Last summer was the hottest on record in Sydney, for 6 weeks it was over 40 at least one day a week and got up to 45. As air con is the exception the advice was to go to malls and libraries to keep cool. It was literally standing room only in the local library, all seats were taken. People were on the news going to the beach for a swim at 2 in the morning as it was too hot to sleep.
My biggest problem was the dogs. Had to stand them in the bath at regular intervals to cool them down. At one point the boy who hates water sank down into it of his own accord. Could almost see the steam rising off him!