic com

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Categories: Medical Physical

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Keywords: Dizziness falling vision problems stroke high blood pressure heart disease diabetes

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The main function of calluses and corns is protecting sensitive areas on the foot corns come in two varieties hard and soft hard corns are usually found on the tops of the toes or on the outer sides of the little toes where the skin rubs against the shoe sometimes a corn will form on the ball of the foot beneath a callus resulting in a sharp localized pain with each step soft corns which are moist and rubbery form between toes where the bones of one toe exert pressure on the bones of its neighbor both hard and soft corns are cone shaped with the tip pointing into the foot what you see is the base of the cone when a shoe or another toe puts pressure against the corn the tip can hit sensitive underlying tissue causing pain unlike corns calluses generally form over a flat surface and have no tip they usually appear on the weight-bearing parts of the foot the ball or the heel as people age the padding on the bottom of the foot begins to thin so calluses naturally develop to protect the foot from too much pressure and chafing each step presses the callus against underlying tissue and that may cause aching burning or tenderness but rarely sharp pain common causes of calluses and corns mistreating the feet by wearing shoes that don’t fit well or that are too inflexible or nonporous are common causes of calluses and corns shoes that squeeze the toes force one toe to rub against the other ultimately causing a corn to develop high-heeled shoes also are major culprits since they put pressure on the front of the foot as can ill-fitting socks or irritation from your foot rubbing against a sock seam or shoe stitching shoes that are too loose cause your foot to slide creating friction that can cause calluses; walking on hard surfaces having flat feet people with flat feet are more likely to get calluses thinning of the skin on the sole of the foot being diabetic diabetics and others with circulatory problems should never self-treat or ignore foot problems information references "15 home remedies for calluses and corns " available at www health howstuffworks com

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Calluses corns feet skin

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Maybe if it helps you keep your blood glucose close to normal levels yes but an insulin pump is not for everyone if you have been unable to get your blood glucose levels into goal range a pump may be a good choice for you a pump also called a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion system can do some things that conventional insulin injection therapy can’t using a pump requires motivation and a willingness to measure your blood glucose four or more times a day and to make decisions based on the results a pump cannot read your blood glucose so you have to do blood glucose tests regularly to tell the pump how much insulin you need the downside is the cost a pump costs about 5 000 to start and about 75 a month to maintain you should talk to your health care team and insurance company about whether a pump would be a good idea for you newer pumps have more features and are more reliable than older models more features allow more flexibility of lifestyle to help you stay in good control information references "101 tips for staying healthy 2nd edition" by schade d s and associates 1999 university of new mexico american diabetes association www diabetes org

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Insulin insulin pump blood glucose

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Picking the right monitor is a little like choosing a car, you have to think of the features that matter most to you and there are lots of features to choose from are you looking for the fastest monitor there are some that complete the check in 5 seconds other monitors have larger screens that are easier to see if your vision is not good some use strips that are easier to handle if you have arthritis or nerve damage looking to get organized there are monitors that have lots of data management capabilities which can help you track your results more precisely and communicate these results to your health care provider there are monitors that use very small drops of blood and others that let you test on your hand arm or leg as well as your finger so you see there are lots of options to choose the monitor that that’s best for you talk to a diabetes educator; he or she will probably be up to date on all the latest models and have some available for you to see information references "101 tips for staying healthy 2nd edition" by schade d s and associates 1999 university of new mexico american diabetes association www diabetes org

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Insulin insulin pump blood glucose

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: A certified diabetes educator cde is a health professional registered nurse rn registered dietitian rd pharmacist physician etc who has been trained and certified as an expert in diabetes education and management resources for finding help if you cannot find a cde you may find a nurse or rd interested in diabetes and willing to help you you can locate a cde in your area by calling the american association of diabetes educators aade awareness hotline at 800 team-up-4 they will ask for your zip code and help you find a cde near you you may also want to look for a diabetes-education program that offers individual or group classes the american diabetes association has a list of recognized diabetes programs in your area call 800 diabetes or go to www diabetes org for this information if there isn’t a recognized diabetes center near you call your local hospital and ask about a diabetes education program or diabetes educators on staff information references "101 tips for staying healthy 2nd edition" by schade d s and associates 1999 university of new mexico american diabetes association www diabetes org

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Diabetes diabetes educator health care providers blood sugar problems blood glucose

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Whether travelling by car plane boat bike or foot keep this carry-on bag handyat all times pack this bag with all the insulin and syringes needed for the trip blood and urine testing supplies include extra batteries for glucose meter all oral medications an extra supply is a good idea other medications or medical supplies such as glucagon antidiarrhea medication antibiotic ointment antinausea drugs id and diabetes identity card a well-wrapped air-tight snack pack of crackers or cheese peanut butter fruit a juice box and some form of sugar hard candy or glucose tablets to treat low blood glucose information references "101 tips for staying healthy 2nd edition" by schade d s and associates 1999 university of new mexico american diabetes association www diabetes org

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Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Diabetes blood sugar broblems blood glucose travel

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed