Translate
With hot weather predicted across the state this summer, Tasmanians are being urged to stay heat smart and know how to keep themselves, their families and others healthy and safe.
Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Scott McKeown, said that while Tasmania is traditionally associated with cooler weather, the hot days we anticipate over summer can cause serious illness, which can be life-threatening for some.
“Hot summers increase the risk of heat-related illness – especially for those at higher risk such as pregnant women, older and very young Tasmanians, and people with chronic illnesses,” Dr McKeown said.
“It’s important that everyone in the community knows how to prepare for hot weather as it approaches and know how to protect themselves and others on those hotter days. This is especially important for people at higher risk and those who support them.”
Tasmanians can stay healthy and safe by following a few simple steps to reduce the chance of illness due to hot weather:
- Plan your day to minimise strenuous activities and time spent outside, especially during the hottest part of the day.
- Limit your time in the sun and wear light coloured, long, loose-fitting clothing, a hat and sunscreen.
- Use fans or air-conditioners and draw blinds and curtains to keep the heat out.
- Keep windows and doors closed if it’s hotter outside than inside; reopen them once the weather has cooled.
- Drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Never leave children or pets in cars and keep them out of the sun with plenty of cool water to drink.
- Check on family and relatives, friends and neighbours especially if they are at higher risk of being affected by heat.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include: sweating heavily, having a raised body temperature, feeling dizzy or faint, headache, feeling tired and lethargic, reduced appetite, feeling thirsty and having a dry mouth, rapid heart rate, passing less urine than normal, being irritable and having difficulty thinking clearly, twitching or having muscle cramps in the arms, legs or abdomen.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Luke Johnston said the long-range forecast showed Tasmania is very likely to have warmer than usual summer temperatures with a high chance of unusually warm days and nights.
"The signal is particularly strong for overnight temperatures to be well above normal this summer, which may also overlap with the expectation of higher-than-normal humidity conditions," Mr Johnston said.
"This will have an impact on the potential number of heatwave events this season.
"A heatwave is when daily maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot for three or more days in a row, considering location, recently experienced conditions and what would be considered ‘hot’ for that location.
"For example, we know people in Tasmania will experience a humid 35-degree day differently to people in Sydney.
"Overnight temperatures are important during heatwaves, because warmer temperatures overnight make it harder for the body to recover from the heat from the day. Higher humidities during the daytime also makes the temperature "feel" hotter to individuals."
The Bureau of Meteorology issues warnings for severe and extreme heatwaves.
Severe heatwaves can be challenging for vulnerable people. Extreme heatwaves are rare in Tasmania and anyone who does not take precautions to keep cool is at risk.
The Director of Public Health will review warnings from the bureau and other health risk factors and may issue a Public Health Advice on Heat or a Public Health Alert on Heat.
For further advice on how to stay heat smart this summer, go to: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/health-topics/environmental-health/hot-weather-and-heatwaves
For information about heatwaves and BOM’s heatwave services, visit Heatwave Knowledge Centre (bom.gov.au).