Hyderabad summer heat: protecting older adults from heatstroke
Hyderabad summers regularly pass 40°C. How to keep older adults safe at home, the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and when to call 108.
Written by HoMedi Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by Dr Vinod Kumar, MBBS · Reg. No. APMC/FMR/97301 (Andhra Pradesh Medical Council)
Published · Last reviewed · 2 min read
Hyderabad's summer, from about April to June, regularly brings temperatures above 40°C. Older adults are more at risk from the heat: their sense of thirst is weaker, their bodies cool down less efficiently, and some common medicines affect how they handle heat. A few simple steps keep them safe.
Why older adults are at higher risk
- Weaker thirst: they can become dehydrated without feeling thirsty
- Medicines: some tablets, such as water pills (diuretics) and certain blood pressure medicines, can make dehydration more likely. Ask the doctor whether any medicine needs adjusting in summer, and never stop one on your own
- Long-term conditions: heart, kidney and lung conditions, and diabetes, add to the risk
- Living alone: nobody may notice early signs of trouble
Keeping cool at home
- Keep curtains and windows shaded during the hottest hours, and open them in the cooler evening
- Use fans and cross-ventilation, and a cool room if one is available
- Cool the body with wet cloths on the neck and arms, or a cool bath
- Wear light, loose cotton clothes
- Plan ahead for power cuts, for example a charged fan or a cooler room to move to
Drinking enough
- Offer water through the day, not only when they ask
- Buttermilk, lemon water, coconut water and ORS help replace salts lost in sweat
- Limit tea, coffee and alcohol, which can add to fluid loss
- If the person is on fluid restriction for a heart or kidney condition, ask the doctor how much they should drink
Going out
- Avoid going out between about 12 noon and 3 pm, when the sun is strongest
- Schedule walks, errands and hospital visits for early morning or evening
- Carry water, and wear a cap or use an umbrella
Heat exhaustion: act early
Signs include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and muscle cramps. Move the person to a cool place, loosen their clothes, give sips of water or ORS, and cool them with wet cloths. If they do not improve within about an hour, or get worse, contact a doctor.
Heatstroke: call 108
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 108 straight away if the person has:
- Confusion, slurred speech or unusual behaviour
- Fainting, collapse or a fit
- Very hot skin, which may be dry or sweaty
- A fast, strong pulse or fast breathing
While you wait for the ambulance, move them somewhere cool, remove extra clothing and cool them with water and fanning. Do not give drinks to someone who is not fully awake.
Checking on parents who live alone
In peak summer, call or visit twice a day. Ask a neighbour or your apartment security to look in if you cannot. Our guide Caring for parents in Hyderabad when you live far away has more ideas. For the full home checklist, see Caring for an elderly parent at home.
Questions people ask
Heat exhaustion causes heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness and headache, and usually improves with rest, cooling and fluids. Heatstroke is an emergency: the body can no longer cool itself, and it causes confusion, fainting or fits. Call 108 for heatstroke.
Usually yes, because the sense of thirst weakens with age. But people on fluid restriction for heart or kidney conditions should ask their doctor how much to drink.
