Heat brings health concerns for some residents

From the Saturday, July 19, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Heat brings health concerns for some residents
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

Out came the sprinklers and swimming pools with this week’s rising temperatures, as well as special concerns for senior citizens in the area.

McHenry County agencies are reaching out to make sure that residents know how to cope with the heat, particularly the county’s senior citizen population. About 28,000 county residents are 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Check on friends and family members and make sure they’re OK,” said Robert Ellsworth, assistant director of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency.

Since the county isn’t home to high-rise apartment buildings, residents don’t face as many risks as people living in the city, Ellsworth said. However, he advised that precautions still be taken.

“Drink lots of fluids, stay indoors,” he said.

Ellsworth stressed that people should stay in air-conditioned environments as much as possible, and residents without home cooling should spend time in libraries or shopping centers when the mercury climbs above 90 degrees.

During the week, residents can visit cooling centers for relief. McHenry County’s center is at the Family Community Resource Center, 2215 Lake Shore Drive, Woodstock.

Those who live farther south can use Kane County’s cooling center at 600 S. State St., Elgin. And residents in the eastern part of the county can use Lake County’s cooling center, 3234 W. Belvidere Road, Park City.

Senior Services Associates in McHenry keeps an eye on seniors who are clients of the center by calling them when temperatures hit the 90s.

“We do a wellness check on all the people we have in our system to see if they are OK,” office coordinator Rita Boulden said. “We ask them if they’re drinking enough water, do they have air conditioning or fans.”

She said about 30 seniors who were serviced by the agency received calls, but temperatures hadn’t risen enough to warrant a call so far.

“This is the first hot spell we’ve had really,” Boulden said. “If it gets to be 90 or so, that is a little too hot for the senior population.”

Temperatures are expected to remain in the low- to mid-80s next week, but forecasters say that doesn’t mean higher temperatures aren’t around the corner.

“We’ve still got a good portion of summer left,” said Stephen Rodriguez, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It’s not uncommon to see 90 degree weather.”

For those struggling to pay for cooling, the McHenry County Housing Authority disbursed $59,550 in state funds in less than two weeks.

“We only get a set amount of money from the state, ... we ran out of money Wednesday,” authority Executive Director Julie Biel Claussen said.

Biel Claussen said the money was disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis, and 397 residents received aid. The money is paid directly to the recipients’ ComEd accounts. McHenry Township buys air conditioners for residents who are elderly, have a respiratory condition, or have financial need and don’t have any alternatives for relief from the heat.

“We consider that to be an emergency purchase,” Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer said. “They call us directly or they are referred to us by other social service agencies.”

Schaefer said at least one person received an air conditioner this year.

Tips for staying cool:

- Drink water.

- Stay indoors.

- Turn off lights.

- Take cool showers and baths.

- Wear loose-fitting clothes.

- Avoid physical exertion.

Source: McHenry County Emergency Management Agency