Australia’s set to sizzle this weekend. Here’s how hot it will be, and how to avoid heat stroke

Australians are being warned of the effects of prolonged heat exposure and how to spot the signs of heat stroke as the country sizzles through

According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), four states recorded temperatures above 45C on Wednesday, in conditions that are expected to persist into the weekend.

The BOM’s senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said hot air sitting over Western Australia is behind dry and hot conditions pushing into the east.

“This particular burst of heat is leading to temperatures between eight to 16 degrees above average through parts of South Australia, NSW, and Northern Victoria,” he told SBS News.

While 473 heat-related deaths were officially reported in Australia between 2001 and 2008, a 2020 study by an Australian National University researcher found the true association could be estimated at 36,000 deaths between 2006 and 2017.

So how do you keep yourself safe this summer?

On Friday, the forecast top temperature in Adelaide will be 36C while Melbourne’s top is expected to be 33C.

The BOM predicts NSW will be the focus of the heat over the weekend, as a cold front brings relief for WA, the Northern Territory, and South Australia.

Temperatures in Sydney and Canberra are forecast to hit the high 30s, with parts of western Sydney expected to swelter into the low-to-mid-40s.

The BOM has issued heat wave warnings for the NSW Hunter region, Central and Southern Tablelands, South Coast and Western Districts.

Narramore said NSW residents can expect a cool change to sweep through on Saturday night, with temperatures expected o drop into the 20s on Sunday.

Exposure to high temperatures for extended periods puts the body under huge strain and can cause several heat-related illnesses ranging from dehydration to heat stroke.

Dr James Smallcombe, research fellow in the Heat and Health Research Incubator at the University of Sydney, said it was important to know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Lots of people use the word heat stroke when they actually mean heat exhaustion,” he said.

Heat exhaustion symptoms develop at fairly modest temperatures and signs include feeling lethargic, having a headache or feeling a little nauseous.

In contrast, Smallcombe said heat stroke is when the core body temperature rises above 40C and this medical emergency is “quite dangerous”.

“The types of symptoms that you might experience if you’ve got heat stroke include feeling confused, disorientated, and feelings of agitation,” he said.

“Some of the more serious things include convulsions or even finding yourself in a coma … So it really is a medical emergency that needs rapid treatment.”

Smallcombe advises anyone suffering from heat stroke to rapidly cool themselves, call an ambulance and seek medical treatment.

NSW Health has warned about the effects of heatwaves on vulnerable people, including those over 65, babies, young children, pregnant women and the homeless.

Smallcombe said the elderly were at greater risk because above the age of 60 we lose the ability to sweat as much, which is our most effective tool to keep cool.

He advised people to drink an extra 250ml of water per hour to replenish some of the sweat loss during sweltering days.

Simple tips to fight the heat included:

He also cautioned parents and caregivers to wet cloths, if they were using them to cover prams, as dry ones could trap heat and make the temperature inside the strollers up to nine degrees hotter.

NSW Health advised residents to avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day, avoid vigorous exercise, wear sunscreen, sunglasses and hats and stay hydrated.

Guidance on their website also suggested not using the oven during heat, avoiding travel on hot days, closing curtains to block out the sun and only opening the windows for ventilation if it’s cooler than inside.