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HEASTROKE
Why This Steamy Summer Reminds Me of Passing Time
The heat is no longer forgiving
Forty years ago, I wish I were more empathetic of the elderly pilgrims in Ephesus in 104-degree Fahrenheit heat.
Today, I’m reminded of that tour, but I’m sheltering from the sun with the heat index at 106 degrees! The elderly, the frail, and the chronically ill are more at risk in the heat.
Heat exhaustion is often unrecognized, underestimated, and sometimes even dismissed. Yet, the symptoms affect major organs and can cause death.
As an octogenarian, I’m grateful for my summer listlessness and my uncomfortable response to sun exposure. Both conspire to keep me safely indoors. Although heat-related illnesses can occur at any time one’s body temperature is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, they are more likely to occur during summer. Last year, 2,394 Americans lost their lives from this avoidable illness.
Let’s plan to avoid it.
