Health Victoria has issued a heat health alert for Friday covering much of central Victoria, including Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Kyneton and Echuca.

Authorities recommend people spend as much time as possible inside cool, air-conditioned buildings ahead of a forecast top of 39 degrees, and overnight low of just 21.

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Heat health alerts are issued when temperatures are forecast to reach above identified threshold, calculated by averaging the forecast daily maximum and minimum temperature.

Above these temperature thresholds heat-related illness and death such as heatstroke increase significantly.

Heatstroke can hit anyone but some people are at a higher risk.

Those over the age of 65, young babies and children, pregnant and nursing mothers, those with existing medical conditions and people on medication for mental illness are all more likely to suffer from heatstroke.

Symptoms can include:

For more information on heat safety visit: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/heat

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