Preparations are underway across Perth for trains to slow down, tradies to down tools and school students to eat lunch indoors as the city prepares for its second heatwave in two weeks.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 39 degrees Celsius on Thursday, peaking at 41C on Friday and Saturday, and remaining in the high 30s into next week.
It comes after temperatures exceeded forecasts for many communities across Western Australia last week, with Geraldton in the state's Midwest recording its hottest day in 12 years.
Keeping cool in school
Any school students hoping for a day off are out of luck, with Department of Education director-general Lisa Rodgers confirming public schools remained open "during periods of high temperature".
"Schools will be provided with further information this week to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to minimise the impact of the upcoming hot weather on students and staff," she said.
"This includes information from the Health Department, strategies to minimise the impact of hot weather – such as adjusting physical education activities, asking children to eat in classrooms and providing alternative play areas."
Schools are also set to receive instructions on how to reduce their electrical load.
It comes after a power failure left Bob Hawke College in Subiaco without air conditioning last week.
Advice from ambos
St John WA paramedic Matt Didcoe said the organisation was well prepared for heatwaves and in recent times many people had a greater awareness of how to stay safe.
But he said a heatwave could exacerbate the symptoms of many patients.
"Last week, we saw more cases where elderly people with medical conditions were impacted by that heat and it worsened their underlying condition," he said.
Mr Didcoe said warm nights had a big impact too, because the body did not get a chance to recover from the heat stress endured during the day.
"People with chronic health conditions can be more vulnerable to heat stress, but even for tradies and other people working outside, prolonged exposure over multiple days can get to them," he said.
"Sportspeople and athletes that might be training outdoors, and even just people that are outside going about their day, if they're not staying hydrated that can sneak up on them."
Mr Didcoe encouraged people to take care if attending outdoor events, including the Laneway Music Festival in Perth on Sunday, when the temperature is forecast to reach 39C.
Tradies to play it safe
CFMEU state secretary Mick Buchan said careful planning was the key to keeping construction workers safe during a heatwave.
"It's not uncommon during these hot days to see work onsite begin around 5am, as soon as daylight hits, and then by the time the heat of the day comes in they've knocked off," he said.
Construction workers are expected to stop work when the temperature exceeds 37.5C unless they are working in air-conditioned sites, a rule that Mr Buchan said the union was often criticised for.
But he said worker safety must come first, with the industry having suffered a number of heat-related fatalities in the past.
"It's not rocket science out there, workers shouldn't be subjected to performing high-risk work in weather conditions that can cause injury and harm," he said.
Mr Buchan said there had been reports of workers fainting and suffering dehydration during last week's heatwave.
"There's good employers and there's plenty of rogue operators," he said.
"I know from my organisers what normally happens within the CBD, the jobs around the city, they'll all work in sync once it hits temperature. They'll make sure the area is safe and they'll go home for the remainder of the day with pay.
"But my organisers then head out into the suburbs and the civil projects, where it's a completely different story."
Possible train delays
It is expected trains in Perth will be forced to slow down as extreme heat can "slightly distort" steel tracks.
When track temperatures reach 41C, all Transperth trains are required to drop their speed by 30 kilometres per hour.
A 20kph reduction kicks in on the Armadale, Fremantle, and Midland lines at 37C, while the Mandurah and Joondalup lines can reach 39C before the limit kicks in.
A Transperth spokesman said all train networks in Australia and around the world operated under similar heat protocols.
Busy beaches put lifeguards on alert
Lifeguards are also preparing for a busy few days as people flock to the beach to cool down.
Beachgoers have been encouraged to swim between the red and yellow flags, supervise children, avoid drugs and alcohol, and swim within their abilities.
Surf Life Saving WA's Cam Robbins said sun safety was also important for those who chose to stay out of the water.
"It's very important people hydrate, seek shade, put on a hat, wear sunscreen, and put on some sunglasses," he said.
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