Heat kills more Australians than any other natural disaster
- Extreme heat can affect anybody.
- Those more at-risk include people over the age of 65, babies and young children, pregnant women, people with acute or chronic health problems and people who are socially isolated.
- Heat can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, trigger sudden events like heart attack or stroke, or worsen existing medical conditions like kidney or lung disease.
- Take steps to protect yourself and others by keeping cool, staying hydrated, planning ahead and checking in with others.
- Recognising early symptoms of heat-related health problems and taking action is crucial.
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Heat tips
There are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and others:
Know the signs of heat-related health problems
Heat can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. It can trigger sudden events like heart attack or stroke or can worsen existing medical conditions like kidney or lung disease.
Certain people are more at-risk, including people over the age of 65, babies and young children, pregnant women, people with acute or chronic health problems and people who are socially isolated.
If you need medical advice or someone you know is unwell, call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 60 60 24 for 24-hour health advice, see your doctor or contact Virtual Emergency Care – for non-life-threatening emergencies.
In an emergency, always call Triple Zero 000.
Symptoms of heat-related illness
Related information
Reviewed on: 21-01-2025