Extreme heat on the way: what you can do to stay safe
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Victoria Weather and Warnings (bom.gov.au) has issued a Heatwave Warning for parts of Victoria. Extreme heat can affect anyone, so it’s important to take steps to stay safe and look out for others.
Check the latest updates:
Visit the Bureau of Meteorology Heatwave Service for current warnings. Forecasts are updated daily around 3pm.
Why this matters
Heatwaves can lead to serious health risks, especially for people over 65, babies and young children, pregnant women and anyone with chronic health conditions.
What you can do
There are steps you can take to protect yourself and others:
- Stay cool. Use air conditioning or fans, wear light clothing, and take cool showers. If your home is hot, consider visiting an air-conditioned space like a library or shopping centre.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water – even before you feel thirsty.
- Check in. Contact friends, family or neighbours who may be at risk including those who are socially isolated or have limited ways to keep cool.
- Plan ahead. Schedule outdoor activities for cooler times of the day.
- Never leave anyone in a hot car. Temperatures inside a parked car can double within minutes.
Need help?
If you feel unwell, seek help.
- Call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24
- Access the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department
- In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000)
Heading to the beach?
Swimming is a great way to cool off, but it requires smart choices or else it can end in tragedy.
To protect yourself from getting into trouble in the water:
- Only swim at a patrolled beach with other people, and always stay between the red and yellow flags. The BeachSafe website and app show nearby patrolled beaches and where there might be hazards in the water.
- If you’re a weak swimmer or someone in your group is, choose a council pool with a lifeguard on duty instead of the beach, or use lifejackets.
- Rips are the number one beach hazard, and they can be unpredictable and dangerous even for confident swimmers. Do you know how to recognise a rip and what to do if you’re caught in one?
- Know your limits. You may think you’re capable in the water but don’t overestimate your abilities. Veteran lifesaver Dr Shayne Baker says that a strong swimmer is someone who swims at least 12–16 kilometres a week.
- Never swim after you’ve had alcohol or drugs. Research by the Royal Life Saving Society Australia found 23% of drowning deaths each year record a blood BAC ≥0.05%, on average.
- If someone you’re with gets into trouble, seek expert help and don’t try to rescue them yourself. Bystander rescues often involve the death of both the person attempting the rescue and the person in trouble.
- Be Sunsmart. Don’t get complacent with sun protection – the UV rays can get very dangerously high in Australia during the summer months, resulting in painful sunburns and a heightened risk of skin cancer down the track. Find out more about sun safety in Australia.
Stay safe, stay cool – and please keep an eye on those around you.