Communities urged to keep safe during power outage

WA Country Health Service is encouraging Wheatbelt and Goldfields communities to keep safe and well as temperatures rise during power outage.

While there are widespread power outages across Wheatbelt and Goldfields communities, our hospitals and health services remain and open and operational – do not delay accessing care.

As it heats up, it’s also important you take steps to keep safe:

• Seek a place to keep cool.
• Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains, or awnings to keep the heat out of your home.
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks as these can increase dehydration.
• Limit time outdoors. If you need to go outside, try to do so in the early morning or late evening. If you do go outside make sure to put on a hat and sunglasses, apply sunscreen and try to stay in the shade.
• When outdoors, wear lightweight, light-coloured, and loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
• Sleep with just a sheet over you in the coolest part of the house. Remove winter bedding and replace it with lightweight, cotton bedding.
• Wrap medications needing refrigeration in foil or heat repellent containers with an icepack to keep them cool if there is a power outage.

For more information visit: Heatwaves – be prepared for extreme heat (healthywa.wa.gov.au)