Dealing with heatwaves
Exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and sometimes death. On hot days it is vital to stay safe during extreme heat.
What is a heatwave?
For Melbourne, a heatwave may be declared when a day or period where the average of the daily maximum temperature and the overnight temperature of the following day is 30ºC or greater. This is determined by the State Health Department who monitors the weather forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology and issues a 'Heat Health Alert' when the temperature threshold is reached.
What does the Council do on Heat Health Alert days?
City of Melbourne has developed a Heatwave Response Plan. As part of that plan, a communication strategy is activated issuing information to service providers and agencies that interface with members of our community that may be vulnerable to heat to minimise the impact of heat related illness.
Summer Sense
Summer Sense is a program that is initiated each summer season by the City of Melbourne to educate and inform members of our community to prepare and take preventative action in readiness for extreme heat days.
Download the Summer Sense fact sheet
Summer Sense fact sheet (PDF, 58kb) 
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Heat Health Alerts
On Heat Health Alert days the State Government Department of Health will issue warnings and information through TV, radio and newspapers as well as alerting Council.
We often dehydrate quicker than we realise, which can lead to serious heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.
It is important on these Heat Health Alert days and days of extreme heat that care is given to vulnerable members of our community, including:
- Seniors (over 65 years), particularly those living alone without air conditioning
- Infants and children
- Pregnant and nursing mothers
- People physically unwell, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
- People with a disability
- People who are homeless
- People exercising
- International students
- Visitors to Melbourne, especially if participating in outdoor events.
What you can do to prevent heat-related illness
- Drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic fluids. (Note: if your doctor normally limits your fluids or you are on fluid tablets, you may need to check how much to drink while the weather is hot).
- Stay out of the sun completely, if possible. When in the sun, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 30+) and a hat.
- Wear lightweight, light-coloured loose clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible.
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours – 11am to 4pm.
- Never leave children, pets or those that require special care in a parked car during hot weather.
- Contact those who may be at risk of heat stress at least twice a day during a heat wave, especially older, sick and frail people.
- Keep your house cool by drawing the curtains or external blinds to block the sun.
- Use an airconditioner if you have one.
- If you don’t have an airconditioner, keep air flow in rooms by opening windows and turning on any fans. Don't rely on fans to cool people unless there is adequate ventilation.
- Cool showers or baths can be helpful, but avoid extreme temperature changes.
- Ensure that meat, seafood and dairy foods are always stored below 5°C.
- Power outages can occur during periods of extreme heat. Be prepared by having items such as a torch, extra batteries, bottled water and first aid kit, and have the contact details of your electricity provider handy.
Stay cool and hydrated in the city
If where you are living is too hot, consider going to an air-conditioned shopping centre, movie theatre, gallery or public pool to keep cool or visit a friend or family that has an air-conditioned environment.
Drinking water is vital during hot weather. There are many drinking fountains in the Melbourne City Centre which are free for the public. The Bourke Street Mall also provides a free filtered water tap for the refilling of water bottles.
Emergency procedures in the City of Melbourne
- In an emergency, you should always call 000.
- If you ring 000, you will be asked ‘Where is your emergency?’ and ‘What has happened?’
- If you are in an open space, like a park and need to call 000, look for an emergency marker to identify your location.
- Emergency markers exist in public open spaces or hard to define locations. They are signs that have an alphanumeric code on the sign, for example, MEL 123.
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Further information
The Better Health Channel has more information and a range of fact sheets available on how to best cope during a period of hot weather.
These include:
Related information on other websites
For further information about planning for extreme heat days, you can call the City of Melbourne Health Services Branch on (03) 9658 9658 or Contact us.
Emergency agencies