Heatwaves

During period of extreme heat, it is important to adapt our behaviours to prevent heat stress. Some groups are more vulnerable to stressors, and exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and sometimes death.

Top tips for reducing heat stress include:

• Planning activities for the coolest part of the day or rescheduling for another date.
• Never leaving children, older people or pets in cars.
• Eating smaller meals more often, and cold meals such as salad.
• Dressing for the heat by wearing lightweight clothing and sun protection.
• Slowing down and avoiding intense activity before, during and after a heatwave, as it can take the body three days to recover.
• Seeking shade, applying sunscreen and taking regular breaks if outdoors.
• Drinking cool water regularly, even if you're not thirsty.
• Avoiding alcohol, as this has a dehydrating effect.

Our Summer Sense fact sheets have practical tips for preparing for and staying safe during extreme heat days:

Summer Sense – top tips to keep cool in the heat:

To help prepare for a heatwaves and a hot summer season, create a heatwave kit at home by gathering the following essentials: 

• An adequate amount of water and non-perishable food items that require no cooking or refrigeration to last you three days . 
• Medication and first aid kit; keep a one-month supply of prescription medications and other medical supplies.  
• A battery-powered radio, torch and spare batteries  
• Cooling items (such as battery-operated or handheld fan, ice packs, cooling towels and a spray bottle to help you stay cool).  
• Emergency contact numbers.  

Make sure your pets have clean, cool water and shade (if outdoors). You can also:  

• freeze ice blocks with pet food in it to keep your pets cool  
• keep your pets indoors where possible  
• provide wet towels or ice packs for your pets to lie on  
• put ice cubes into their water bowls.  

Avoid walking on pavement on hot days. If the ground is too hot to rest the back of your hand against, it is too hot for their paws. For both of your health, try to only walk them during the early morning and/or early evening. 

Never leave your pet in a hot car. If you see a pet in a hot car, call 000Opens in new tab.  

For more information:  

• Animal Welfare VictoriaOpens in new tab  
• RSPCAOpens in new tab  
• Climate CouncilOpens in new tab 

• You don't need to cool your whole home during high heat. If you have access to an aircon or fan, you can use them in the rooms you spend the most time in.  
• Keep the windows closed and covered to reduce the heat from sunlight.  
• If the temperature drops at night, consider leaving your windows open to let cool air in.  
• Reduce the use of your oven during a heatwave, as they can heat up your home.  
• Keep yourself cool by using wet towels on your neck, putting your feet in cold water, and taking cool showers.  
• If your property is too hot to comfortably reside in, seek shelter at a cool place. 

Cool RoutesOpens in new tab is an online mapping tool you can use on your smartphone to plot the coolest route to your destination in the CBD, Southbank and City North. It considers the time of day, city architecture and surroundings to give the best walking or cycling route protected from the sun and heat.

Since 2013, the City of Melbourne has implemented a Heatwave and Homelessness Program to provide highly vulnerable people living in the municipality heat respite options. The program runs from 1 December to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat on people who are experiencing homelessness.

The City of Melbourne received funding from Emergency Management Victoria to run ‘The Heat Lab’. This twelve-month project will trial community-focused and place-based initiatives to address heat risk over the 2023-2024 summer period.

These include:

• Running heat safety sessions to raise awareness of the risks posed by extreme heat
• Providing ‘cool places’ at libraries and community organisations for people to seek respite during heatwaves
• Boosting shading and cooling in public space
• Distributing ‘heat health kits’ containing personal cooling equipment and resources
• Creatively boosting public engagement with heat risk through artistic programming in partnership with the Sticky Institute, KINGS Artist-Run, and the Melbourne Women in Film Festival.

This pilot was developed through combining council, business, public health and community leader expertise. At the end of the project, The Heat Lab will undergo a full evaluation and the findings will be shared with other councils. Successful outcomes will also inform the expansion of City of Melbourne heat projects and programs in future.

In partnership with the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience CenterOpens in new tab (Arsht-Rock) the City of Melbourne has appointed Co-Directors Climate Change and City Resilience, Tiffany Crawford and Krista Milne, to the roles of Chief Heat Officers.

Established through Arsht-Rock's City Champions for Heat Action initiative, the position will raise awareness about extreme heat risk, provide local leadership and collaborate to deliver solutions.

You can learn more about the Chief Heat Officers.Opens in new tab

The City of Melbourne is also partnering with Climasens – a leading Melbourne-based climate intelligence startup – to test a heat risk platform, which maps heat hazards and aims to boost the city’s climate resilience.

The new technology uses live weather and climate data to identify real-time heat risk insights, including heat exposure and social vulnerability. The trial aims to develop a solution to heat monitoring and management, helping us protect those who are most vulnerable during a heatwave, and provide evidence to improve climate resilience planning and investment decisions.

For more information, visit ClimasensOpens in new tab