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New - AI Triage Decision support, in real time Our AI reads the scene alongside the operator, surfacing the next best action as it unfolds. Explore AIHow to keep homes cool, check on vulnerable people daily, recognise heat illness and stay safe if wildfire threatens your community.
This is not a medical or fire rescue guide. It covers community awareness and neighbour support only. For medical or fire emergencies, call your local emergency number. Always follow instructions from the emergency services.
To access this guide in the app: Me Tab->Manage your skills->Community Resilience: Heat
Green to Red and what each means
curtains, loft hatches, damp towels and fans
what to look for and ask
cramps, exhaustion and stroke
stay or go, shelter in place
N95/FFP2 masks and indoor protection
Many national weather and health services issue heat-health alerts by region when hot weather is forecast. Names and colours vary by country - check the alerts your national weather service issues, on its website or app.
No immediate heat risk.
Stay informed. Identify vulnerable neighbours now.
Hot weather forecast in 3-4 days.
Prepare: check on neighbours. Stock water and fans.
Increased health risk. Act now.
Visit vulnerable people daily. Follow all cooling guidance in this guide.
Danger to life.
Emergency action. Call your local emergency number for heat illness. Evacuate if directed.
Target temperatures: below 26°C (79°F) during the day and below 24°C (75°F) at night. If you cannot keep a vulnerable person's home below these thresholds, they are at risk - contact their doctor or local health services for support.
The key principle: keep heat out during the day, flush cool air through at night. A well-managed home can be kept 5-10°C cooler than outside.
While outside is hotter than inside (usually from 9am)
Do this by 9am - before the outside temperature exceeds the indoor temperature. Even thin curtains can reduce heat gain by up to 40%.
Hot air rises. Opening the loft hatch allows trapped heat to escape into the loft space and out through roof vents. This alone can noticeably reduce upper-floor temperatures. Do this for neighbours who cannot reach their hatch.
Evaporating water cools the air passing through - an effective, low-cost cooler. Re-wet every hour in high heat.
Typically a room on the shady side of the ground floor. Encourage vulnerable neighbours to spend the hottest hours (11am-3pm) here.
Ovens, dishwashers, tumble dryers and incandescent bulbs generate significant heat. Delay their use until the cooler evening.
Once outside is cooler than inside (usually after 9-10pm)
Create a cross-draught by opening windows at both ends. Ground floor and upper floor windows together maximise airflow.
A fan facing inward on the windward side and outward on the leeward side dramatically increases air exchange. A bowl of ice in front of a fan provides additional cooling.
A lightly damp (not wet) sheet cools through evaporation throughout the night - very effective for elderly neighbours who struggle with heat.
Trap the cooler night air inside before the sun starts heating the building again.
During Amber or Red alerts, aim to visit or call vulnerable neighbours at least once - ideally twice - each day. A visit in person is more effective than a phone call.
Before a heatwave: elderly residents, people who live alone, those with chronic conditions (heart disease, COPD, diabetes, kidney disease), people on certain medications (diuretics, antihistamines, antipsychotics).
A phone call cannot reveal if the home is dangerously hot, if the person is confused, or if they have had enough to drink. Visit in person during Amber and Red alert levels.
If the hallway feels very hot, the home needs cooling immediately. Open the loft hatch, close curtains and set up a fan before leaving.
Ask: "Have you had anything to drink today?" and "Have you taken your medication?" Dehydration reduces the desire to drink - you may need to actively encourage them. Offer water with every visit - do not wait to be asked.
Confusion, very flushed skin, stopping sweating despite the heat, rapid breathing or a strong headache are all warning signs. See Module 4.
Open the loft hatch, hang damp towels, bring cold water or a fan, collect medication, or drive them somewhere cooler (library, shopping centre, family member's home).
Hydration: Aim for 1.5-2 litres of fluid per day - more in extreme heat. Keep a large jug of cold water visible and within reach. Signs of dehydration: dark yellow urine, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, confusion. Dark brown urine - seek urgent medical advice immediately.
Heat illness exists on a spectrum. The key distinction: heat exhaustion is treatable with first aid, while heat stroke is a medical emergency - call your local emergency number.
Wildfires are increasing in many parts of the world, including places that rarely saw them before. This section covers recognising risk, warning neighbours, and sheltering safely. Never attempt to fight a wildfire yourself.
If you see smoke or an active wildfire, call your local emergency number before doing anything else.
If an official evacuation order is issued - leave immediately using the designated route.
Close all windows and doors. Seal gaps with wet towels. Move to an interior room away from the fire side.
Only return when authorities give the all-clear - re-ignition is common even after visible fire is gone.
Smoke safety: Wildfire smoke contains carbon monoxide, fine particles (PM2.5) and toxic gases. Wear an N95 or FFP2 respirator mask if you must go outside - standard surgical masks provide very limited protection. Do not exercise outdoors during poor air quality. People with asthma, COPD or heart disease should follow their emergency action plan and contact a doctor or health advice line if symptoms worsen.
Never attempt to fight a wildfire yourself - call your local emergency number. Always follow the fire service's instructions.
Key actions to remember during a heatwave or wildfire event. Save this page or screenshot for offline access.
Never attempt to fight a wildfire - call emergency services. Heat stroke is a medical emergency - call an ambulance. This is an awareness guide, not a medical or fire rescue guide.
Numbers differ from country to country. Save your local ones in your phone before a heatwave.
Always follow the advice of your national and local authorities and the emergency services. For advanced training, contact your local fire service or Red Cross or Red Crescent society. Community first response: goodsamapp.org.
