Maryland Nursing Home Heat Stroke Injuries Lawyer

Most people never imagine that their loved one could suffer from heat stroke while under the care of a nursing home facility, but unfortunately, these incidents sometimes occur. Nursing homes are supposed to care for their residents and provide for their basic comfort and wellbeing, but when temperatures rise and facilities are looking to cut costs, some skimp on air conditioning, or neglect to get the air conditioning system repaired if it breaks.

If your loved one suffered heat stroke in a Maryland nursing home, an experienced Maryland nursing home heat stroke injuries lawyer can help your family seek compensation. Let an experienced attorney hold the negligent nursing home facility accountable.

Heat Stroke and the Elderly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seniors over age 65 are especially susceptible to heat stroke because their bodies are less able to handle higher temperatures, and their skin is not able to cool the rest of the body as effectively as it should.

In addition, certain medications seniors are more likely to take may interfere with the body’s natural cooling mechanisms, such as perspiration.

Seniors, particularly those suffering from certain health conditions, also have trouble taking in enough hydration, and this dehydration can lead to lack of perspiration, which in turn hastens heat stroke.

Untreated heat stroke can quickly cause organ damage, dangerous inflammation throughout the body, and other potentially fatal problems. Special care should be paid to preventing heat stroke in nursing homes, especially during heat waves.

Heat Stroke in Maryland Nursing Homes

Heat stroke, also called hyperthermia, is a dangerous medical emergency and can even be fatal. It is more severe than heat cramps or heat exhaustion, and involves a core body temperature of 103 or 104 degrees, or above. Some examples of possible negligence by nursing homes in relation to heat stroke can include but are not limited to:

  • Ignoring the signs of a heat-related emergency in a patient, such as high blood pressure, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, flushed skin, confusion, seizures, vomiting, lack of sweating, altered mental state or odd behavior. These signs should be readily apparent when nursing home staff are paying adequate attention and monitoring residents’ wellbeing.
  • Not treating the heat stroke adequately, or not seeking emergency care quickly enough. While measures like giving the resident a cool bath can be helpful and even lifesaving, emergency services or follow-up medical care should be consulted. Some of the effects of heat stroke might not be immediately apparent.
  • Not heeding heat advisory warnings or taking precautions during heat waves.
  • Failing to provide backup cooling methods, such as fans, or power generators, for use during emergencies when power goes out or air conditioners break.

How a Maryland Nursing Home Heat Stroke Injuries Attorney Can Help

Regardless of how your loved one developed heat stroke, an experience Maryland nursing home heat stroke injuries lawyer can be your family’s advocate in seeking justice for the harm your relative suffered.

While no one expects nursing home facilities to be able to control the weather or heat waves, these facilities have a duty to monitor and treat potential heat stroke in residents.