Palm Beach Gardens Nursing Home Heat Stroke Injury Lawyer

Heat stroke is considered a form of hyperthermia characterized by a dramatically elevated body temperature. If heat stroke is not properly treated, it can cause severe complications and can even lead to death. Heat stroke can occur any time the body is not able to properly cool itself.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that older adults are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses including heat stroke. Because older adults are considered an at-risk group, it is important for nursing homes and their staff to carefully monitor residents when the temperature starts rising.

The Florida state legislature has enacted numerous laws and regulations governing nursing homes and long-term care facilities in order to prevent nursing home injuries, and abuse and neglect.

If you or a loved one suffered a heat stroke while under the care of a nursing home, you should contact a Palm Beach Gardens nursing home heatstroke injury lawyer today. A dedicated nursing home abuse attorney can help you pursue damages.

Heat Injuries in Palm Beach Gardens and Safe Working Temperatures

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, those who are outdoors have the potential of developing heat-related injuries whenever the temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. OSHA has identified tiers of risks correlated with certain temperature ranges.

When the temperature is less than 91 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a relatively low risk of developing heat-related injuries. Temperatures between 91 degrees Fahrenheit and 103 degrees Fahrenheit create a moderate risk of heat-related injuries, which precautions should be taken to avoid. At temperatures between 103 degrees Fahrenheit and 115 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a high-risk level that requires additional steps to protect individuals. Temperatures over 115 degrees Fahrenheit herald a “very high to an extreme risk level that requires immediate aggressive protective measures.”

While OSHA regulations apply primarily to workers, this information is also useful and relevant to nursing home staff, since nursing home residents would be even more prone to heat-related injuries and heat stroke in these temperatures. Considering that the average temperature in Palm Beach Gardens is around 90 degrees during the summer months, this risk is particularly potent in this area.

Filing a Lawsuit for Heat Stroke Injuries

According to the Mayo Clinic, heat stroke can cause serious medical complications such as organ damage. It is important to note that heat stroke and other heat-related injuries in nursing homes are largely preventable, provided that staff members are properly caring for its residents.

Because nursing homes are required to provide their residents with appropriate care, which includes providing a regulated temperature, any time a resident has developed a heat-related injury such as heat stroke, it is important to explore whether the nursing home should be held liable.

A Palm Beach Gardens Nursing Home Heat Stroke Injury Attorney Could Help

If you or a loved one suffered a heat stroke while in the care of a nursing home, it may be important to contact a Palm Beach Gardens nursing home heat stroke lawyer as soon as possible.

A Palm Beach Gardens nursing home heat stroke lawyer could help recover compensation after a heat stroke including medical expenses, pain and suffering, and additional damages in the event of a wrongful death.

In addition, a Palm Beach Gardens nursing home heat stroke lawyer can help ensure that your rights are protected and your loved one is receiving the proper care and support they deserve.