Top tips: How to stay cool in the heat
With the increasing frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves in Australia and growing concerns around climate change, and his team are researching simple, cost-effective and sustainable ways to stay cool.
鈥淚t often comes as a surprise to many that over the past 20 years heatwaves, both in Australia and overseas, have caused more deaths than all other natural disasters combined,鈥� said Dr Jay, Director of the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory in the University鈥檚 .
鈥淭he most vulnerable people in a heatwave are the elderly, poor, and especially people with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases as a cardiac event is among the leading causes of death during extreme conditions.鈥�
While air conditioning is the most effective way to mitigate the physiological strain of extreme temperatures, Dr Jay says more than twenty-five percent of Australian鈥檚 do not have air conditioning (AC) in their homes.
鈥淔urthermore rising electricity prices, and the likelihood of blackouts associated with Australia鈥檚 imminent energy crisis makes the reliance on widespread AC use problematic. The sustained annual increase in CO2聽emissions associated with AC use in Australia also cements our status as one of the top polluters per capita in the world,鈥� said Dr Jay.
On a hot summer鈥檚 day maintaining body temperature within safe limits is essential for optimal health, but the only way to do this in hot and humid conditions is through the evaporation of sweat from the skin.
3 tips to stay cool in the heat
Dr Ollie Jay recommends to;
- Wet your arms, neck and legs
- Increase airflow across the skin with an electric fan
- Wrap crushed ice cubes in a wet towel and place around your neck
础听聽awarded to Dr Jay and colleagues last week will allow the team to further their work into evidence-based ways to beat the heat and provide the best public health advice during heatwaves.
People showing severe signs of heat-related illness should seek urgent medical attention through their GP or the emergency department at their nearest hospital. See more information at .