Heat illness in the Central West: what to look for and what to do
Central West summers can go from pleasant to brutal very quickly. One week it's cool mornings in Bathurst, the next it's 38 degrees with a hot westerly and no shade on the job site. As paramedics, we see the same pattern every year: the first few hot days catch people out, because nobody has adjusted yet.
Heat illness is very preventable, and when it does happen, what you do in the first few minutes makes a real difference. Here's what we'd want you to know before summer properly kicks in.
Who's most at risk
Anyone can get heat illness, but some people are more likely to:
babies, young kids and older people
people working outdoors or in hot, poorly ventilated spaces, like sheds, workshops, mine sites and farms
anyone exercising or working hard in the heat, especially if they're not used to it yet
people with some health conditions, or on certain medications
On farms and in industry, the risk often comes from long hours, heavy PPE and not drinking enough. Out at a race weekend or a summer sporting event, it's usually hours in the sun with not enough water.
Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke
Heat illness sits on a spectrum. At the milder end is heat exhaustion. Signs can include:
heavy sweating
feeling weak, tired or dizzy
headache, nausea or vomiting
muscle cramps
pale, clammy skin
At the serious end is heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. The biggest red flag is a change in how the person is acting. Look for confusion, slurred speech, unusual behaviour, stumbling, collapse or a seizure.
A common myth is that someone with heat stroke always has hot, dry skin. Plenty of people, especially workers and athletes, are still sweating when they have heat stroke. Don't wait for the sweating to stop before taking it seriously.
What to do
Call Triple Zero (000) early. If they're confused, drowsy, collapsed or not improving quickly, call straight away. Don't wait to see if they come good.
Get them out of the heat. Move them into shade or air conditioning, have them lie down, and take off any extra clothing or PPE.
Cool them down, fast. The quickest way to cool someone is to put them in cold water up to the neck for about 15 minutes. A bath, a large tub or anything else you can fill with cold water will do. Keep their head and face well clear of the water and stay with them the whole time.
No way to immerse them? Wet them all over with cool water using a hose, shower or wet towels, and fan them constantly. Cold packs or cold wet towels on the neck, armpits and groin help too. Swap the towels out as they warm up.
Give fluids only if they're fully alert. If they're awake and can swallow normally, give cool water to sip. After hard physical work, a sports drink can help. Never give drinks to someone who is confused or drowsy.
If they become unresponsive and aren't breathing normally, start CPR and get an AED.
Staying ahead of it
Most heat illness can be avoided with some planning:
drink regularly through the day, not just when you're thirsty
schedule heavy work for the cooler parts of the day where you can
take breaks in the shade, and keep an eye on your mates
give new workers, and anyone back from leave, time to get used to the heat
check on older neighbours and family during heatwaves
never leave kids or pets in a parked car, even for a few minutes
For workplaces, it's worth thinking about your cooling plan now, before the first hot spell. Where would you get cold water and ice? What could you use to cool someone down on site?
Heat illness is covered in our first aid courses, and for onsite training we focus on the conditions your team actually works in. If you're not sure your team is ready for summer, get in touch and we'll talk it through.
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