HEALTH ALERT: Protect yourself against extreme heat

WA Country Health Service is advising people in parts of the East and West Pilbara, Midwest and North Interior - including Marble Bar, Telfer, Kiwirrkurra, Balgo Hills, Exmouth, Coral Bay, Gascoyne Junction, Burringurrah, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica to prepare for extreme heat.

Heatwave conditions are forecast to continue into the middle of this week.

Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and prepare now for a heatwave that may affect your area.

People travelling within the impacted areas are requested to prepare for extreme heat or consider delaying their travel for the next few 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.
• Stock up on bottled water if possible.
• Get a battery powered radio with working batteries.
• Charge mobile devices in the event there is a power outage.
• Tell elderly neighbours and other vulnerable people about the hot weather coming and assist with their preparations if possible.
• Make sure you have shelter ready and water for pets and other animals.
• 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.