Heatstroke and Harm: Protecting Vulnerable Populations from Summer Heat

As the summer heat intensifies across New York State, so do the heightened risks of heat-related dangers, especially for individuals receiving services.  

In this episode, we sit down with two staff members from the Justice Center – Tracey Sosa, Assistant Director of Prevention and Quality Improvement at the agency, and Tabitha Purcell, a Quality of Care Facility Review Specialist and a Registered Nurse – to tackle the significant risk of heat illness among vulnerable populations.

Our conversation emphasizes the importance of staff training on sun safety policies, maintaining proper supervision, and recognizing the early signs of heat-related illness. We'll explore how distractions can lead to missed checks and the vital need for staff to act quickly and appropriately when an individual shows signs of distress.

We'll also put our guests to the test at the end of our program, using a real-case scenario as a training exercise. 

Watch the full episode!

Full Transcript

Featured Guest

• Tracey Sosa, Assistant Director of Prevention and Quality Improvement at the agency
• Tabitha Purcell, a Quality of Care Facility Review Specialist and a Registered Nurse

Resources

• Could This Happen In Your Program Toolkit, Heat Illness
• Best Practices for Providing Supervision
• Medical Emergencies
• Best Practices for Effective Medical Care