HeraldSun
Aaron Langmaid with AAP
January 14, 2010
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Melbourne - Australia
UPDATE 4.40pm: AT least 40 people have collapsed in Melbourne today, paramedics say, as the city swelters above 43 degrees.
In Melbourne, paramedics reported two cases of heat exposure, one a 94-year-old Black Rock man, who was rehydrated and taken to the Alfred Hospital, and the other an 18-year-old woman in Kew, who was treated at the scene.
At 4.25pm, Melbourne hit its forecast high of 43C, with temperatures set to peak between 5pm and 7pm.
An overnight minimum of 27 degrees has been forecast.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said at 2pm parts of Melbourne had already surpassed 44 degrees and the hot spell would continue until about midday on Tuesday, when a cool change should come through.
Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman urged people to check on the elderly, the young and the ill and said staying out of the sun, drinking water and wearing loose clothing were important.
"Exercise is absolutely a no-no today,'' Mr Holman told reporters.
"It really is ridiculous to get out there and start running around ... or anything like that.
"Today is a day to be inside, put your feet up, stay as cool as possible, go to the movies, just stay out of that sun, otherwise you're going to end up in the back of an ambulance.''
By 2pm, 40 Melburnians had collapsed. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said it was not known how many of the collapses were heat-related but some definitely were.
"One was a 94-year-old man who was taken to hospital, and an 18-year-old woman who was assessed by paramedics but didn't go to hospital,'' he said.
Meanwhile, at Melbourne Zoo carnivores supervisor Adrian Howard said the animals were being treated to frozen blood, insects and icy poles.
"We just freeze a bit of blood from whatever meat we are feeding off and give them that to have a bit of a lick of,'' he said.
While bears were enjoying frozen watermelon, fruit ice blocks and a swim in their pool, the meerkats were tucking into frozen insects and others were enjoying water mist sprays or were just hiding away in the shadiest spots they could find.
The Wimmera region is on a code red "catastrophic" alert today - the highest possible, and the CFA has warned that the fire danger could be as bad, if not worse, tomorrow.
A total fire ban has been issued for tomorrow in all regions except South Western.
The electricity safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria, has warned Victorians to expect power disruptions because of the heat and strong winds.
Residents are being urged to keep their electricity use down and set their air conditioning thermostats at 25 degrees or higher.
Yesterday, paramedics were called to two cases of dehydration and a drowning scare on the Mornington Peninsula.
A 56-year-old woman was taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula about 7.15pm yesterday.
She was pulled from the water after she jumped from the pier and became weak in the water.
Paramedics were called to the scene just after 7pm.
Ambulance officer Kane Grose said the woman had been swimming for between 10-to-15 minutes before she became tired.
"The woman couldn't swim any more and raised her arms to get help,'' Mr Grose said.
"Someone who was nearby jumped into the water and pulled the woman back to the pier.
"She had swallowed some salt water while (she was) struggling.''
The woman was taken to Rosebud Hospital in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, Ambulance Victoria has issued a warning for people to stay in the shade during today's stifling heat after two people were hospitalised over the weekend with severe heat stroke.
Officers were called to Skye to help a badly sunburnt 17-year-old girl.
The teenager vomited several times on Saturday night and collapsed when she got out of bed early yesterday.
And last night paramedics treated a 16-year-old girl at Carrum.
The girl had blistered shoulders and was shaking when paramedics arrived.
She was given pain relief through an inhaler and half a litre of fluid through a drip and was taken to Frankston Hospital.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/power-warning-as-temperatures-soar/story-e6frf7jo-1225818041617
Aaron Langmaid with AAP
January 14, 2010
---
Melbourne - Australia
UPDATE 4.40pm: AT least 40 people have collapsed in Melbourne today, paramedics say, as the city swelters above 43 degrees.
In Melbourne, paramedics reported two cases of heat exposure, one a 94-year-old Black Rock man, who was rehydrated and taken to the Alfred Hospital, and the other an 18-year-old woman in Kew, who was treated at the scene.
At 4.25pm, Melbourne hit its forecast high of 43C, with temperatures set to peak between 5pm and 7pm.
An overnight minimum of 27 degrees has been forecast.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said at 2pm parts of Melbourne had already surpassed 44 degrees and the hot spell would continue until about midday on Tuesday, when a cool change should come through.
Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman urged people to check on the elderly, the young and the ill and said staying out of the sun, drinking water and wearing loose clothing were important.
"Exercise is absolutely a no-no today,'' Mr Holman told reporters.
"It really is ridiculous to get out there and start running around ... or anything like that.
"Today is a day to be inside, put your feet up, stay as cool as possible, go to the movies, just stay out of that sun, otherwise you're going to end up in the back of an ambulance.''
By 2pm, 40 Melburnians had collapsed. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said it was not known how many of the collapses were heat-related but some definitely were.
"One was a 94-year-old man who was taken to hospital, and an 18-year-old woman who was assessed by paramedics but didn't go to hospital,'' he said.
Meanwhile, at Melbourne Zoo carnivores supervisor Adrian Howard said the animals were being treated to frozen blood, insects and icy poles.
"We just freeze a bit of blood from whatever meat we are feeding off and give them that to have a bit of a lick of,'' he said.
While bears were enjoying frozen watermelon, fruit ice blocks and a swim in their pool, the meerkats were tucking into frozen insects and others were enjoying water mist sprays or were just hiding away in the shadiest spots they could find.
The Wimmera region is on a code red "catastrophic" alert today - the highest possible, and the CFA has warned that the fire danger could be as bad, if not worse, tomorrow.
A total fire ban has been issued for tomorrow in all regions except South Western.
The electricity safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria, has warned Victorians to expect power disruptions because of the heat and strong winds.
Residents are being urged to keep their electricity use down and set their air conditioning thermostats at 25 degrees or higher.
Yesterday, paramedics were called to two cases of dehydration and a drowning scare on the Mornington Peninsula.
A 56-year-old woman was taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula about 7.15pm yesterday.
She was pulled from the water after she jumped from the pier and became weak in the water.
Paramedics were called to the scene just after 7pm.
Ambulance officer Kane Grose said the woman had been swimming for between 10-to-15 minutes before she became tired.
"The woman couldn't swim any more and raised her arms to get help,'' Mr Grose said.
"Someone who was nearby jumped into the water and pulled the woman back to the pier.
"She had swallowed some salt water while (she was) struggling.''
The woman was taken to Rosebud Hospital in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, Ambulance Victoria has issued a warning for people to stay in the shade during today's stifling heat after two people were hospitalised over the weekend with severe heat stroke.
Officers were called to Skye to help a badly sunburnt 17-year-old girl.
The teenager vomited several times on Saturday night and collapsed when she got out of bed early yesterday.
And last night paramedics treated a 16-year-old girl at Carrum.
The girl had blistered shoulders and was shaking when paramedics arrived.
She was given pain relief through an inhaler and half a litre of fluid through a drip and was taken to Frankston Hospital.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/power-warning-as-temperatures-soar/story-e6frf7jo-1225818041617
