To the Editor: Hot weather causes heat exhaustion, sunburn and contact burns. Each summer, children with these injuries attend Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Western Australia. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has recently proposed a definition for heatwave, requiring 3 days or more of high maximum and minimum temperatures that are unusual for a specific location.1 This is based on an excessive heat index numerical prediction model2 that is being tested by the Bureau of Meteorology for heatwave forecasting.3 Are local weather observations associated with an increase in these types of hot weather-related injury in children?
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- 1. Nairn J, Fawcett R. Defining heatwaves: heatwave defined as a heat-impact event servicing all community and business sectors in Australia. The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, 2013. (Technical Report No 060.) http://www.cawcr.gov.au/publications/technicalreports/CTR_060.pdf (accessed Jun 2015).
- 2. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. Pilot heatwave service for Australia. Canberra: BOM, 2014. http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/heatwave/ (accessed Dec 2014).
- 3. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology. About pilot heatwave forecast. Canberra: BOM, 2014. http://www.bom.gov.au/weather-services/about/heatwave-forecast.shtml (accessed Dec 2014).
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