Southern NSW LHD.
Southern NSW Local Health District continues to monitor today’s testing bushfire and weather conditions and has plans to place to scale up services if needed.
Welfare checks are taking place on patients at home in the community and nursing staff will continue to monitor and assess their safety.
None of our health facilities are currently at risk from bushfire, and leaders across the district are in touch regularly with local teams to check the wellbeing of staff, assess emergency planning, and address any local needs or concerns.
Health staff and indeed the wider community are asked to carefully consider the need for travel. Please check the NSW RFS website or Hazards Near Me App to assess risk, links below.
We are very grateful to our staff and the care, expertise and kindness they bring to their work in these unsettling conditions. Thank you.
Heat stress is a considerable risk today, as our community endures its third day of temperatures around 40 degrees.
Hot weather can be dangerous for everyone. Follow these simple tips to support your health and wellbeing:
- Stay inside during the hottest part of the day
- At home, close your curtains and use fans or air conditioning
- Drink lots of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty
- Check in on family and friends.
If you need medical advice and your usual doctor isn't available, you can call Healthdirect anytime of the day or night, for free, on 1800 022 222 and get the help you need.
- Find out more about heatwave conditions in Southern NSW from the Bureau of Meteorology HERE
- More tips on staying cool HERE
- Many people in the community are also concerned about air quality and the impact of bushfire smoke. Bushfire smoke can affect your health and can make some people’s existing health conditions worse.
- Check the NSW Health bushfire smoke advice HERE
Given the bushfire history of our region, emotions in the community are heightened. It is normal to experience a range of feelings at these times.
It's very important to take care of yourself and know that you are not alone. Check in with others during this time, share how you are feeling and see what support you can offer each other.
For advice on taking care of your mental health visit the RAMHP website and health staff can access the Employee Assistance Program by calling 1300 364 273, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
An Extreme Fire Danger is in place today in the following communities:
- Snowy Monaro
- Yass Valley
- Upper Lachlan
- Queanbeyan Palerang
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Canberra and ACT
These are dangerous fire conditions; you should take action now to protect your life and property
A High Fire Danger remains in place for the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla.
Southern NSW Local Health District will continue to provide relevant health information and service updates to our community and staff via our website, social media channels, on MyHub, and local media.
We are working closely with other agencies including the NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, and local councils, to care for each other and our community.
We get through days like today together.
Links to useful information and tools:
- NSW Rural Fire Service, bushfire information and alerts HERE or the Hazards Near Me App HERE
- ABC Radio will also provide updates, or you can listen via the ABC Listen App HERE
- Heatwave warnings and advice from NSW Ambulance HERE
- Bushfire smoke health advice HERE
- Beat the heat advice on staying healthy in hot weather HERE
- NSW Road closures and conditions HERE
- Power outages HERE
- Telstra outages HERE
- For mental health advice and support HERE