General information, not medical advice. The official places to check are WA Health and HealthyWA, the WA Department of Health’s public site.
Severe symptoms in the heat: HealthyWA says to always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance in a medical emergency.
For the signs of heat illness and what to do, follow the advice on HealthyWA’s heatwave page and the pages it links. This guide does not repeat that advice.
WA Health warns that extreme heat brings illness with it, naming dehydration, heat stress and heat stroke. It says extreme heat events are becoming more common across Western Australia, and that some people need to take extra care in hot weather.
What counts as a heatwave
HealthyWA describes a heatwave as a stretch of three or more days when the minimum and maximum temperatures at a place are much hotter than usual. WA Health’s own page gives the same idea without the day count. Neither ties it to one region: HealthyWA says a heatwave can happen anywhere, which matters in a state that spans five building climate zones.
The Bureau of Meteorology runs a national heatwave service with a map of where heatwave conditions are forecast, and explains its “three levels of heatwave intensity”: low, severe and extreme.
Why WA Health takes it seriously
WA Health calls heatwaves a serious public health issue, noting they have caused more deaths in Australia over the past 200 years than any other natural hazard. It links the growing number of extreme heat events in WA to a projected rise in heat-related deaths, with knock-on effects for communities, infrastructure and services. Under the state’s hazard plan for heatwaves, the Department of Health has overall responsibility for emergency management, while prevention, preparedness and recovery fall to individual agencies.
Who needs extra care
WA Health says extreme heat can affect everyone, but that some people are more vulnerable and need extra care to avoid heat-related illness. HealthyWA keeps separate pages on the people at higher risk during a heatwave and on caring for someone through extreme heat, both linked from its heatwave page. If you care for someone through hot weather, those two pages are the place to start.
For people who experience thermoregulatory dysfunction, WA runs a subsidy to help with the energy costs of controlling the temperature at home under medical advice. The rebates guide covers it.
Where WA’s warnings are published
HealthyWA asks people to keep up with current heatwave alerts on Emergency WA and with forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology. Its heatwave page also lists the Bureau’s weather app and the Department of Health’s social media accounts as places alerts appear. WA Health’s extreme heat page links to Emergency WA’s current heatwave alerts and to the Bureau’s heatwave service for Western Australia. For households that read more comfortably in another language, HealthyWA says community resources and translated information are available to download as fact sheets.
- BeforeHealthyWA’s “Prepare for a heatwave” page covers readying yourself, your family and your home.
- DuringIts “During a heatwave” page covers staying safe and healthy while it lasts.
- AfterIts “After a heatwave” page covers staying healthy once the heat breaks.
Where an air conditioner fits
Your Home says “Air-conditioning can be useful in extreme heatwaves, and when passive ventilation techniques are hampered by poor external air quality such as bushfire smoke.” energy.gov.au adds a practical point for very hot forecasts: “you can beat the heat by turning on your air conditioner before it gets really hot. The system won’t have to work as hard when the outside air temperature is cooler.”
Once it is on, energy.gov.au’s advice is to cool only the rooms you need: close internal doors, and when choosing where an air conditioner goes, pick a room that seals easily and is insulated. Running a fan with the air conditioner may help by moving the chilled air around the room. Outside, keep the space above the outdoor unit clear for airflow; shade can make it less likely to overheat.
Remember the animals too. energy.gov.au asks that pets have cool indoor spaces out of direct sun with plenty of water, and warns: “If the ground is too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for theirs.”
Getting help
energy.gov.au puts it plainly: “Heat stroke and dehydration are very serious conditions and require medical attention.” HealthyWA’s list of where to get help starts with triple zero (000) for severe symptoms, then your healthcare practitioner, then healthdirect.
If your cooling is not keeping up before summer arrives, Your Home’s advice is to service heaters and coolers according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A licensed technician can look at the system for you.