Victorians warned to keep cool

It has been a sizzling season in southern Australia including Adelaide and Melbourne. Heatwave is terrible for some people. One thing we can learn from this most disliked phenomenon is that we are reminded by the breezing autumn and the chilly winter. Every season has its own beauty. It depends on how we show our gratitude to God for His amazing creativity.



The warning is out: Saturday in Victoria is going to be a stinker and emergency services will have their hands full coping with casualties from the heat.

Victorian ambulance crews are on their second highest level of emergency response as the state faces searing weekend heat.

The elderly, frail and sick, young hospitality workers and even racehorses are among those identified as vulnerable to heat stress with the mercury forecast to soar to 43 degrees in Melbourne and 46 in the state's north.

Ambulance Victoria Operations Manager Paul Holman urged Victorians, particularly the frail or elderly, to stay indoors on Saturday unless absolutely necessary.

"Tomorrow, if you don't need to travel stay indoors," Mr Holman said.

He said extra crews had been rostered on in addition to more staff at the ambulance communication centre to handle an expected rise in calls for assistance.

He said ambulance services had a huge increase in callouts during last week's heatwave, much of it due to people being alone.

Victoria's chief health officer John Carnie urged communities and carers to check on vulnerable people.

"Those most at risk are people over 65 years, particularly those living alone without air conditioning, infants, pregnant women and nursing mothers, people who are unwell, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure and people on medications for mental illness," Dr Carnie said in a statement.

"Evidence has shown that excess mortality amongst the elderly population occurs when extremely hot days are followed by high overnight temperatures."

Effects of heat-related illnesses can range from mild conditions such as a rash or cramp to serious conditions such as heat stroke which can kill, he said.

People should limit outdoor activity to morning or evening hours, protect themselves from the sun and stay hydrated.

WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said employers had a legal responsibility to monitor the health of their workers, some of whom included young workers who comprised a high proportion of the weekend workforce and who may attempt to "tough it out".

"In difficult conditions like extremes of heat, these characteristics can lead to serious health problems," he added.

Work may have to be rescheduled, longer or more frequent breaks may be necessary and access to drinking water is essential, he said.

Victorians were also warned to watch their water use after daily consumption rose to 241 litres per person during last week's heatwave, but Water Minister Tim Holding urged people to make health their priority.

Mr Holding said the weather caused a massive jump from the average 172 litres used since the state government's Target 155 campaign was launched in November.

Saturday's forecast hit horseracing in Victoria, with meetings at Caulfield and Bendigo postponed to Sunday which is expected to be much cooler.

Source