Heatwaves

As the climate changes, in Far North Queensland heatwaves are projected to become more frequent and intense, with hotter and longer hot days and nights.

Severe and extreme heatwaves have claimed more lives than any other natural hazard in Australia. In Queensland, heatwaves have led to the loss of more than 100 lives a year.

What is a Heatwave?

A heatwave is when the maximum and the minimum temperatures are unusually hot over three days. This is considered in relation to the local climate and recent past. Find out more about heatwaves from the Bureau of Meterology.

Preparing for Heatwaves

Prepare a heatwave preparation checklist to prepare yourself and your home. Talk to your relatives, neighbours and friends about staying connected during a heatwave in case you or they need help.

When creating a heatwave plan consider:

  • who to call if you need help
  • your GP’s advice if you have any medical conditions
  • seeking medical advice from your GP or nearest hospital if you feel unwell
  • where to find your emergency kit in case of a power failure
  • keeping an eye on the weather forecast
  • being prepared for bushfires.

Understand Your Health

Your health can be affected during a heatwave, especially if you have a medical condition or are more at risk of the effects of heat.

Before a heatwave, you should:

  • get advice from your GP about whether your medical condition will be affected by extreme heat
  • talk to your GP about how much water you should drink in hot weather, especially if your fluids are normally limited
  • know who to call and make a list of people and telephone numbers.

Know Your Medications

Many prescribed medications can worsen the risk of heat-related illness so talk to your pharmacist about how your medications could affect your health in the heat. It is important to remember that medications can become less effective or occasionally toxic when overheated and most medications need to be stored at a temperature below 25°C. Talk to your pharmacist if you are unsure about storage temperatures.

Prepare Your Home

Preparing your home for a heatwave helps keep you and your loved ones safe.

To prepare your home for a heatwave:

  • Check fridges, freezers, fans and air-conditioners work properly.
  • Set air-conditioning to cool.
  • Stock up on food for your household and pets, and medicines to last up to a week so you do not have to go outside.
  • Ensure you have enough drinking water.
  • Keep cool packs in the fridge or freezer to help you cool down.
  • Fill spray bottles with cool water to spray on your face and body.
  • Prepare a small emergency kit in case of a power failure — this could include a torch, batteries, candles, matches, battery-operated radio and first aid kit.
  • Check your home can be ventilated with cross breezes without compromising security.
  • Install, update or adapt curtains or blinds.
    • Choose curtains with pale linings in rooms that get a lot of sun to help reflect the heat.
    • Avoid dark reflective curtain linings and metal Venetian blinds as they absorb heat and may make rooms hotter.
    • Shade your windows in the heat of the day, especially west-facing windows.
    • Consider external awnings or blinds, shutters, shade cloth or other materials to prevent the sun shining on windows.
    • Insulate your house to help it keep cool in summer.

Keeping Cool

Keeping cool and your temperature down is the priority to staying safe and healthy during heatwaves. Remember to check on those at greater risk for heat illness including:

  • older adults
  • children
  • people with medical conditions
  • people without air-conditioning
  • people working outside.

When it gets hot:

  • stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm
  • stay hydrated and drink lots of cool water
  • keep your home cool with fans and/or air-conditioning set to cool
  • wear lightweight, sun-smart clothing
  • go to a cool or shady place like shopping centres and cinemas.

Heat-Related Illness

Your body temperature must stay between 36.1 and 37.8˚C and you may develop signs of heat-related illness if your body rises above this.

Heat-related illness occurs when the body absorbs too much heat. This may happen slowly over a day or two of very hot weather.

Overheating

The signs of overheating are:

  • nausea
  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • thirst
  • cramps.

If you have these symptoms, stop what you are doing and tell someone how you are feeling. Try to get cool by drinking small sips of cool (not cold) water, sit in the shade or in a cool building, and remove hot clothing. Act quickly to avoid serious or even fatal effects of fully developed heatstroke.

Heat Stress

The signs of heat stress are:

  • rising body temperature
  • dry mouth and eyes
  • headache
  • shortness of breath
  • nausea or vomiting
  • absence of tears when crying (children).

Take immediate action to cool down including:

  • rest in a cool, shaded place
  • drink water or suck ice chips
  • have a cool shower or bath, or apply cool wet towels to your body

If symptoms persist after one hour, seek medical attention. Act quickly to avoid serious or even fatal effects of fully developed heatstroke.

Heatstroke

The signs of heatstroke are:

  • rapid or weak pulse
  • fast and shallow breathing
  • dry and swollen tongue, trouble speaking, slurred speech
  • problems concentrating and/or coordinating movements
  • aggressive or strange behaviour
  • dizziness, confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness
  • sudden rise in body temperature
  • hot, dry and possibly red skin, possibly with no sweat
  • headache, nausea and/or vomiting.
  • intense thirst.

Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you or someone has these symptoms.

Keeping Cool & Safe After a Heatwave

Continue to care for yourself and monitor for symptoms when the temperature drops.

  • Continue to drink plenty of fluids.
  • Take time to rest and recover as coping with extremely hot weather can be tiring.
  • Contact your GP if you feel unwell.
  • Open windows and doors to cool your house.
  • Contact family and friends to see if they need help.
  • Consider how well you coped and what you could do differently next time.
  • Make changes in your home so it will be more comfortable during extreme heat.

More Information