Almost all of the 354 deaths occurred on two occasions: the 2009 heat wave that preceded the Black Saturday bushfires and an extreme heat wave in Victoria and South Australia in 2014.
The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heat wave as three or more consecutive days when daytime and nighttime temperatures are abnormally high.
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Mr Gissing said the true figure was likely much higher than coronary records show, with people dying of heart attacks or strokes, for example, which were linked to stress caused by high temperatures high.
Men have a higher death rate during heat waves than women. And those most at risk are the elderly – especially those over 70 – and people who are socio-economically disadvantaged, unable to easily access health services, with physical or mental disabilities. , socially isolated or without access to air conditioning.
Most indoor deaths have been in older homes, underscoring the need for governments to find inexpensive ways to help people living in public or rental housing adapt their homes to the heat extreme.
Perth and parts of Western Australia snuffed out a recent heatwave, with six consecutive days of over 40 degrees, while this week Victoria experienced a low-intensity heatwave, with a prolonged period of temperatures above average and warm nights.
If you live in low-income social housing or have a disability, it’s harder to escape the heat, said Emma King, director of the Victorian Council of Social Services.
Low Cost Heat Adaptation Tips
- Water your garden: trees and plants refresh the air when well watered
- Seal all gaps: prevent hot air from entering your home
- Switch off appliances: electrical appliances can generate heat
- Create a cool room. Focus on the freshness of a room to save money
- Cover your windows. Protect from the sun indoors and outdoors.
“Extreme heat is particularly dangerous for people living in outdated public housing which acts as ‘gas canisters,'” Ms King said.
Installing solar panels on the roofs of all suitable public housing would be a good first step, allowing tenants to use their air conditioning for longer periods, she said.
Recent record hot days were a clear health hazard, said Doctors for the Environment Australia board member Dr John Iser. “Some of these hot days are unlivable days, we have temperatures in central and north-west Australia that are over 50 degrees.”
Earlier this month, data revealed that the past seven years had been the seven warmest on record despite the La Nina weather pattern. The report showed that the world has already warmed between 1.1 and 1.3 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
The world’s oceans also recorded their warmest year in more than 60 years, with greenhouse gases driving up temperatures.
Mr Gissing urged people to watch out for elderly or isolated people in their community during a heat wave and to invite them to spend time in a cooler home.
“Heat waves are as much a social hazard as anything else,” he said. “These deaths are highly preventable if we all take care of each other.”
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