Climate change is expected to increase the frequency, duration and intensity of heat waves in Australia over the next 50 years. Heat waves have caused more deaths in Australia than any other natural disaster in the past century. Heat-related deaths are predicted to double in Australia from a 1990Ð99 baseline by 2020 if preventive and adaptive measures are not implemented.... Twenty Red Cross clients were interviewed in their homes and asked questions to assess their adaptive and preventive behaviours during a heat wave, their knowledge of adverse heat-related health effects, their level of preparedness and their perception of a heat wave as an emergency event. Following the questions, the Telecross REDi service was explained to participants and two further questions were asked to determine whether the participants intended to change their behaviours before and during the next heat wave....