Managing Extreme Heat

Guidance

Individuals at-risk of heat related health problems

While anyone can suffer from heat-related health problems, babies, children and young people are more susceptible to heat related stress and illnesses. Others more at-risk include:

• people over 65 years
• pregnant women
• people who have existing medical conditions, such as asthma and other respiratory ailments, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or mental illness
• individuals with limited mobility
• people on certain medications such as allergy medicines, seizure medicines, thyroid medication and antidepressants
• individuals who work or exercise outdoors
• people who are socially isolated or living alone, because there may not be someone to support or check in with them during extreme heat
• individuals with limited ways to keep cool, such as air conditioning, including those living in buildings that heat up easily.

To address the needs of at-risk individuals, it is recommended that schools:

• plan with consideration for any students and staff with medical conditions that may increase their risk of heat-related illness
• develop heat-related illness management actions in consultation with the parents and carers of at-risk students, and add these to the student’s health support plan. Refer to the Health Care Needs policy for further guidance
• ensure that parents, carers and relevant medical personnel have a shared understanding of the heat-related illness management actions in students’ action plans.