We all have been sweating for a week now. Did you know that in Victoria we are now having the worst heat wave in the last century? No wonder that a lot of people don’t know anything about the dangers of this kind of weather.

Last summer we had a couple of days that were equally hot and I had a chance to learn from my aussie friends how to get through them safely. All the things they’ve suggested I tried, they really help and this summer I feel much more confident because I know what to do when it gets really hot.

Follow these tips to keep yourself and your family safe, well and as cool as possible.

In the house

Close curtains and blinds to keep the sun out of the house. Keep them closed all day long until it gets cooler outside than it is inside. That will delay the heating up of the house.

Spray water in the air to increase humidity and cool the air.

Use fans and air-conditioning to circulate the air in the rooms.

Avoid cooking because it generates heat. Try eating fresh food, cold meat or cheese, sushi, fruit, etc, anything that doesn’t need to be cooked.

Beware not to burn yourself when opening even a cold water tap - the water in the pipes gets boiling hot!

Stay out of the sun and the wind.This combination of sun+wind is much more dangerous than the sun alone, because the wind significantly increases our dehydration.

If you don’t have air conditioning at home, go to a shopping center or to a library, places with air conditioning constantly running.

In the evening, when the house becomes unbearably hot, go to the beach and cool off in the water, enjoy the nice breeze. It is always cooler at the beach than in the city.

Outside

Wear light clothing with long sleeves to cover as much of your body as possible from the sun

Wear a hat to cover your head and your face

Use sunblock because the UV index is very high now.

In the office

Even though certain work places have a dress code, dress according to the weather.

If you have uniform at work, ask the management to allow casual clothes, as an exception.

Food and drinks

Eat fresh food & cool summer soups, avoid hot food.

Avoid spicy food because it makes you feel hot

Drink a lot, because our body loses a lot of fluids without even noticing it. If you are thirsty, it means that you are already slightly dehydrated.

Pets

Keep them indoors as much as possible, and always in the shade if outside.

Supply plenty of water.

Place a wet towel on the floor for them to cool on.

Behavior

Avoid arguments because we all get impatient and lose our temper easily in such hot weather.

If you have anything to add to this list, your own tips that work, I am all ears.

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