Heatwave season is here. It’s essential to prepare at-risk patients for extreme temperatures by implementing strategies to reduce risk. Prolonged heat can significantly impact vulnerable groups, including older adults, young children and those with chronic conditions.
Here are some key points to discuss with your patients:
- stay hydrated: encourage patients to drink water regularly, even if they don’t feel thirsty
- avoid the sun: advise limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours (10am to 4 pm)
- keep cool: suggest using fans, air conditioning, or visiting cool spaces like libraries or shopping centres
- recognise early signs of heat stress: educate them on symptoms such as dizziness, headaches or excessive sweating
- check medications: review medications which may increase the risk of dehydration or heat intolerance
Support your patients by sharing trusted resources, discussing their individual risk factors, and providing practical advice to stay safe and healthy.
We have also created two factsheets about preparing for a heatwave and the effect of heatstroke, which are available on the Health Resource Directory website. These factsheets have been translated into Arabic, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese, and are available as audio versions too.
View or download the following helpful resources to share with patients:
Preparing for a heatwave factsheet
Clinical guidance available on HealthPathways.
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.