How do Heatwaves affect our community?

Summer can already get pretty hot and humid in these parts with temperatures up around 38-45 degrees. With climate change predicting more extreme weather events, so it’s likely we’ll begin to experience more heatwaves in the future.

BEFORE – Understand the risks

What are the risks during a heatwave?

Heatwaves can result in significant health stress on vulnerable people. This stress may result in death during the heat event and, in many cases, well after the heatwave has passed. 

The people most at risk from heatwaves are:

• very young children
• older people
• people with a chronic condition or illness
• outdoor workers
• homeless people
• people living with disabilities
• people in lower socio-economic brackets
• people who are overweight

Remember animals at risk also:
make sure animals and livestock have enough water and shade

DURING A HEATWAVE

How to stay safe during a heatwave?

Health NSW provides information regarding how to prepare for a heatwave and what to do during a heatwave.

Helpful hints to stay safe during a heat wave include:

• Never leave a child or a pet alone in a hot car. On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can be as much as 30-40 degrees celsius higher than the outside temperature. That means on a 30-degree day, the temperature inside the car can be as high as 70 degrees.

• Check on friends, relatives and neighbours, particularly the vulnerable, elderly, or people with disabilities.

• Some medications can impact a person’s ability to thermoregulate for example affecting the ability to sweat. Talk to your doctor about how to use and store medicines safely during heatwaves and in hot weather.

• Drink two to three litres of water a day at regular intervals, even if you do not feel thirsty.

• Keep out of the heat as much as possible. Plan your day to keep activity to a minimum during the hottest part of the day. If you can, avoid going out in the hottest part of the day (11am–3pm).

• Stay as cool as possible. Wear appropriate clothing to suit the hot weather.
  

Consider animals/wildlife

AFTER A HEATWAVE

Medical – rest etc 

Practical – water plants!