Make a plan or suffer in extreme heat

Philip Walker, a lecturer in the paramedic program at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences in Bathurst, said extreme weather conditions can very quickly lead to life-threatening situations if people don’t take some simple steps to avoid heat exhaustion, heat stroke or dehydration.

“These conditions can make people very unwell very quickly,” he said.

“People need to be vigilant for the early signs of these conditions, such as headache, weakness, vomiting and dizziness.”

Mr Walker said signs of heat stroke could include high body temperature, red or dry skin, a dry and swollen tongue, rapid pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, confusion and nausea.

“In the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic), students are educated about the dangers of heat exposure to themselves and the public, and about the four steps to survive a heatwave,” he said.

His four steps to cope with a heatwave are to stay hydrated (including avoiding drinking alcohol and caffei-nated beverages); keep cool (including closing windows, curtains, blinds and shutters early in the day); take care of others; and make a plan.

The heatwave is causing distress all over Australia.

Melbourne is set to endure four days in a row of above-40 temperatures – the first time the city has endured such a heatwave since 1908, when there was a five-day streak above 40.

Forced blackouts were said to be possible as the high temperatures put the electricity network under strain.

Adelaide, meanwhile, is forecast to have a top of 46 today, which is perilously close to the record of 46.1 set on January 12, 1939.

The mercury reached 45.1 in Adelaide on Tuesday, and 43.7 yesterday, the third of a forecast five days of 40 or more.

The SA Ambulance Service said the heatwave had resulted in a 15 per cent increase in calls compared with the same period last year.