Hot Weather Tips with Jen Nunes, PA
Homeless in the Hot Weather
In stifling, hot weather, imagine walking all day long on the hot asphalt, lugging all your worldly belongings, with limited access to water or a restroom. And imagine suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure while contending with these conditions.
You’re constantly on the move because you’re considered to be loitering if you stay in one place too long. Even if you feel comfortable going indoors, and there’s a good chance you don’t, it’s nearly impossible to find spaces that welcome unhoused people.
Post-COVID, life has become even less hospitable for homeless people trying to survive on the streets. There are fewer water fountains and restrooms available, so access to both is challenging. When temperatures are soaring, and hydration is so important, some folks may limit their water intake because of the difficulty finding a public restroom. Urinating in public can result in a charge of indecent exposure.
The Effects of Heat and Sun on the Body
What happens to the body when exposed to heat day in and day out? We spoke with physician assistant Jen Nunes, a member of BHCHP’s Street Outreach Team, about the health-related issues patients face on the streets.
The elderly and those who suffer from mental illness are the most vulnerable to high temperatures and hot sun. As you age, it is harder to regulate body temperature, and people with mental illness may not be aware of the effects of the heat and sun on their bodies.
Heat cramps can result after hours of pushing a cart full of your belongings and/or continuous walking. Cramps may be accompanied by intense sweating. The best way to recover is to get out of the sun, drink fluids, and cool down.
More serious than heat cramps is heat exhaustion. Symptoms are a pale demeanor, nausea, diarrhea, and headache. Recovery includes applying cold compresses and drinking electrolytes to replace salt loss from sweating.
Highest on the severity scale is heat stroke, which is life threatening. The body can no longer regulate its own temperature nor can it sweat. Symptoms include a rapid pulse, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and fainting. The patient must be treated in a hospital.
According to Nunes, people who use substances can be at increased risk of heat related illness. Sedating substances like opiates can increase the chances of falling asleep or passing out in the heat and hot sun, causing dehydration and burns. Stimulants can lead to increased exertion and overheating faster than usual.
Chronic health conditions like cardiovascular disease, poor circulation, lung issues, diabetes, and kidney disease can all be exacerbated by the stresses of heat and dehydration. In addition, food storage is very limited in the summer, so food-bore illnesses increase during the hot months.
What You Can Do
When you are rushing to get somewhere or engrossed in your own thoughts, it’s easy to overlook a person who is experiencing homelessness. But there are a few things you can do to help, especially in extreme temperatures.
· Encourage them to move to a cooling center, if there is one nearby, or into the shade
· Give them a bottle of water or Gatorade-type drink with electrolytes
· Call 911 if they seem to be in medical distress
· Learn about hot weather resources from the City of Boston at this link
