Heatwaves
Heat kills more Australians than any other disaster. But there are ways to keep safe if you know the risks, and what you can do to look after yourself and others.
Extreme heat (higher than usual temperatures) and heatwaves (extended periods of extreme heat) can exacerbate heat health risks for everyone, but particularly those vulnerable to heat.
How do you know if you are Vulnerable?
Everyone is vulnerable to heat, but there are some circumstances and conditions that increase people’s risks including:
- People over the age of 65, babies and young children, pregnant women, people with acute or chronic health problems and people who are socially isolated.
- If you have existing medical conditions or take medications that impact your body’s ability to manage heat
- If you are outside in hot weather without taking precautions
- If your home doesn’t have good cooling
- If you are isolated – not in touch with people, accessing emergency alerts or able to travel if your home is too hot or unsafe due to other risks
Extreme heat events can also affect community infrastructure such as power supply, public transport and other services. Meaning that it’s important to always have a Plan B for these scenarios when there is extreme heat.
How can I stay SAFE?
- Stay hydrated – including carrying water with you and having stored water available if power outages affect your water supply. Wet a light towel, wear it around your neck to help bring your temperature down, or rest your feet in cool water when you are sitting down.
- Avoid being out in the sun – use airconditioning, fans or block out blinds to keep your home cool, catch the cooler breezes at night, and consider cool spaces like swimming pools, where you can go to cool down
- Friends – keep in touch with others when it is hot, let them know how you are and share tips on how to keep cool. If you have air-conditioning but a friend doesn’t, you could invite them over for some cool relief.
- Emergencies – get alerts and updates from the VicEmergency app or ABC radio. Remember hot weather can lead to power outages or fire risks. Your risk of harm from severe heat is worsened by fires and smoke. If fire is likely then plan to leave early or simply take the chance to be away, somewhere safer with friends.
For information about caring for pets and animals and preventing them from suffering heatstroke, visit the RSPCA website.
For 24-hour health advice contact Nurse-on-Call - 1300 60 60 24. For life-threatening emergencies phone 000 (triple zero).
Find out more on the Better Health Channel.
During heatwaves, Hepburn Shire’s pools will extend their hours. Subscribe to the Council newsletter for updates about other options during extreme heat, but remember, that fire and heat risks often combine, so always stay alert and plan to leave early if that occurs.
Heatwave HELP (Heat Emergency Local People)
Why all this information? Because we know there is a lot that individuals and local communities can do to keep heat safe. In 2024 – 2026 Hepburn Shire Council was involved in a two-year pilot called Heatwave HELP designed to boost people’s capacity across our shire to keep safe. Heatwave HELP was a collaboration in the Grampians region aimed at reducing illness and death caused by extreme heat. It is funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments under the National Partnership Agreement for Disaster Risk Reduction.
There are some great resources available including:
Interested in learning more about Heat Safety? Here is a quick training model you can do for yourself or with your employees or community group members. If you are a health practitioner (or just interested!) here is a short video you can watch.
View our short film about some of the outcomes achieved by communities across the shire to keep people safe from extreme heat.
More information on extreme heat.