Heatwave: Please look out for older people as extreme heat warnings extended

Age Scotland is asking people to look out for older family, friends and neighbours over the next few days as extreme heat warnings have been extended by the Met Office for large parts of the country.

The national charity for older people says that they hope people can make the most of the good weather but should also understand the risks to health and what to do if you become unwell as a result of the unusually hot conditions.

As we age our bodies can find it harder to manage extremes of heat and cold, particularly if there is a sudden change, and older people who are already managing health conditions such as for their heart or lungs could find the next few days particularly challenging.

Age Scotland have also produced some Top Tips for coping with high heat.

Head of policy and communications for Age Scotland, Adam Stachura said:

“Much of Scotland is going to be dealing with considerably higher temperatures over the next few days so it is important to keep a gentle eye out for older family, friends and neighbours to make sure that they are coping well with it and know that there is a bit of support to hand if they need it. You could encourage them to stay hydrated with the gift of an ice cream, ask if they would like some help getting shopping or picking up any medication, or even lend an extra fan if you have one.

“Older people can be at risk of dehydration and overheating when its hot, especially if their home is hard to keep cool. Staying hydrated and drinking a bit more water than you are used to is a good idea. As we get older it can also be harder for our bodies to manage the sudden and extreme changes in temperatures, and it’s likely that we are living with few health conditions that can be tough to manage in such hot and sunny conditions. This can be especially challenging if you have heart or lung problems. Some medications can also increase the severity of heat stroke too, so it is important to know how you might be affected.

“We hope that people can enjoy the warmer weather as it’s not a regular occurrence for us in Scotland but should also know how it could impact their health, so taking some simple precautions could really help people stay well.”