We all need to stay safe during the heat wave, but there are some members of Our Community who need to take particular care including:

• Mob with a medical condition
• bubs and jarjum
• Elders
• pregnant + breastfeeding women

If you’re one of these Mob, stay out of the heat, rest regularly, and keep your body cool.  If you know someone who is at risk, check in on them.

There’s a lot we can do to be ready for a heatwave before they happen.  

• Make ice cubes using trays
• Keep water in bottles in the fridge or freezer for cool drinks
• Wear lightweight, loose, light coloured clothing outdoors
• Wear wide-brim hats to shade yourself from the sun
• Plan for power outages – spend time in cool room and use a handheld fan
• Keep an eye on the temperature in your home
• If your house is too hot, plan to go somewhere cooler like shopping centres, libraries, or swimming pools, especially during the middle of the day.
• Know who to call if you become unwell during a heatwave

How to prepare your home

• If you don’t have aircon keep your curtains closed, shut your windows, and turn on the fan when it’s warmer outside.
• Check ceiling fans and aircons are clean and working
• If you don’t have a ceiling fan or aircon, consider buying a pedestal or desk fan
• If you can, shade your windows by hanging shade cloth outside, or by planting trees or shrubs.

Stay out of the heat

• Find a cool place to go if it’s too hot at home.
• Exercise or do outside activities early in the morning or later in the evening
• Stay indoors if it’s cool enough
• Rest in the coolest parts of your home
• If you have an appointment, try rescheduling or check if you can do by phone

Stay cool

• Drink cold water, unless advised by your doctor
• Limit alcohol as it can dehydrate you.
• Eat cool foods and avoid using your oven as it can make your house hotter
• Keep an eye on the colour of your urine. If it’s dark in colour, or you’re not going to the toilet often, it means you need to drink more water
• Cool down with ice, cold cloths or cool showers
• Wear light, loose clothing and protect yourself from the sun

If you have a heat illness, you may feel sick and experience headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. 

If you, or someone you know is really crook with a heat related illness:

• Call 000 immediately
• Lay down in a cool spot
• Remove as much clothing as possible
• Drink water if you can swallow
• If possible, get into a cold shower or bath, or cover yourself with a wet sheet to cool down.

We recommend you check with those most at risk including Elders, Mob with a medical condition, Mob who work outside and pregnant and breastfeeding women for at least three days.

Keep drinking water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Be careful around trees – they often drop limbs when it’s hot.