An extreme heatwave lingering over New South Wales has forced residents to come up with creative ways to stay cool.
Temperatures are expected to soar to the mid-30s in Sydney on Monday, with the western suburbs reaching 40C, after the city sweated through its hottest day in almost 80 years.
Penrith, in the city’s west, exceeded 47 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon but conditions across the city cooled slightly on Monday morning with some early rainfall.
For the unprepared, heatwaves can become far more deadly than natural disasters like bushfires, cyclones and floods, especially for young children, the elderly and those with mobility problems.
If you’re fortunate enough to have your own at home, it’s recommended you fire it up and enjoy the cooling relief, otherwise public spaces like libraries, cinemas and galleries also offer sanctuary for the sweltering outside temperatures.
But there are ways to beat the heat, even if you’re not one of the blessed few who have air conditioning at home.
An extreme heatwave lingering over New South Wales has forced residents to come up with creative ways to stay cool (pictured: a woman tries to cool down by sitting in a bar fridge)
Temperatures are expected to soar to the mid-30s in Sydney on Monday, with the western suburbs reaching 40C, after the city sweated through its hottest day in almost 80 years (pictured: one clever woman placed patio furniture in her blow up pool to beat the heat)
Penrith, in the city’s west, exceeded 47 degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon but conditions across the city cooled slightly on Monday morning with some early rainfall
One innovative thinker even used an esky to create a homemade breeze instead of the usual air conditioning unit
MAKE YOUR OWN AIR CON
It’s possible to make your own air conditioning at home with a shallow dish of ice in front of a pedestal fan.
The air blows over the ice and as it melts, releases a cool mist.
One innovative thinker even used an esky to create a breeze
SWAP YOUR SHEETS AND FREEZE THEM
For a restful slumber, swap your satin, silk and polyester sheets for loose cotton linen that is breathable and promotes airflow.
Put your pillowcase, or even your sheets, in the freezer before bedtime. It helps you get to sleep as they stay cool just long enough for you to nod off.
A damp towel or ice pack are also recommended bedfellows.
AVOID ICY WATER
Surprisingly, during hot weather the first thing you want to do is reach for a glass of icy cold water.
But cold water can slow digestion, which in turn slows your metabolism, constricting blood vessels and your ability cool off.
Stay hydrated with room temperature water instead.
WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING
Loose fitting cotton fabrics are your best bet to keep cool both during the day and while you sleep at night.
Light coloured clothing is also recommended to reflect light and heat.
AVOID THE ELECTRONICS
Ditching the electronics like phones and laptops is also advised, as these products can emit heat.
Switching them off will also keep your electricity bill down.
Sydney’s beaches were packed with people on Sunday as temperatures climbed into the 40s
One group of friends had the right idea by setting up a volleyball game between their blow-up pools
A man can be seen wading into the water to buy an ice cream
A group of New Zealanders constructed a makeshift swimming pool in their backyard in 2016, using only timber, a nail gun and some plastic wrapping sheet
‘Took us 30 minutes to make… Best idea ever, next one will be bigger and deeper, everyone can join… bring the BIKINIS!’ wrote Danny Aldworth, after he posted photos of the engineering masterpiece on a local radio station’s Facebook page
The pictures show the three men enjoying their new backyard addition, which looks to be around 4 metres in length and about 1 metre in depth
A group of New Zealanders constructed a makeshift swimming pool in their backyard in 2016, using only timber, a nail gun and some plastic wrapping sheet.
‘Took us 30 minutes to make… Best idea ever, next one will be bigger and deeper, everyone can join… bring the BIKINIS!’ wrote Danny Aldworth, after he posted photos of the engineering masterpiece on a local radio station’s Facebook page.
The pictures show the three men enjoying their new backyard addition, which looks to be around 4 metres in length and about 1 metre in depth.
Speaking to 702 ABC radio in 2016 during the blistering heat, sustainability expert Michael Mobbs offered up some other slightly bizarre but effective advice for keeping cool.
Mr Mobbs claims drinking a hot cup of tea works in the same way as the fan blowing cold water and will also help to eventually cool down the body.
‘When you sweat, that evaporates and cools your skin,’ He said. ‘That’s the funny thing about a hot cup of tea cooling you down on a hot day.’
He pointed out that a lack of tree in urban areas also become a serious problem during heatwaves as the exposed road surfaces can reach up to 70 degrees during the day.
‘You could cook an egg on them,’ he said. ‘In many parts of Sydney [the roads] will still be reading 40, 50 or 60 degrees at 7 pm at night.’
NSW Health has advised people to stay hydrated, limit physical activity, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day
People should aim to drink two to three litres of water a day, even if they’re not feeling thirsty
During the day, keep all windows and doors closed and the curtains drawn and open all of the doors and windows at night
Temperatures in the city on Monday will sit in the mid 30s but the mercury in the city’s west will hit the 40s, according to the weather bureau
He suggests planting a few trees to block out the blistering sunlight, or if that’s not an option plan ahead and start growing a passion fruit vine on a western facing wall, which will eventually form a canopy.
For a quick fix, heat proof curtains with a thick, matted side to keep the heat out are also effective.
NSW Health has advised people to stay hydrated, limit physical activity, avoid alcohol and sugary drinks and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Instead people should aim to drink two to three litres of water a day, even if they’re not feeling thirsty.
It’s vital to keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stress and heat-related illnesses which include heat rash caused by excessive sweating.
Cramps, muscle pains or spasms are also indicators as well as nausea dizziness, and fainting.
There can be a feeling of light-headedness before fainting occurs.
Babies and young children may show signs of restlessness or irritability and have fewer wet nappies. Older people may become lightheaded, confused, weak or faint.
Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesman James Morris has warned the public against becoming complacent about the risk of fires.
Monday’s forecasted winds and rainfall won’t penetrate too far west, with Penrith and Richmond still expected to reach up to 40C while parts of the Hunter Region brace for temperatures up to 43C, he said.
‘That’s accompanied by winds which may push up around the 40-kilometre mark, so firefighters are on standby to respond to anything should it kick off,’ Mr Morris told ABC Radio on Monday.
‘We’ve seen over the past month, fires that we’ve had haven’t necessarily been burning on days of severe or above-fire-danger rating … the fuel is dry out there, the fuel’s dry all around NSW.’
More than 50 new fires were sparked on Sunday, with 21 blazes continuing to burn into Monday, according to the RFS, and a severe fire danger rating was issued for the Hunter region.
Sydney was reportedly the hottest place on earth on Sunday with Penrith taking out the title of the hottest part of the city on Sunday, reaching 47.3C just after 2.30 pm.
Richmond reached 46.3C just after 2.30pm while the temperature in Bankstown broke 45C.
The NSW Rural Fire Service warned residents to prepare their bushfire plans. If people are considering leaving their homes they should ‘leave early’, the RFS said.
More than 50 new fires were sparked on Sunday, with 21 blazes continuing to burn into Monday, according to the RFS, and a severe fire danger rating was issued for the Hunter region