Heatwave Health Advice

Heat stress, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are potentially serious health risks for people during a heatwave.

In heatwaves, significant increases in mortality can occur due especially in those >65years old and more vulnerable groups
Deaths have occurred at home, in residential care facilities and in hospitals

Heatwaves can affect any of us, but those most at risk are:

Babies and children
People >65 years old
People with underlying health conditions including problems with breathing, heart, kidneys and diabetes
People with Alzheimer’s and dementia

Keep your indoor environment cool:

Minimise unnecessary heating - turn off central heating, electrical equipment and lights that are not needed
Keep out the heat - increase shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight
Use natural ventilation such as open windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside (e.g at night) and where it is safe and secure to do so
Increase air flow through buildings wherever possible
If you are using air conditioning, make sure it is using a fresh air supply, which is important to prevent spread of Covid-19
Electric fans need to be used with caution, as they may not be safe for higher temperatures and should not be used where a person may be incubating or a case of Covid-19

Evaporative cooling – dampening your skin may help keep you cool

Make sure you have enough water to drink. It is important to stay hydrated
You might like to leave to drinks in the fridge
An adult needs approximately 2 litres of liquid over 24 hours. This may be less for smaller people or those with medical conditions

Drink more fluids when you feel any dehydration symptoms. The best fluids to drink are water or oral rehydration sachets – chat to your pharmacist about how to use these safely.
Drink enough during the day so your pee is a pale clear colour.

The person you are caring for may not have a sense of how much they're drinking.

To help them:

make sure they drink during mealtimes
make drinking a social thing, like "having a cup of tea"
offer them food with a high water content – for example, ice cream or jellies, or fruits like melon

Contact your GP or the Emergency Department if you are unwell and especially if you

These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment.