Queensland residents are being urged to conserve moisture and stay in the shade or indoors with a severe heat wave forecast as temperatures rise this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heat wave warning for a vast portion of the state stretching from Coolangatta north to Townsville and across the border into the Northern Territory.
The only areas outside the Warning Zone are South West Queensland and Cape York.
The agency says maximum temperatures will be in the mid-40s and overnight temperatures will not dip below the mid-20s in central and western Queensland from Tuesday.
On the East Coast, temperatures rise to mid to above 30 degrees during the day and don’t drop below the low 20s at night.
“Temperatures will continue to rise later in the week, with heat waves intensifying and expanding in the area,” the agency said.
“Locations likely to be affected include Brisbane Metropolitan Area, Croydon, Caboolture, Doomadgee, Esk, Hughenden and Mount Isa.”
The warning urged people to find a place to stay cool, such as a home, library, community or shopping center, close blinds or curtains early to keep out the heat, and use fans or air conditioners if possible. to use.
Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk urged people to stay hydrated, stay safe in the sun and make sure their pets are comfortable too.
“Stay safe, Queensland – it’s going to be a hot few days,” she tweeted Tuesday.
Heat wave conditions are potentially dangerous for the elderly, sick, pregnant, breastfeeding and younger people, and infants, the agency said.
The clinical director of the Queensland Ambulance Service, Tony Hucker, said heat stress symptoms included fatigue or headaches, but often other people were the first to notice such symptoms.
“So if you look at someone and (think) ‘gee, they look really pink, they look red and they don’t really look good’, or start to behave abnormally, then you have to grab them and put them in a place dark shade. place or inside, (and) let them drink,” he said in a recorded statement.
“If they can’t drink… that’s a sign to call Triple 0, that’s a dangerous sign. If people are throwing up and can’t keep their fluids down, they need medical attention.”