CARTERET COUNTY, NC – Carteret County Aging Services is helping Carteret County seniors cool off through ‘Operation Fan Heat Relief.’
The county is using money from Duke Energy to provide free fans to Carteret County residents who are 60-years-old or older or people younger than 60-years-old with a qualifying disability and have a home situation where the threat to health and well-being exist.
Lakisha Williams, Director of Aging Services for Carteret County says, “The summer heat is a serious health concern for many senior citizens who are living in homes without air conditioning or other means of cooling. When temperatures rise to these dangerous levels, seniors should open windows to release trapped air and use a fan to circulate the air in a home.”
During the hottest days of summer, senior citizens should wear lightweight clothing and avoid strenuous activity in the hot sun or in other hot areas. If you must be out in the sun, wear a head covering. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, warm and cool. Because the body loses fluids in the heat, drinking lots of liquids helps to avoid dehydration.
“Now is the time to prepare for the unpredictable heat that the summer months can bring,” Williams said. “The combination of extreme temperatures and high humidity can cause heat related illnesses in senior citizens.”
The early warning signs of heat stress are decreased energy, slight loss of appetite, light-headedness and nausea. People experiencing these symptoms should go to a cool environment, drink liquids, remove excess clothing and rest.
Serious signs of heat stress include flushed, hot, dry skin; fainting; a rapid, weak pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; vomiting; and increased body temperature of more than 104 degrees. Anyone who thinks they are having a medical emergency should not hesitate to seek immediate medical attention by calling 911.
To request a fan or obtain more information, please call the Carteret County Aging Services at the Leon Mann Jr. Enrichment Center at (252) 247-2626.
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