Staying cool is top priority today, as Eyre Peninsula temperatures are set to soar into the high 30s and mid 40s.
Health officials are advising us to keep cool by closing blinds, drinking water and using an air-con or fan.
SA Health’s Dr Kimberly Humphrey says this is especially important for certain people.
“We do find there are lots of people whose health is affected by the heat, she says.
“It can happen to you if you’re very healthy… but certain people are more at risk, and that’s elderly people and children, those with chronic medical conditions.”
Locals are asked to monitor for signs of dehydration.
“When it’s hot, the first thing our body does is it looks to cool down, so it increases the heart rate and dilates the blood vessels that are near the surface of the skin, and that works to bring our blood up to the skin surface and then we sweat.
“If we can move to a nice cool place, if we’re drinking lots of water, generally we’ll feel okay… if we’re not able to, then that fluid loss will make us dehydrated and then our blood pressure drops as well.”
