As heatwave season hits, GPs and the Queensland Health Department have joined forced to help doctors, practice teams and patients stay safe during the hottest months.
It comes following reports this morning that today was expected to be Queensland's hottest day of the week. Tuesday was officially Queensland's hottest October day since records began, with Birdsville hitting 46.1 Celsius.
As part of the Queensland Government's Get Ready initiative, Queensland Health and the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) have collaborated on the Primary Care Guide to Heat Health Management to help GPs and practice teams care for patients and staff during extreme heat conditions.
Extreme heat caused the most injury hospitalisations related to extreme weather over the last 10 years, and the risk of hospitalisation due to extreme weather-related injury increases with age, with nearly one-third of hospitalisations occurring in people aged 65 and over.
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cathryn Hester welcomed the release of the guide.
"In my home state of Queensland, heatwaves are a recurring and serious concern and it's vital to be prepared," she said.
"Anyone can experience negative health impacts from extreme heat; however, identifying and caring for patients who may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme hot weather is critical.
"This includes, for example, older people and infants, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as patients with chronic disease and those with conditions that may impair sweating. It's also important to consider those patients who work in hot environments or undertake recreational activities such as playing sport outdoors.
"So, the College encourages all practice team members to be trained in how to recognise at-risk patients and consider the potential side effects of all medicines. We also encourage practices to have a plan in place for these patients, including a care plan containing heat-specific advice, and arrangements in place to help with tasks such as grocery shopping to avoid having to go outdoors during the heat.
"Providing sound advice or just a reminder on how to keep cool, including drinking plenty of fluids is crucial, as is ensuring that carers are aware of the heat plan and have the
