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.com.au Thursday, 16
January, 2014
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Property ty Lift outt
n Vulnerable elderly citizens cool off to beat soaring temperatures...
Licking the heat By BRIDGET SCOTT COOLING off with ice-creams and air-conditioning seems to be the most favoured option for the community’s elderly citizens this week. As Victoria experiences one of its biggest heat waves since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, some of the shire’s most vulnerable residents are doing anything they can to escape the sweltering heat. Pakenham’s Millhaven Aged Care director of care Linda Austen said staff were doing everything they could to keep residents cool. “We are making sure they have extra fluids and where there isn’t air conditioning, we encourage them to come to the common areas,” she said. Ms Austen said they were also encouraging residents to remain indoors, and the number of activities run each day meant the idea had great appeal. On Wednesday afternoon, residents were treated to a cinema session, topped off with icy poles and ice-creams. However, not everyone in the community has been able to indulge in such luxuries throughout the hotter days, and members from Ambulance Victoria are urging everyone to avoid the heat where possible. Frail relatives as well as elderly citizens are among those who paramedics are urging others to keep an eye out for during the hot summer days. Ambulance Victoria said the temperature would range between low to mid 40s across most of the state up until Friday. Ambulance Victoria’s manager of Emergency Management Paul Holman urges everyone to act responsibly so as to avoid a catastrophe similar to that in 2009. “The hot weather including high overnight temperatures in 2009 led to an extra 374 deaths across Victoria in a week,” Mr Holman said. “People underestimate the impact the heat can have and need to respect
Left: Sixty-five-year old David Milne is a newcomer to the home, and did everything he could to escape the heat. 112976
Friends Joyce Leed and Frances Hewitt from Millhaven in Pakenham enjoy an icy pole to try and stay cool on Wednesday. 112976 Pictures: ROB CAREW All available resources across the vices appropriately during the heat,” the weather.” Mr Holman said people periods outside in the heat of the day,” state will be deployed to respond to the he said. Between midnight on Monday should be aware of elderly and frail he said. relatives who might not cope well with and 4pm on Tuesday afternoon, AmbuAmbulance Victoria activated its extra demand. the heat, and encouraged people to re- emergency response plan to the secMr Holman urged people to consid- lance Victoria paramedics attended 35 main indoors, without spending long ond highest level on Tuesday, in order er other options if it’s not a life threat- cases of heat exhaustion or heat/stroke periods of time in the sun. across the state, and were also called to cope with any increase in calls this ening emergency. “People should use medical ser- to five cases of children locked in cars. “Avoid exercising or spending long week.
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