Health education and a co‐ordinated response system to support vulnerable people during heat waves

Abstract

DISCLAIMER: Australian Red Cross is a national society within the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement and, as such, must abide by the movement's Fundamental Principles, being humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. The material in this publication cannot be used in ways or in forums or for purposes that conflict with these Principles.

Responding to heatwave intensity: Excess Heat Factor is a superior predictor of health service utilisation and a trigger for heatwave plans

“…3 Many jurisdictional public health agencies have adopted emergency heat management plans to assist with health system preparedness and innovative response strategies. 4 Defining the threshold for -and intensity of -a heatwave is difficult. 5 A heatwave can be defined generally as a period where the heat pattern within a region has the potential to cause adverse health, social or economic impacts.…”

Support for vulnerable people during heat waves: a response to Stuart et al.

“…1 Accordingly, in February 2009, the New South Wales (NSW) Government launched the 'Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service' to help adults reduce these health risks. 2,3 The innovative service provides free brief telephone calls, print information and resources to all callers, and for the interested, expert individualised telephone coaching consisting of up to 10 calls for up to 6 months.…”

Validity of claims in a disclaimer

“…I was surprised to read the Disclaimer that accompanied the letter from Stuart and colleagues in the August 2011 issue of the Journal 1 . As a reminder for readers, the authors presented the results of interviews with 20 Australian Red Cross clients (location not stated but probably Adelaide) about their knowledge of and preparedness for heat waves.…”

“…I was surprised to read the Disclaimer that accompanied the letter from Stuart and colleagues in the August 2011 issue of the Journal. 1 As a reminder for readers, the authors presented the results of interviews with 20 Australian Red Cross clients (location not stated but probably Adelaide) about their knowledge of and preparedness for heat waves. The last two authors work for the Australian Red Cross and the letter was preceded by a disclaimer that listed the 'Fundamental Principles' of the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality) and finished with the statement "The material in this publication cannot be used in ways or in forums or for purposes that conflict with these Principles".…”