Posted by: NurseKeith in poverty on
Jun 09, 2008
The heat wave continues today, and the inner city bakes as the sun reflects off of the proverbial concrete jungle.
At the urban senior center where my wife is director, air conditioners work overtime, and the city provides spring water and popsicles, as well as fans for residents who lack even the slightest chance of escaping the heat.
Driving through the city, I know very well that, inside some of those buildings, people with chronic illness swelter without relief. Some sit under trees trying to catch a breeze. Some bring their children to a water park if one exists in their neighborhood. Others are lucky to have a few fans or maybe even an air conditioner.
It's certain that the ER's are filled with asthmatics with acute exacerbations, not to mention those with acute dehydration or heat stroke. Summer can be a dangerous time, especially for those who are frail and poor.
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