6 | Santa Barbara Family & Life | www.santabarbarafamilylife.com | August 2017
AVOID DEHYDRATION
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water By Nicole Huff
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.
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ummer is here, and that means temperatures are climbing to the 90s and higher in Santa Barbara County. The season of longer days, intense heat and more outdoor activity requires that you drink enough water to prevent dehydration. But don’t wait until you feel thirsty before you reach for that water bottle. Many people are already dehydrated by the time they start to feel thirsty. This is especially true for seniors and the elderly. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at cooling. Increased sweating from the heat leads to the loss of water, sodium and potassium the body needs. That’s why it’s important to drink plenty of water during hot weather and when you’re ill. To make sure you are properly hydrated, it’s a good idea to drink a small amount of water every 20 minutes, even if you’re not thirsty. Set a timer on your phone or a clock to remind you. Another good way to keep track of water intake is to fill a large container (one that holds 64 ounces, or eight servings of 8 ounces each) and drink from that throughout the day. Also keep in mind that alcohol and caffeine can drain your body of water. Dehydration should not be ignored, as it can cause more serious health conditions when body temperature rises, such as heat exhaustion. If you’re exercising or working in very hot weather and not drinking enough water, your body may not be able to produce the sweat needed to cool itself.
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Dehydration should not be ignored, as it can cause more serious health conditions when body temperature rises, such as heat exhaustion. ... When the body’s temperature remains elevated above 103 degrees for a long period, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke — a potentially life-threatening condition.
When the body’s temperature remains elevated above 103 degrees for a long period, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke — a potentially life-threatening condition. We average about 750 visits a month. The majority of patients who come are elderly, and many have signs of dehydration. Symptoms of being dehydrated include a dry mouth, dry skin, fatigue, weakness, and no urination for six hours. The more serious condition of heat exhaustion causes excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, weakness and fever. If you see or feel signs of severe dehydration or heat exhaustion, move to a shaded area and loosen tight or sweat-soaked clothing. Drink cool water (without ice) or a sports drink containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. Pour cool water on the skin or use a fan to help lower body temperature. Call 911 or come to the Emergency Department if conditions do not improve quickly. Registered Nurse Nicole Huff works in the Emergency Department of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.
Photo by Victoria Martinez Volunteers from SYV We Support the Troops gather monthly to prepare boxes for soldiers stationed around the world.
Help needed to fill ‘care packages’ for troops
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SBFLM Staff
athy Calabro, an independent sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics, travels from the Santa Barbara area to Solvang each month with dozens of bottles of sunscreen — not for local customers, but for American troops in combat zones. Santa Ynez Valley We Support the Troops Inc. is seeking more sponsors and donations as it prepares and ships approximately 100 “care packages” each month to service members stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and South Korea. “Our customers love to support our troops with this cause. This year, one of our local low-income senior facilities even decided to donate part of their cookie sales to purchase sunscreens for the troops,” Calabro said. Despite generous donations from individuals and businesses, the group needs help to support the troops at the “tip of the spear,” said the group’s coordinator, retired Air Force Col. Pat Sullivan. Sullivan and Sonie Lindquist, both valley residents, launched SYV We Support the Troops in 2004 after Sullivan realized that the war in the Middle East wasn’t going to end anytime soon. “I know that especially in remote places, there just isn’t the provisions they need or want, and I wanted to help any small way I could,” Sullivan said. The recipients are usually connected to someone from the Santa Ynez Valley, whether it’s a relative, friend or co-worker. They send letters to Sullivan requesting things such as phone cards to call home, jerky, baby wipes, shampoo, batteries, and sanitary items for women. “We want people to get a taste of home,” Sullivan added. Volunteers from all over the county gather each month at Bethania Lutheran Church at 621 Atterdag Road in Solvang to supply donations and prepare the boxes to be shipped. Each box costs about $95 to prepare and ship, with 85 to 130 boxes being sent each month. Last year more than 220 Christmas care packages were sent out, requiring more than $20,000 in donations of money and goods.
Sullivan and the organization receive numerous letters from grateful soldiers thanking the organization for the small pleasures of home they receive in their care packages. “We miss home and our family and friends, but knowing you all are there thinking of us and waiting for our safe return keeps us going day after day,” wrote one soldier. Though deployments are not at the forefront of the daily news cycle lately, Sullivan wants the community to know that there is still a need. “The war is still going on. People are still getting hurt and killed,” she said. For more information or to donate to the nonprofit organization, visit we-support-thetroops.org. Request List for ‘care packages’ n Jerky of all sorts n Snacks of all sorts; favorites are chewing gum, hard candy, cookies, trail mix bars, protein bars n Wet Ones or Handy Wipes (individually wrapped and in packages) n Hand sanitizer n Toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste n Batteries (AA, AAA, C, or D) n Q-tips n Flip-flops n Slippers n Knives n Flashlights n Soap, body wash, deodorant n Instant hand and foot warmers n Small red, green, or blue-lens LED lights (especially tiny ones the size of a quarter) n Small compasses n DVD movies, board games, books, magazines n T-shirts n Moisturizer, sun block n Feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads, tampons n Socks n Toys and school supplies for the local children n Letters of encouragement and gratitude n Any other item that is individually requested.