Older people in Australia need to take greater care in extreme hot weather.
This article was written in collaboration with experts from Griffith University's Ethos Project.
It’s possible to take charge of your health in the heat. Recognising the dangers of heat, understanding your body’s limits, and taking proactive steps can help you stay safe during the hottest days of the year.

Click the play button to hear Claire’s warning about the dangers of hot weather.
Extreme heat can cause your body a lot of stress. The good news is that heat stress is preventable. Follow these tips to stay safe:
Heatwaves place a huge amount of stress on your body as it works to cool down. This can make underlying health issues worse, as your organs work hard to cool you down. It can worsen underlying conditions like heart, lung, or kidney diseases and increase the risk of hospitalisation. This is especially the case if you have multiple chronic illnesses.
Your ability to cool down and recognise heat stress decreases as you age. This makes older adults especially vulnerable. Even if you’ve tolerated heat well in the past, it’s important to know your limits and take proactive steps to stay safe.
Your risk of heat stress increases when multiple of the following factors combine:

Press the play button to hear Martin's story after being hospitalised for heat exhaustion.
Early signs of heat stress can include:
These are warning signs that your body is struggling to cope with the heat. If untreated, heat stress can progress into more severe conditions like heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.
You can take these steps to cool down:
If heat stress isn’t managed, it can lead to heat exhaustion, where the body loses too much water and salt through sweating. Symptoms can include:
Heat exhaustion can escalate into heatstroke. This is a life-threatening emergency where the body’s temperature rises above 40C.
Symptoms can include:
If this happens, or if heat exhaustion persists longer than an hour, call triple zero (000) immediately.
Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of heat related illness.

Press the play button to watch this video from Griffith University's ETHOs Team about how to get heatwave ready and stay safe during hot weather.
Many older people in Australia don’t recognise heatwaves as a serious risk to their health. By being aware of the dangers and taking simple steps, you can protect yourself and reduce the impact of extreme heat.
Understanding how heat affects your body, recognising the early signs of heat stress, and adopting preventive measures will help you stay safe and healthy this summer. Take charge of your health today and enjoy a cooler, safer summer.
Everyone is different so some of these tips may work better for you than others.
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Mayo Clinic. (2023, April). Heat exhaustion - Symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250
Meade, R. D., Notley, S. R., Kirby, N. V., & Kenny, G. P. (2024). A critical review of the effectiveness of electric fans as a personal cooling intervention in hot weather and heatwaves. The Lancet Planetary Health, 8(4), e256–e269. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00030-5/fulltext
NSW Health. (2024, December). Who is at greater risk of heat-related health problems? https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat/Pages/people-most-at-risk.aspx
World Health Organization. (2024, May). Climate change, heat and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health
Xu, Z., Yi, W., Bach, A., Tong, S., Ebi, K. L., Su, H., Cheng, J., & Rutherford, S. (2024). Multimorbidity and emergency hospitalisations during hot weather: A multicountry, multicity study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 8(5), e350–e358. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00183-X/fulltext
LiveUp provides free information to help you make informed decisions about your health. This information is for general and educational purposes only, is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide, and does not replace medical advice. Everyone is different, so some of these tips may work better for you than others. You should use your own judgment and seek medical advice when applying this information to yourself, to determine if it is suitable in your circumstances. Your use of, or reliance on, this information is solely at your own risk. Independent Living Assessment Incorporated is not responsible or liable for any injury, loss, or damage caused as a result of your use of, or reliance on, this information.
You can print out the PDF and stick it to your fridge or file away the tips to revisit at a later time.

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