Help your neighbour beat the heat
16/01/2017
Help your neighbour beat the heat
WITH temperatures set to reach up to 37 degrees in the region this week, Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is urging people to look out for elderly friends and neighbours.
“Often people don’t like to bother their neighbours and friends, and shut themselves up at home when it gets very hot,” Mr O’Brien said.
“But extreme heat such as the temperatures we are experiencing can be dangerous for older people, particularly those with health conditions.”
He asked people across the Wide Bay to telephone or visit anyone they suspected might need help, even if it was just to remind them to stay hydrated
“It could be as simple as helping them draw the blinds against the heat, doing their shopping so they don’t have to exert themselves, or inviting them over for a cool drink in air-conditioning,” Mr O’Brien said.
The following advice could help keep you cool:
- Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel very thirsty.
- Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and fizzy drinks as they make dehydration worse.
- Take cool showers or splash yourself with cold water several times a day.
- Ensure your home has adequate circulation by leaving a secured window or door open.
- Try to eat more salads and fruits as they contain lots of water.
- Be alert to the symptoms of heat stress, including muscle cramps, exhaustion, nausea, dizziness and clammy skin. Call your doctor if you are concerned.
