
Heatwaves not only affect your daily activities, but can be a serious risk to your health and wellbeing.
It's not just another hot day. Heatwaves and hot weather kill more people in Australia than bushfires, cyclones and any other hazard, so it's important to adapt your activities and have a plan to keep cool. They can affect both our physical and our mental health.
Heatwaves can be dangerous for anyone, but they're especially dangerous for older people, young children, outdoor workers and people with a medical condition. However, there are lots of things you can do to help yourself – and your family, friends, neighbours and pets - beat the heat and keep cool this summer.
If you or someone you know shows signs of heat stroke (fits, confusion, staggering), call 000 immediately. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency and can cause a person to collapse or fall unconscious.
Here are some tips on how to identify the signs and symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion and what you should do.
If you or someone you know feels as though the heat is affecting your mental health (feeling more anxious, having disturbing thoughts), seek help. Seek help from caregivers, or crisis lines (Lifeline 13 11 14) if the situation becomes challenging to manage.
file_download Download the How to prepare for a heatwave fact sheet.
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