Advice, tools and info to help you check in on friends, family and neighbours on hot days.
Being connected to others is one of the best ways to stay safe in a heatwave.
Heatwaves can be dangerous
To keep your friends family and neighbours safe on very hot days, check-in on them!
Heatwaves kill more people in Australia than all other environmental disasters combined. The coming summer is expected to be extremely hot, and the rising cost of living means many people are worried about their electricity bill. It’s more important than ever to check-in on people on hot days, especially the most vulnerable – older people, people with young children, people living with disabilities and chronic illness, people who live in hot homes, and people who are socially isolated.
Who should we be checking in on?
People who might get sick in the heat
Different people who might struggle in the heat include people over 60, people with disabilities and chronic illness (like diabetes, mental illness, or respiratory illness), young children and people who are pregnant, and people on certain medications that make it harder for their bodies to cool down.
People who can’t stay cool at home
Many Australian homes are low energy efficiency, so they don’t provide much protection from heat or cold. If you live in a hot home, your body will have to work hard to keep cool. Hot nights mean your body doesn’t get much relief.
People who are isolated or live alone
We know that people who are isolated or live alone can be in danger of getting sick in the heat, and when nobody checks in on them they could be in very serious danger. Studies show people who are vulnerable to getting sick in the heat but have social or family connections are less likely to die.
How to check in
Pick up the phone
Do you have a family member or friend who could be at risk during a heatwave? Send them a text or give them a call to ask how they are doing.
Share health advice
Not everyone knows the most effective ways to keep cool and they might not recognise heat exhaustion or heat stroke. You can share advice on how to keep cool, like the images and information below. For more heat health advice go to the NSW Health Beat the Heat page.
Drop by
If you haven’t heard from someone, or you haven’t seen a neighbour when it’s been hot, you can drop by and knock on the door to check in. Remember to keep yourself safe and don’t go anywhere you don’t feel comfortable.
Encourage others
If it’s hot and you’re talking to people about the weather, you can remind them that it’s a good idea to check-in on people and send them the resources from this page.
Signs of heat-related illness
It’s important to know when someone is getting sick in the heat and might need medical attention or extra help. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two of the most dangerous illnesses and we need to take them seriously.
For more heat health information go to the NSW Health Beat the Heat page.
What is heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion happens when someone becomes dehydrated due to fluid loss from a hot environment and/or excessive physical activity.
The symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- normal or mildly higher body temperature
- cool, pale, clammy skin
- excessive sweating
- thirsty
- headache
- muscle cramps
- rapid, weak pulse
- fainting or dizziness.
Treatment
Help the person to lie down in a cool or shady area to monitor.
Remove excessive clothing and loosen any tight clothing.
Immerse hands and feet in cold water, cool by fanning and moisten the skin, if possible.
If fully alert and responsive, give them frequent small drinks of water.
If muscle cramps occur, gently stretch the affected muscles to ease pain.
What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency and can cause a person to collapse or fall unconscious. Heatstroke is more serious and means the body is no longer able to regulate its temperature by cooling the skin’s surface by sweating. The internal body temperature rises, and organ damage can occur.
The symptoms of heatstroke include:
- reduced sweating
- high body temperature (above 40°C)
- dry, flushed, hot skin
- nausea
- muscle spasms
- pain throughout the body
- unusual behaviour or signs of confusion
- seizure or possible loss of responsiveness.
Treatment
Immediately call 000 for an ambulance.
If available, have the person take a cold shower or bath.
Cool the person with household items such as wet towels, fans or icepacks placed in the neck, groin and armpits.
If unresponsive or not alert, place in the recovery position.
Prepare to give CPR if necessary.
Posts
Save these images to your phone to have information handy when you need it, or to send to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes it’s hard to know when and how to check-in on people. Here’s some answers to frequently asked questions.
When should I check in?
You can check-in before a heatwave to ask about their plans on hot days or introduce yourself to a neighbour, or you can check in during a heatwave to see how people are feeling. It can take a few days to recover, so you can also check-in after a heatwave.
I don’t know my older neighbours, how do I say hi?
Dropping by to introduce yourself can be intimidating, but most of us can talk about the weather. Simple conversations build connection.
What type of questions can I ask?
Do you have an air conditioner?
Is it running?
Do you have a cool place to sleep and sit?
Are you drinking a cup of water every hour?
Do you have enough food, supplies and medicine?
Do you have enough ice?
Can I pick something up for you? Can I run an errand for you?
Are you alone? Is someone staying with you?
Do you have a family member you can stay with for a few days? Can I help put you in touch?
What if I’m the one who needs help?
If you’re in danger, you should call your doctor or 000. If you want to connect with friends or family to ask for help, you can let them know you’re worried about getting too hot and ask them to check-in on you.
What can I offer people to be helpful?
If you’re worried that people are struggling in the heat and you have a cool home, you can invite them over in a hot part of the day. You can also offer to run errands so they don’t need to leave the house, or to drop by with food. Letting people know they can contact you when they’re feeling the heat can be very helpful.
I know my council or local community centre has created a cool safe space for people on hot days, how can I help people get there?
Some people go to libraries and community centres to keep cool on hot days, and some councils now have cooling centres. You can call your council to see what resources they have in the heat and let others know. If you have a car you can give someone a lift to a cool place and pick them up later.
I’m checking-in on someone but they aren’t taking the heatwave seriously, what should I do?
We can’t force people to take heatwaves seriously, but we can offer help and stay in touch. Checking-in each day to say hi leaves the door open if they need help.
I’m worried about someone and they haven’t replied to calls or texts, what should I do?
If you can drop by, do so (as long as you’re not putting yourself in danger). If you’re not, contact a mutual friend or another family member to let them know you’re concerned and ask if they can drop by.
Where can I share the Heatwave Check-in advice?
Family or friend group chats on Whatsapp or Messenger can be a good place to share information. If you know it’s hot in another part of the city, focus on friends and family who live in that area.