Heat: The silent killer stalking Australia's summer

For Sanaa Shah's family, the Australian summer is a stark contrast to the idyllic coastal lifestyle portrayed in travel brochures. They don't have the luxury of a nearby beach to escape the heat. Instead, the sweltering days often confine Sanaa indoors due to debilitating migraines, and her younger sister suffers from severe nosebleeds. Their residence is situated in an inland region of Sydney, where temperatures can soar 10C higher than coastal suburbs due to its geographical layout, scarcity of green spaces, and an excess of heat-absorbing surfaces.

This region, known as western Sydney, is witnessing one of the fastest-growing urban populations in the country, coupled with escalating poverty rates. Weather data reveals that one in every ten summer days in this region already exceeds 35C. Heat is ominously referred to as Australia's 'silent killer' as it claims more lives than all other natural disasters combined, yet leaves no visible evidence of its destructive capacity. However, the impacts of heat are disproportionately felt, with over 60% of such fatalities occurring in disadvantaged communities like Sanaa's, as per a climate modelling firm.

Experts are now voicing concerns that without government intervention, 'social inequality' will become a determining factor in survival amidst Australia's intensifying temperatures. Australia categorises a heatwave as a period of three or more consecutive days of unusually high day and night temperatures. During these hotter conditions, the human body can struggle to cool down, leading to a variety of illnesses, including heatstroke, which can cause irreversible damage to the organs if left untreated. The elderly, disabled, or those with underlying health conditions are most vulnerable - but anyone unable to find cooler conditions can face lethal consequences. According to official data, heat has been responsible for nearly 300 Australian deaths and has resulted in 7,000 hospital admissions in the past decade. However, a study conducted by the Australian National University argues that the actual figures are significantly under-reported as death certificates only record specific information. It discovered that heat had contributed to 36,000 Australian deaths between 2006 and 2017.