Heatwaves are periods of unusually hot weather over at least three days that can impact human health, infrastructure and services.
High overnight temperatures are what makes heatwaves so dangerous because our bodies can't cool down. It's also what makes a heatwave different from just a hot summer day.
Heatwaves can dehydrate you and make you feel unwell. Here's how to avoid the impacts of a severe heatwave.
Keep the heat out of your house
- Practice night purging — Open your windows at night if you can to clear the hot air out, and then shut the house up early before the sun is up to retain that cool air inside.
- Keep the sun out — Having curtains or blinds and keeping them closed will help reduce the day's heat, especially with windows that face the sun.
Keep yourself cool
- Focus on cooling yourself — Sitting in front of an electric fan will keep you cool, even if your house is warm. Make sure you're drinking extra water to prevent dehydration.
- Spray yourself with water — Wetting your skin will help cool you down and prevent dehydration. You can also dip your feet into water to cool off; just make sure your feet and the floor are dry afterwards to prevent slipping accidents.
- Wet your clothes — Wetting your clothes will cool you down without needing to sweat. Just remember to wet your clothes about once an hour.
- Stay hydrated — Avoid caffeine and alcohol and aim to drink a small cup of cool water (200mL) every 15 to 20 minutes. Cool rather than cold water is best to avoid stomach cramps.
- Take note when visiting the toilet — Have a look at the colour of your urine when using the toilet. A light shade indicates you're hydrated, while darker urine means you need to drink more water.
- Cover up if you're out in the sun — Protect yourself outside. If you need to be out in the sun, wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunburn will affect your body's ability to cope with the heat.
- Seek air conditioning — If you don't have air conditioning at home, spend the day somewhere that does like a library, cinema or shopping centre. If you do have an air conditioner at home, make sure it has been serviced and has clean filters.
Check on family, friends and neighbours and animals
- Keep a close eye on the vulnerable people in your life — Heatwaves pose the most risk to the elderly, pregnant and very young people. People who are fit and well can also be affected, so remind the very active people in your life to take it easy during the warmest part of the day.
- Make sure your pets are OK — Provide plenty of shade and enough water to last the entire day. Putting ice cubes in their bowl will help keep their water cool for longer. Check on them regularly. If you live in an area with lots of wildlife, you can leave shallow dishes of water around your property.
Look out for warnings
Agencies such as the Bureau of Meteorology and your State Emergency Service will work together to issue heatwave alerts.
Be on the lookout for alerts related to heat health (generally issued by the chief health officer), extreme heat or about transport disruptions.
The Bureau of Meteorology now forecasts heatwaves between the start of November and the end of March using maps showing colour-coded heatwave severity for the previous two three-day periods and the next five three-day periods.
Your local doctor, hospital or health professional is a source of advice if in doubt.