With high summer approaching, WA Health has adopted a new system of warnings for when the heatwaves turn into health dangers.
Based on the nationally consistent Australian Warning System, the new warnings have three phases — similar to bushfire alerts — of ‘advice’, ‘watch and act’ and ‘emergency warning’.
According to WA’s Chief Health Officer, Andrew Robertson, many people were unaware that heatwaves were typically Australia’s most destructive natural hazard in terms of loss of life, except for disease epidemics.
“Heatwaves pose increased health risks to our most vulnerable, including elderly people, pregnant mothers and very young children,” Dr Robertson said.
“People who are fit and well can also be affected and should modify their activities in the warmest part of the day to reduce the impact from an extreme heatwave.”
He said that as the climate warmed, the threat from heatwaves was likely to grow.
“There is international research showing that at 1.5°C of global warming, 13.8 per cent of the world’s population will be exposed to severe heatwaves at least once every five years, while at 2°C the increase in exposure is almost three times higher,” Dr Robertson said.
“It is important people are not complacent,” he said.
“I urge community members to familiarise themselves with the new warnings and prepare for the coming summer season.”
He said the Department of Health is the hazard management Agency for heatwaves in Western Australia.
“This involves managing the adverse effects of the heatwave emergency across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases,” the Chief Health Officer said.
He said that if heatwave alerts needed to be issued they would be done via ABC Radio and other broadcasters and online at www.emergency.wa.gov.au.
