SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – With a heat advisory hitting the Suncoast, local advocates are reminding residents that extreme temperatures can pose serious risks for some of the community’s most vulnerable populations, including pets and older adults.
With “feels like” temperatures climbing into the triple digits, experts say taking extra precautions can help prevent heat-related illnesses and emergencies.
At Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Shelter in Sarasota, staff say pet owners should be mindful of how the heat affects their animals.
“If we can feel the heat, our pets can feel it too,” said Muffy Lavens, Director of Development at Satchel’s Last Resort.
Lavens recommends adjusting outdoor activities during the summer months, including walking dogs during the cooler parts of the day.
“So definitely in the hot summer months you want to take some more precautions with walking your dogs,” Lavens said.
Shelter advocates suggest taking dogs for walks early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are lower. They also recommend watching for signs of discomfort, ensuring pets have constant access to fresh water, and providing plenty of shade.
“Always having a fresh clean bowl of water in your house that your dog can access, and you can throw some ice cubes in there,” Lavens said.
One of the biggest warnings involves leaving pets inside vehicles. Even for a short errand, temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly and become deadly.
“It can heat up insanely fast inside an enclosed car,” Lavens said. “So even if you’re just thinking, ‘Oh, let me run into the grocery store real quick,’ it is amazing how high the temperature can get in there.”
Experts say the heat can also be especially dangerous for older adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults ages 65 and older are more vulnerable to heat-related illness because their bodies do not adjust to sudden temperature changes as easily as younger people.
A University of Florida analysis found that more than a quarter of Florida’s heat-related deaths involved adults age 65 and older.
At Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota, advocates are encouraging older adults to take extra precautions during periods of extreme heat.
“Heat exhaustion in older adults happens faster than it does for the rest of us,” said Tracie Cardwell, Director of Marketing and Communications for Senior Friendship Centers.
Cardwell recommends staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and ensuring air conditioning systems are functioning properly.
“Please don’t go outside at the hottest point of the day,” Cardwell said. “And if you do, try and take water with you.”
Advocates say one of the most important things people can do during a heat advisory is check in on others.
Whether it’s a senior neighbor, a friend living alone, a family member, or even a pet, experts say a simple check-in can help prevent a dangerous situation and keep everyone safer during periods of extreme heat.
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