WA has had a scorcher of a heat wave for the past three days . we have had 40 degrees plus for the last three days  and   the hot days  are supposed to continue. Patrick Ward from the Bureau of Meteorology says the last time Perth recorded three consecutive days over 40 degrees was in March 2007.

The 40* Plus heatwave In Perth

A heat wave is prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. There is no universal definition of a heat wave; the term is relative to the usual weather in the area. Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of deaths from hyperthermia, and widespread power outages due to increased use of air conditioning.

Heatwaves are caused by extremely hot and humid days with very little air movement to help cool things down.

Changes in  Behaviour due to hot weather of heatwaves

There are other changes in our behaviour that arise from the heat.

"When you are dehydrated, your body is under stress. It changes your mood and you choose stereotypical solutions rather than rational solutions. You get into the ‘child state’. You whine and moan. There is anger, irritation, poor judgement and fatigue.

As our cities and towns get hotter and hotter during heatwave conditions, people and animals have difficulty in keeping cool. Heatwaves are probably the most under-rated weather hazard in Australia, essentially because they are viewed as a ‘passive’ hazard in contrast to the more widely studied catastrophic hazards such as tropical cyclones and earthquakes. According to Coates (1996), heatwaves kill more people than any other natural hazard experienced in Australia. In a study on the consequences of heatwaves, Andrews (1994) reported that in the period between 1803 and 1992, at least 4287 people died as a direct result of heatwaves. This was almost twice the number of fatalities attributed to either tropical cyclones or floods over much the same time frame

Extract from The West Australian (21 February, 1995) ,

Perth’s heatwave caused record power consumption and overstretched the ambulance services.There were many more assaults and brawls than normal in the early hours of Sunday when Perth sweltered through the hottest February night for ten years.The real stinker was back in 1933 when we copped four days over 40, 44.3, 44.6. 42.3 and then a cool change with 40.1

How to keep cool in a heatwave ?

Heatwave ’s not only makes the local temperature  rise  but also makes  many peoples temperature rise, due to the uneasiness and hot weather , people can get stressed and frustrated and easily get into arguments and fights.

Drink lots of water and keep a bottle of cool water handy

If you got a pool or  bathtub .. now is the time to indulge  and make the most of it ( but make sure slip slop!! )

Instead of using your gas /stove to cook up lunch, try having salads, cold sandwiches, or cold cereals for lunch.  Leave cooking on the stove for later in the evening when it may not be as hot.

Hang heavy insulating blankets or something similar in the windows that the sun shines through daily. The more sun you can block from shining directly into your home the cooler it will be.

A cool shower can help your entire body cool down.

Wear Light Colors: Darker colors will absorb the sun’s rays and be warmer than light or white clothing, which reflects light and heat. Wear natural summer clothing. Wear natural fabrics (cotton, silk, linen) rather than polyester, rayon, or other artificial fibers (with the possible exception of performance fabrics)

Close your blinds and curtains during the day to block the sun. For even better protection, get aluminized blinds (or use removable sheets of cardboard cut to size and covered in foil.)

Have cool summer drinks that will keep you cool

Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will promote dehydration

Cool as a cucumber! Slice a thin piece of cold cucumber (from the fridge or a cooler) and stick it in the middle of your forehead! This feels fantastic on a hot day or when stuck in a hot car, and works almost immediately!

Finally, use common sense. If the heat is intolerable, stay indoors when you can and avoid activities in direct sunlight or on hot asphalt surfaces. Pay special attention to the elderly, infants, and anyone with a chronic illness, as they may dehydrate easily and be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses