Beat the heat and stay healthy

With the mercury rising over summer, Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer, Mr Joe Acker has some advice for staying healthy and safe in the heat.

Mr Acker, who is a senior lecturer in paramedics based at CSU in Port Macquarie, has over 23 years of experience in pre-hospital care, mostly practicing as a paramedic in the rural, urban, and critical care flight environments.

His advice to people during periods of intense hot weather includes:

1. Stay well-hydrated, it is essential in hot weather. Keep drinking water with you at all times while you work, travel, or play.
2. Hot weather affects the elderly, babies and young children, and people with chronic disease much more than the regular population. So look out for those vulnerable members of the community and take precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.
3. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion which include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, lethargy, and possibly fainting. If any of these occur, move the person to a cool place, remove excess clothing and put cool wet towels around their neck and under their arms. Encourage them to drink water.
4. Sunscreen and hats are essential when you are outside on hot and sunny days.
5. If you are drinking alcohol, remember to also stay hydrated by drinking water.
6. Exercise caution around pools, at the beach and in inland waterways. Many people will head to the water to cool off and while it can be a lot of fun, it can also be dangerous. Choose patrolled beaches and swim between the flags. Small children and those who are not strong swimmers should stay close to shore and consider wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) like a life jacket.
7. Never leave children or animals in a parked car, even for a short period of time. The temperature in a parked car increases very rapidly and can quickly cause serious injury or death.

“The best thing to do is to prevent getting over-heated and stay healthy by following this advice,” said Mr Acker. “However, in an emergency where a person is confused or collapses, call Triple Zero (000) immediately to request an ambulance.”

CSU was one of the first Australian universities to offer a degree in paramedicine. It is delivered through CSU Online and in Bathurst and Port Macquarie through the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences.

(Source: Charles Sturt University)