Heatwaves and extreme heat events can seriously impact your health. Climate projections show extreme heat events are occurring more often and with greater intensity. You may decide to spend time in a cool place like a library, shopping centre, cinema or other public building if your house does not have air-conditioning or can't be cooled down in other ways.
On extreme heat days of 40-plus degrees, Council has a policy to extend the operating hours of Hawkesbury Central Library and Richmond Swimming Centre on weekends. On weekdays, these facility hours are already longer than weekends.
Council has received positive feedback from this initiative since it was first activated to help residents find a way to stay cool during heatwaves. To see any last minute changes to facility hours, see Council's website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and Facebook www.facebook.com/hawkesburycitycouncil
Also see www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/beattheheat
Babies, children and older people need to be watched carefully during hot weather.
Babies and children sweat less, reducing their ability to cool down, and they are at higher risk of overheating and developing a heat-related illness. Heat can also make existing illnesses worse.
To help keep babies and children safe in the heat:
- understand that babies and children overheat and dehydrate quickly
- breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby more often
- drink plenty of water if you're breastfeeding
- offer older babies and children extra drinks in hot weather - the best drink is water
- dress babies and children in cool clothing and stay out of the sun
- never leave children in the car
- use fans in your home to keep the air circulating
- don't point fans directly at your child and make sure they can't touch the fan
- make sure the room does not get too cold when using an air-conditioner, 24-26 degrees Celsius is low enough
- take any family members to the doctor if they are unwell.
To keep pets cool in the heat:
- provide several clean cool water bowls and add some ice cubes
- provide shelter from the sun, move the kennel into a shaded area
- keep your dog's fur trimmed if needed
- keep pets indoors with the blinds closed
- put cold wet towels on the floor so that they can use them as a cool bed
- never leave your pet inside a car
- if you suspect your pet has heat exhaustion or is unwell, take them to a vet.
