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Check on your senior family, friends and neighbors during this heat wave

How much time do you spend thinking about the seniors around you?

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — This heat wave is impacting us all.

"The heat is bad for everyone, whether you're two, 20 or 200!" said Huntsville/Madison County Senior Center Marketing Director, Cathie Mayne.

So much so... that it's best for everyone to stay out of the heat...

"Take care, get in the shade, grab some water and make sure that you're close to air conditioning especially if you start to feel faint," said Mayne.

Particularly, when it comes to seniors and this heat... hydration is vital. 

"Seniors need to be staying indoors or at least hydrating. It's super hot outside and they need to make sure that they have enough water if they go outside or walk around," said Mayne.

RELATED: Yes, aluminum foil can be used over windows to help keep homes cool

This is because as we age, according to the National Library of Medicine, we lose our ability to regulate our body temperatures as well... but luckily for local seniors, places like the Huntsville/Madison County Senior Center are one of the places they can beat the heat... 

"Senior centers are a great place for those who are older to come and not only get some relaxation but also some activity and we have air conditioning so it's a great place to be," said Mayne.

Even well past the heat, it's still important to check on those seniors you know.

"It's important that you keep in touch with those that are older, a quick phone call, have a knock on the door, 'Hey, how are you doing?' because loneliness can be just as much of a medical factor as having something like a broken leg or broken arm. So please do talk to your seniors and make sure that they're okay," said Mayne.

RELATED: Yes, heat is historically the top weather-related killer in the US

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