Beat The Heat – How To Prepare For Hot Weather

Posted on by

Hot-Weather first aidWith temperatures across New South Wales expected to soar over the next couple of days, the Ambulance Service has released great tips on how to beat this extreme weather. Ambulance Chief Superintendent Ian Johns says the heat will affect everyone and it’s important not to under-estimate the heat and over-estimate your ability.

It is very good that families across NSW have developed a Bushfire Survival Plan – it is now time for everyone to prepare a personal Extreme Weather Plan as well. Make no mistake, everyone in the community should understand heat can kill – Sunburn, dehydration and heat exposure can lead to heat stroke. That’s why people need to plan today for tomorrow, remembering three key messages

1.    Review Your Activity: Plan today for tomorrow. 

  • Reschedule any non-necessary activity, particularly in the hottest part of the day.
  • Those who are elderly, chronically unwell or very young are at greater risk.
  • Know your limitations.

2.    Water is the Drink of Choice:

  • Drink regular, small amounts of water all day, starting in the early morning.
  • Drink more water if you have to be outside or undertaking heavy activity.
  • Drink alcohol, tea and coffee in moderation; all of these potentially increase dehydration.
  • Waiting until you feel unwell and then drinking large amounts is too late – large amounts of water at once can lead to vomiting – that makes the situation worse.

3.    Make Contact in Your Community:

  • Take a few minutes to make contact with family, friends and neighbours at higher risk of adverse outcomes in the heat. Dehydration in the frail can rapidly cause confusion resulting in a fall that could easily break a hip. This could lead to a permanent loss of independent living, or worse.

Dr Richard Broome, Medical Advisor, Environmental Health said Australians are accustomed to hot weather and generally consider themselves resilient to such conditions. He said experience tells us these kinds of temperatures can be deadly. While the hot weather is only expected to last one day, it’s important for people to monitor the weather forecast throughout summer and take sensible precautions when it’s expected to be hot.

It’s also important people working in excessively hot environments, such as in roof cavities, can suffer a rapid and extreme escalation of body temperature which can lead to instant death.

People are also urged to use all the air-conditioning and cooling devices at hand as paramedics will sometimes attend people’s homes to treat them for heat exhaustion, only to find fans and air conditioning units that might bring relief were not turned on.

Courtesy of Ambulance Service of NSW

Comments are closed.

Stranger Revives Snorkler With CPR
Do CPR Charts Really Help?

Disclaimer

The information in this post is general. It does not constitute, and should be not relied on as medical advice. Information does not imply endorsement and all users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

While Coastal First Aid tries to ensure that the content of this post is accurate, adequate or complete, it does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy or completeness. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change.

Coastal First Aid may provide external links from its web site. In providing these links, Coastal First Aid does not accept responsibility for or endorse the content or condition of any linked site.

Coastal First Aid is not responsible for any loss suffered as a result of or in relation to the use of this information. To the extent permitted by law, Coastal First Aid excludes any liability, including any liability for negligence, for any loss, including indirect or consequential damages arising from or in relation to the use of this information post.