FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 6/24/09) Just days into summer and doctors have already declared the first heat-related death of 2009.
The medical examiner says the woman died over the weekend, as temperatures soared into the upper 90's and the heat index gave the MidSouth a triple digit weather threat. But even a little heat can be deadly for children and the elderly. Officials say the temperature inside the woman's house was 88 degrees. She had no working air conditioner and no air flow.
If only she had neighbors like Anner Sanders. Sanders wears a hat, drinks plenty of water, and she checks on her elderly friends to make sure they survive the summer heat. "I go and check on them. If I can't get them on the phone, I'll go and check on them."
"We need to check on our elderly like that so that way we can make sure they have water, fans, and air conditioning because apparently she must have been by herself and trying to do the best she could," says Jerome Sanders, who has watched his own health closely as he worked outside all week.
There's no word if other health problems contributed to the woman's death, but health experts say that's often the case.
"People that are elderly, people that live alone, people that have chronic conditions, and people that are bedridden are more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses," says Dr. Helen Morrow with the Memphis Shelby County Public Health Department. "Family-members or friends need to check on these people very closely."
The Sanders say they'll do their part, and so should you.
- 76 year-old woman found dead inside her home
- Check on neighbors, elderly, children
- Watch for head/muscle aches, nausea, not sweating, confused speech
(Memphis 6/24/09) Just days into summer and doctors have already declared the first heat-related death of 2009.
The medical examiner says the woman died over the weekend, as temperatures soared into the upper 90's and the heat index gave the MidSouth a triple digit weather threat. But even a little heat can be deadly for children and the elderly. Officials say the temperature inside the woman's house was 88 degrees. She had no working air conditioner and no air flow.
If only she had neighbors like Anner Sanders. Sanders wears a hat, drinks plenty of water, and she checks on her elderly friends to make sure they survive the summer heat. "I go and check on them. If I can't get them on the phone, I'll go and check on them."
"We need to check on our elderly like that so that way we can make sure they have water, fans, and air conditioning because apparently she must have been by herself and trying to do the best she could," says Jerome Sanders, who has watched his own health closely as he worked outside all week.
There's no word if other health problems contributed to the woman's death, but health experts say that's often the case.
"People that are elderly, people that live alone, people that have chronic conditions, and people that are bedridden are more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses," says Dr. Helen Morrow with the Memphis Shelby County Public Health Department. "Family-members or friends need to check on these people very closely."
The Sanders say they'll do their part, and so should you.
