Take heat seriously
Extreme heat can kill. Heat-related illness can range from mild conditions such as a rash or cramps to very serious conditions such as heat stroke, which is potentially fatal. Heat can also make an existing medical condition worse, for example heart disease.
Heat-related illness can affect anybody, including the young and healthy, however people over 65, particularly those living alone, the very young and those with a pre-existing medical condition are most at risk.
Elderly people are more prone to heat stress than younger people because their body may not adjust well to sudden or prolonged temperature change. They are also more likely to have a chronic medical condition and be taking medication that may interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Plan ahead
If a heatwave is predicted, there are some things you can do to prepare:
- Consider how you will keep your house cool and how you could make it cooler, for example by installing external blinds on the sides of the house facing the sun
- Think of friends, family or neighbours who might be vulnerable and how you could care for the
- Check that your fan or air-conditioner work well
Reschedule or reconsider any plans that will involve a lot of sun exposure
- Think about what you would do if a heatwave caused power failures or disruptions to public transport.
- When the heat hits
- Stay cool indoors – keep air circulating around you. Use air-conditioning or a fan if possible. Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath. Stay out of the sun as much as you can. Indoors is best.
Keep up your fluids – you need to drink more water during hot weather, regardless of how active you are. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Drink plenty of water or other cool, non-alcoholic fluids. Avoid alcohol or drinks that contain lots of sugar.
- Protect yourself outside – if you must be outdoors, remember to protect yourself from the sun – stick to the shade, ‘slip, slop, slap’ by covering exposed skin with lightweight clothes, using sunscreen and wearing a hat, ‘seek’ shade and ‘slide’ on sunglasses.
- Take it easy – whether it’s work or play, too much physical activity on a hot day can lead to heat stress. If you can, restrict activity or travel to cooler parts of the day.
- Do not leave anyone in a parked car – even on cool days or if the windows are left open a fraction. Cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Children, the elderly and pets that are left unattended in parked cars for even a few minutes are at risk of serious heat-related illnesses and possibly death.
- Watch out for others – Remember to check in with others regularly that might have trouble coping in the heat – a phone call can make all the difference.Find out how to stay healthy in the heat by visiting [insert council website if appropriate] www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
