AMBULANCE DISTRICT EDUCATES SENIORS ON COLD WEATHER
McCOY, Colo. – Dec. 9, 2003 – The Eagle County Health Service District (Eagle County Ambulance District) recently conducted a “community day” in McCoy, giving area residents the chance to learn more about the District and the services it provides, as well as helping to educate them about hypothermia, a serious risk for many seniors.
About a dozen McCoy-area residents showed up for the session, organized by the Real McCoy Adult Community Program. The District brought a fully-equipped ambulance to the McCoy Community Center and checked blood pressures, oxygen levels, blood sugar levels and even heart rhythms of those who were there.
“Getting out into the community like this is an important part of our overall service in eastern Eagle County,” said Lyn Morgan, General Manager of the District. “We get to pass along important health information in a relaxed, non-emergency setting. When it comes to something like hypothermia, which has a fatality rate four times greater in the elderly than in the population as a whole, this can be lifesaving information.”
Between 1979 and 1995, an average of 723 people died each year in the United States from hypothermia. Half of those deaths occurred in people aged 65 or older, a death rate four times higher than the national average, and elderly men were more likely to die than elderly women from hypothermia.
Studies have shown that older people have a diminished ability to sense cold, and aging also limits the body’s ability to increase its metabolism and heat production in response to cold. Hypoglycemia, medications, drug overdose, alcohol use and abuse, and trauma injuries also contribute to hypothermia.
Hypothermia can also occur in the elderly who haven’t been outside, but have kept their homes colder in cold weather, many times to save money or fuel.
“Elderly people and caregivers working with the elderly should be aware of these factors and the early signs of hypothermia,” said Morgan.
Warning signs of hypothermia include altered mental status, subtle changes in speech or behavior, difficulty breathing, and lowered levels of consciousness.
“If you suspect someone is suffering from hypothermia, the first thing to do is to call for an ambulance,” said Morgan. “Particularly in the elderly, a fast response can make all the difference. Even if turns out not to be hypothermia, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.”
Additional assistance includes moving the individual to a warmer place, removing any wet clothing, drying the person, and using blankets or other dry clothes to help re-warm the person. Studies advise against immersing the person in warm water due to later monitoring and resuscitation difficulties.
Morgan noted that anyone wanting more information about hypothermia can call the Eagle County Health Service District at 926-5270.
The Eagle County Health Service District provides ambulance and advanced life support services for 550 square miles of Eagle County, from Vail Pass to McCoy and has a staff of 40. It is one of only two ambulance services in the state of Colorado, and one of only 95 in the nation, to receive national accreditation status from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), demonstrating the District’s voluntary compliance with nationally recognized standards of excellence.
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