The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging people to exercise caution as South Australia and Victoria continues to experience an extreme heat wave.
RACGP President, Dr Liz Marles, said it is important to ensure special care is taken of the elderly, the very young and those with pre-existing medical conditions as they are the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, though anyone can be affected.
“In these conditions we see a marked increase in heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, fainting, heat stroke and heart attacks.
“Extreme heat can also act as a trigger to worsen an existing medical condition such as heart disease,” said Dr Marles.
Sustained heat waves place great strain on the health system with emergency department visits and ambulance call outs experiencing a surge. The RACGP urges people to take adequate measures to ensure they stay healthy in the heat and to visit a GP at the onset of any change in health.
“There are several ways in which people can prevent heat-related illness such as staying in a cool, air conditioned environment, remaining hydrated, avoiding strenuous activities and staying in frequent contact with the vulnerable and those living alone,” said Dr Marles.
The RACGP stresses that it is critical anyone experiencing adverse reactions to the weather conditions seeks immediate medical attention.