By Heather Hacking
Chico Enterprise-Record (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
Now is a good time to call elderly relatives. Not to catch up on old times, but to make sure that their air conditioners are working, that they’re drinking enough fluids or to ask them if they want to go hang out at the mall.
The relentless heat takes a toll on everyone. People standing in grocery store lines are less patient. Parents might snap at their children and dogs sure do pant a lot more.
But the heat can also be deadly.
This week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office issued press releases warning outdoor workers to remember to drink extra water and take breaks in the shade.
Precautions are especially important for older people, because the older one gets the more difficult it is to recover from heat stress, and it is easier to become dehydrated.
Neighbors can also reach out to those who could be vulnerable, including the elderly who don’t have family living nearby or people with disabilities.
Statewide the governor has asked fairgrounds to provide “cooling centers” for people who do not have access to adequate cooling in their homes.
Local fairs are only equipped with swamp coolers. The county fairgrounds in Gridley is referring people to a community cooling station at Health Services, 284 Spruce Street. As of Thursday nobody had called.
Pat Conklin, chief executive officer at the Gridley fair, said staff at her office would be more than willing to help anyone who felt they needed assistance.
She said relatives should reach out to their family members, because some people can be stubborn and not ask for help.
Ryan Hursh, manager of the Chico Mall, said the mall is a great spot for people to spend a few hours escaping the heat. He said he hasn’t noticed much more traffic as of yet.
Other good spots are libraries.
John Lord, program manager of community service for Public Health, said the governor has made several requests of state agencies to contact nursing facilities and people known to live in single-room residences to make sure there are not people suffering needlessly. As of Thursday morning, Lord had spoken to fire departments and there had been no reports of heat-related deaths in Butte County.
There was, however, one report of a heat-related death in Willows Thursday.
If a state of emergency is enacted, there are plans to set up stations through the American Red Cross. But hopefully things will cool down before that happens.
While the elderly are more at risk, Lord said anybody can suffer from heatstroke.
“People have to be smart about what you’re doing. If you’re feeling sick, drink some fluids.”