HEALTH ALERT: Protect yourself against extreme heat

UPDATE as at 19 February 2024:

STAY INFORMED - A prolonged period of severe to extreme heat is continuing to affect this area. 

The worst of the heatwave conditions are currently at, or near, their peak and will begin to ease over the next few days. 

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WA Country Health Service is advising people in parts of the Kimberley – including West Kimberley, Dampier Peninsula and those travelling inland between Broome and Derby - to prepare for extreme heat.

A heatwave is forecast in these areas from now for at least three days.

Health safety advice:

• Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.
• Close your windows and draw blinds, curtains, or awnings early in the day to keep the heat out of your home.
• If available, use fans or air-conditioners to keep cool.
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Fluids include water, diluted juice (mixed with water) and low sugar sports drinks.
• Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks (including tea, coffee, and energy 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 information on staying safe during a heatwave visit HealthyWA - Heatwaves and Working Safely in Hot Conditions.

For the latest heatwave forecast visit Bureau of Meteorology