As a Girl Scout, I learned how to put the motto “Be prepared” into practice. It has served me well throughout life, especially as I’ve gotten older.
The motto has also served as a good reminder to prepare for a summer of heatwaves, potential health emergencies, and our occasional power outages. These always seems to catch us off-guard.
Here are a few strategies from the Aging Wisdom Safety Committee that we’ve implement on behalf of clients as well as in our own homes. We think you’ll find these helpful too:
Group Text or Phone Tree. This applies any time, especially if you live alone, or are caring for someone who is vulnerable if an emergency or crisis were to occur. It’s important to stay connected, and a group text or a phone tree are efficient ways to let family, neighbors, and friends know what is happening, especially in an emergency. To create a phone call tree or chain, you make a list of people who you want informed. Then you make an initial call to one person, who then calls the next person on the list, and so on. Also, remember to keep your smartphone charged.
Extreme heat such as what we experienced in two recent heatwaves are said to be the norm in the future. Few homes have air conditioning. And summer is not over. Best to have some strategies in place to keep cool and protect your health. How can you cool down inside when it’s heating up outside, especially if you don’t have air conditioning?
- Window coverings and shades for windows with high sun exposure, especially those facing the south and west, can help enormously at keeping things cool inside. Color, shape, and type all make a difference.
- Cool down your living space before you need it. When there’s a heatwave in the forecast, start to implement cooling techniques in advance. Keep your house as cool as possible before the hot weather hits. Use windows shades, fans, open windows for air circulation. This helps keep your house temperatures down. It will be chilly ahead of the heatwave, but in the long run, you’ll be more comfortable.
- Get a cross breeze going. Open windows and doors, coupled with a box fan, get air moving throughout your home. This can cool things down effectively.
- To sleep easier, put a bowl of ice, or some frozen water bottles in front of a fan that’s aimed at your bed.
- Limit the use of electronics. Cooking, lights, appliances all add to the indoor air temperature. Keep their use to a minimum. Turn off and unplug the appliances you don’t need.
- Stay hydrated. It’s essential to our health and helping our bodies function optimally. Check out this informative article from our colleague Juliet Powell on Hydration: How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day?
- Utilize cooling centers. Area senior and community centers, as well as libraries, shopping malls, and some municipal spaces, provide safe spaces for people to shelter during the day. Senior centers often plan meals and beverage service during heatwaves. Keeping cool is sometimes best done in the company of others.
- Visit the Public Health – Seattle & King County website for additional tips for staying cool and safe.
Make a “go bag.” During a crisis, it is normal to feel anxious. Assemble a “go bag” in case you need to leave your home unexpectedly. Preparing in advance allows you take control of your life when you’re thinking is clear and your nerves are steady. Store the “go bag” in a convenient location. Contents of your bag should include:
- List of your important contacts, including your health care provider/s, family, friends, and neighbors
- List of your medications and medical issues
- Copy of your advanced directive and powers of attorney
- Copy of your insurance cards and ID
- Cell phone/tablet plus charger
- Personal items: change of clothing, underwear, socks, pjs, extra pair of glasses, extra hearing aids with batteries, etc.
- Comfort items: pillow, blanket
Power outages are common in our area, especially during periods of high wind or when temperatures increase and the demand for electricity is on the rise. Consider having these items on hand:
- Non-perishable food (tins of tuna, sardines, salmon, fruit; nut butters; protein bars and shakes, juices, dried fruits, and nuts)
- Water for drinking, and water for washing hands, utensils. General rule is at least 1 gallon per person per day; 3-day supply.
- Basic supplies. Manual can opener, battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, knife.
- Cooler or ice chest for medications that require refrigeration; don’t forget the ice
- Battery-operated flashlight or lantern
- Battery-operated or solar smartphone and laptop charger/s
- Battery-operated fan
- Extra batteries for all the above
Be prepared! As a team of Aging Life Care and Creative Engagement professionals, it’s our nature to plan ahead. We find it especially gratifying when we implement such preparations with and for our clients, their families and friends, as well as our own.
Some say our team members at Aging Wisdom are a lot like the character Radar O’Reilly from the television show M*A*S*H. We’re experts at anticipating potential challenges and issues, and we’re equally knowledgeable at putting plans into action to minimize risk and optimize safety, health, and well-being.
Not sure how to begin? Put our expertise to work for you! Schedule a free, get-acquainted call today with one of our Aging Life Care experts.
