A Summer Health Checklist for Texas Households

The CDC lists people 65 years or older, infants and young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers and athletes, and people with asthma or heart disease among those at higher risk from heat. A few basics from the CDC’s guidance on heat and your health:

• “Carry a water bottle. Drink and refill it throughout the day.”
• “Consider limiting beverages high in sugars and sodium, caffeine, and alcohol.”
• “Stay in the shade as much as possible.” Use air conditioning, or dial 2-1-1 to find a location that has it.
• Use fans only if indoor temperatures are less than 90°F.
• “Check on your family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they have chronic medical problems or live alone. Check on pets.”

Heat can affect medicines, too. CDC guidance for clinicians notes that insulin “can be degraded by heat,” that inhalers “can burst in hot environments, such as car trunks on hot days,” and that EpiPens “may malfunction or deliver less epinephrine when exposed to heat.” Don’t leave medicines in a hot car. For more on heat exhaustion and heat stroke, see our separate post on heat illness.

Summer schedules, late sunsets and warm bedrooms can all cut into rest. According to the CDC, adults ages 18–60 need “7 or more hours” of sleep, adults 61–64 need 7–9 hours, and adults 65 and older need 7–8 hours. The CDC’s sleep habit tips include:

• Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.
• Keeping your bedroom quiet, relaxing, and at a cool temperature.
• Turning off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Avoiding large meals and alcohol before bedtime, and caffeine in the afternoon or evening.
• Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet.

The FDA calls a medication list “a lifesaver in an emergency, especially if you are unable to communicate,” because it helps first responders and hospital staff make informed decisions. Its guide to creating and keeping a medication list recommends including:

• The name and strength of each medicine.
• What you take each medicine for.
• Instructions for when, how and how much you take.
• Your allergies and emergency contacts.
• Nonprescription medicines, vitamins and supplements.

The FDA advises that you “always keep a copy of your medication list with you” (for example, a photo on your phone or a paper copy with your insurance card), “review and update your list often, especially when something changes,” and share it with a trusted relative, friend or caregiver. Ready.gov’s family emergency plan guidance also recommends writing down medical information along with the names and contacts of family members.

Summer storms can knock out power. If someone in your home depends on electricity for their health, Ready.gov’s power outage guidance recommends that you:

• “Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines.”
• “Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.”
• If you use a generator, run it and its fuel outdoors and “at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages,” and install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.

Keep track of refill dates, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about keeping a backup supply of your medicines.

As the FDA points out, a current list of medicines, allergies and emergency contacts helps first responders and hospital staff make informed treatment decisions, especially if the patient can’t speak for themselves. A few steps to take before an emergency happens:

1. 1Keep your medication list, allergies and major health conditions together, at home and on your phone.
2. 2List an emergency contact and make sure that person has a copy of your list.
3. 3Tell household members and caregivers where the list is kept.
4. 4If a power-dependent device or refrigerated medicine is part of daily care, note it on the list and in your emergency plan.