2010 Fan Collection Drive Underway

The “Beat the Heat” fan collection and distribution program is underway.  “Beat the Heat” is a partnership with 10TV Show You Care, spearheaded by none other than Angela Pace, Public Affairs Director, WBNS 10TV, the Columbus Division of Fire, and LifeCare Alliance, central Ohio Meals-on-Wheels provider. 

 
The goal of the “Beat the Heat” fan collection and distribution program, is to assure people who are at grave risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion receive "new" fans for their homes. The general public is asked to help by donating fans (the program can only accept new fans because of safety issues) and taking them to the nearest fire station.  From there, the staff of LifeCare Alliance will retrieve the fans and transport them to LifeCare Alliance Meals Distribution Facility, 670 Harmon Avenue to distribute them to the individuals and/or families who need them most. 

For more than a decade, the “Beat the Heat” program has been providing this critical service to the Central Ohio community and has distributed more than 10,000 fans.

To donate to the Beat the Heat Fan Campaign, Please follow tis link 
http://LCAfans.kintera.org/

“This year more than ever, says Chuck Gehring, President and CEO of LifeCare Alliance, “the demand for fans has increased.  There are more families who are in need, many of whom have children that suffer from chronic illnesses such as asthma.  In order to meet the need in the community, we need to collect and distribute 1,000 fans.” 

If there are older adults in your neighborhoods, check on them, especially when the weather is hot and humid.  If it is too much for you, then it is too much for them.  In many cases, an older person can’t tell if it is way too hot in the house because their body’s “internal thermostat” doesn’t work as well as it once did.  Older adults and chronically ill individuals are more susceptible to heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

Heat Exhaustion                                          
Heavy sweating                                              
Paleness
Muscle Cramps
Weakness, low energy
Dizziness
Headache
Queasiness
Light-headedness

Heat Stroke
No Sweating
Red, hot,dry skin
Muscle cramps
Body temperature of 103^o or more 
Dizziness
Throbbing headache
Nausea, vomiting

If you think a person is suffering from heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately!  Offer the person a cool drink (no-alcoholic) and a cool wash cloth.

To learn how you can help the central Ohio community “Beat the Heat” or to receive a fan, please call the Customer Service department of LifeCare Alliance at 614-278-3130.