During extreme heat it is easy to become dehydrated or for your body to overheat. Heat can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, trigger sudden events like heart attack or stroke, or worsen existing medical conditions like kidney or lung disease.
Extreme heat can affect anybody. Those more at-risk include people over the age of 65, babies and young children, pregnant women, people with acute or chronic health problems and people who are socially isolated.
How to cope and stay safe in extreme heat
- Keep cool: use air conditioning or a fan, wear light and loose-fitting clothing, and keep skin wet, using a spray bottle or damp sponge and by taking cool showers.
- Stay hydrated: during days of extreme heat, keep drinking water before you feel thirsty, especially if outdoors or performing physical activity.
- Plan ahead: Cancel or reschedule activities for the coolest part of the day and avoid exercising and being outdoors in the heat.
- Check in with others. Let family, friends and neighbours know you are OK or check in with those at increased risk or who may need your support during days of extreme heat.
- Monitor the weather forecast and the Bureau of Meteorology Heatwave warnings online or via the Bureau’s app. Subscribe to receive Department of Health heat health warnings.