Heat-related presentations at hospitals in Rockingham and Mandurah hospital emergency departments more than doubled this summer compared to last.
The shocking numbers revealed by the Peel region’s two hospitals follow a summer of soaring temperatures, including three separate heatwaves felt across the region.
In the six months to February, 20 people presented at Rockingham’s ED with heat-related symptoms, with two having to be admitted.
A year earlier, there were just six ED presentations with no admissions.
In a similar period this summer, Peel Health Campus had 10 presentations and three people were admitted.
A year before, those numbers were just three presentations and one admission.
There have been no heat-related deaths over the past two years.
A link between heat-related illness and high power bills was made public last week in a report released by the Australian Council of Social Services.
Its survey of more than 1000 people across the country found 60 per cent had trouble paying their energy bills and 80 per cent said high temperatures in their homes made them sick.
About 14 per cent of these people sought medical attention for heat stress.
They reported experiencing symptoms such as headaches, heat rash, breathing problems, nose bleeds, dehydration, nausea and vomiting, flare-ups in asthma, heart and vascular conditions, emphysema, diabetes and increasing anxiety and depression.
ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie told the ABC heatwaves were the biggest cause of hospitalisations related to extreme weather events.
“We’ve got to do more to protect people on low incomes from the damage they cause,” Dr Goldie said.
AMA WA president Michael Page said he experienced bill shock recently, which he put down to his home air-conditioning.
“We don’t know whether the cost of living is related to (local) admissions to hospital but the weather we’re having at the moment is a major contributor,” Dr Page said.
“But you know electricity is very expensive and there’s no easy answer there.”
Dr Page said he was worried about the future impacts climate change would have on the elderly and homeless but admitted that heat wasn’t having a major impact on the health system as yet.
“The system-wide impact now is pretty low; in the future, it’s predicted climate change could overwhelm health systems,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that climate change will be associated with deaths for all sorts of reasons. Extreme weather events aren’t just heatwaves.
“In the end, this is not so much about the system’s ability to cope right now but about the direct impacts it’s having on these patients and their families.”
During the recent heatwaves, people took to social media to share tips on how to keep cool.
These included:
- Putting feet in buckets of water
- Draping wet towels over fans
- Covering windows up
- Going to air-conditioned shops
- Going for a drive with the aircon up.
Dr Page said people should make sure their house was as cool as possible and ensure they were drinking plenty of water.
“If you have an elderly relative during a heatwave, you should check on them,” he said.
Lisa, an elderly pensioner from Mandurah who did not want her full name published, said she tried to save her air-conditioning only for 40-degree or higher days.
“I have a pedestal fan, and a handheld one, and put a cold flannel around my neck,” she said.
“I try not to do much during the day and wait until it cools down in the evenings to go outside or go for a walk.”
What is heat-related illness?
Emergency departments categorise heat stroke, sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion as heat-related illnesses.
Babies, young children, the elderly and people with certain health conditions or on certain medications can be more sensitive to heat-related illness.
Signs of heat stress include:
- tiredness and lethargy
- headache
- dizziness
- feeling faint
- muscle cramps
- feeling thirsty
- urinating less often.
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