Emergency services are urging people to keep cool as the Hunter prepares to face extremely hot temperatures on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In Newcastle, the mercury is tipped to hit 37 degrees and 39 degrees at Toronto.
During a similar heatwave event in 2011, NSW Health reported a 13 per cent rise in mortality across the state as well as a 14 per cent increase in emergency department admissions.
“We know that conditions like these can cause severe illness, hospital admission and even deaths,” Richard Broome, director of environmental health at NSW Health, said. “It's vitally important that people take these warnings and take really simple precautions to protect themselves from the heat.”
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Anita Pyne said on Thursday afternoon that Friday continued to shape as the hottest day of the heatwave, with some areas experiencing sustained heat for the first time since they began measurements.
“We are expecting this heat to continue through Thursday and Friday with the possibility to see some more temperature records broken, not only maximum temperature records but also hottest overnight records as well,” Ms Pyne said.
“Throughout NSW I’m expecting it to be above average by quite a long way [on Friday].”
Police are also concerned about people leaving children and animals unattended in cars, even for a short period, as the heatwave worsens.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has declared a total fire ban across the Hunter on Friday, and warned that the fire danger would be “very high”.
ALSO READ: How to help heat-stressed animals
Heatwaves or long periods of extreme heat can have serious impacts on people’s health and planning ahead is vital, NSW Health says.
During extremely hot weather, it is easy to become dehydrated (lose too much water from your body) or for your body to overheat.
If this happens people can develop heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke.
“Heat-related illness includes dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and worsening of existing medical conditions,” NSW Health said.
“Everyone needs to take care in hot weather but some people are at higher risk of heat illness, especially if they live alone or are socially isolated.”
The following people are most at risk:
- Those over the age of 75
- Infants and young children
- Overweight or obese
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Not very mobile
- Not drinking enough water
- Living by themselves or homeless
- Socially isolated
- Working in a hot environment (for example labourers, gardeners, fire fighters)
- Exercising vigorously in the heat
- People who have a chronic illness such as: heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer or kidney disease, mental illness, dementia, alcohol or other drug use
- People who have an acute illness such as: an infection with fever, gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting)
How to stay healthy in the heat
Drink plenty of water
- Drink plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty – check the colour of your wee – if it’s pale you’re drinking enough (check out the urine colour chart).
- If your doctor normally limits your fluids, check how much to drink during hot weather.
- Avoid alcoholic, hot or sugary drinks including tea and coffee (they can make dehydration worse).
- If you go outside, carry a bottle of water with you.
- Stock your fridge with cold water and freezer with ice.
Keep cool
- Drink cold drinks and eat smaller cold meals such as salads and fruit.
- Wear light coloured, loose fitting clothes made from natural fibres like cotton.
- Stay out of the sun.
- If you must go outside, apply sunscreen, wear a hat.
- Plan your day around the heat – avoid being outdoors between 11am and 5pm.
- Put wet towels or cool packs on your arms or neck or put your feet in cool water.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Minimise physical activity, do all household chores early in the morning when it is cools
Keep your house cool
- Cool your house by closing windows, shutting curtains and blinds, opening windows at night if you can to let in cool air.
- Use air-conditioning if you have it (make sure it’s set to cool).
- If you don’t have air-conditioning, spend time in a cool place like a library, shopping centre or cinema.
- Know which room in your house is the coolest (this will often be on the ground floor on the south side).
- If there is no power or you can’t get to an air-conditioned space, spend time in the coolest part of your house.
- Use your stove and oven as little as possible.
Take care of others
- Visit or telephone elderly friends, neighbours and relatives, at least once a day.
- Check that they have water in the fridge.
- Encourage them to drink.
- Help them to find the coolest room in the house.
- Consider taking them to a cool place (e.g. shopping centre, library or cinema).
- Take particular care to keep children cool and get them to drink lots as they won’t often do this by themselves.
- Never leave babies, children or animals alone in a car even if the air-conditioner is on.
Have a plan
- Know who to call if you need help.
- Follow your doctor’s advice if you have any medical conditions.
- If you feel unwell, seek medical advice from your doctor or nearest hospital.
- Know where to find your emergency kit in case of a power failure.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast.
- Know what to do in case of a bushfire. Information on bushfire preparedness is available from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
After the heat has passed
- Continue to drink plenty of fluids so your body can get back in balance.
- Take time to rest and recover as coping with extremely hot weather can be very tiring.
- Go to your doctor if you feel unwell after the heat has passed.
- Open windows and doors to let your house cool down but make sure you don’t compromise the security of your home.
- Contact family and friends to see if they have coped during the heat and if they now need help with anything.
- Think about how well you coped during this time of extreme heat and what, if anything, you would do differently next time.
- Make any changes in your home so it will be more comfortable for you during another time of extreme heat (see How to prepare for a heat wave).