Taking Care, Safety and environment while traveling in Australia
Because there are so many people that visit Australia from overseas every week of the year, I thought I would write an article on taking care with safety and environment.

For all its superlative beauty, the Australian coastline is environmentally fragile and can be dangerous. But by being aware and implementing some precautionary practices, beachgoers can help protect their surrondings and themselves.

Personal Safety While Visiting Sunny Australia

Sun and Heat ExposureBondi Beach at sunset

Australia is a sunny, hot and beautiful country. But over exposure to the sun is dangerous, but can be avoided by taking the following precautions.

Always use an umbrella, shade or tent for a day at the many Australia beache's
Apply sunscreen every two hours. A high factor sunscreen will provide 96 percent protection against harmful
uv rays but should be used in conjuntion with shade and adequate clothing.
Wear a shady hat and sunglasses: check the sunglasses when purchasing to ensure they comply with Australian
standards.
Wear suitable clothing: between swims, put on a long sleeved top or shirt: dress children in protective bathing
suits many have long sleeves.

Extreme heat is a fact of life in many areas of Australia. If you intend to travel to a hot area of the continent, plan your trip to coincide with the cooler months (April to November). In hot conditions, try to avoid the outdoors between 11 am and 3 pm, and drink plenty of water.

Swimming

Australia has 10,000 beaches and only a tiny fraction of these are patrolled. Patrolled beaches are common in the suburbs of cities and around major holiday towns. Rural beaches will generally have patrols on weekends and public holidays.

Always observe the following tips.

Swim between the flags. The yellow and red flags mark the safe areas to swim. Look back to the beach regularly to
check that you are still between the flags.
Whenever possible, swim at beaches patrolled by lifesavers.
Read and obey all warning signs.
If unsure about conditions, check with a lifesaver. In an unpatrolled area, seek local advice.
Never swim alone
Always supervise children when they are in the water. Explain to children when they are in the water. Explain
to children the difference between swimming in the ocena and in a pool.
Never run or dive into water, even if you have checked the depth.
Do not swim for half an hor after eating.
Do not swimunder the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If you get into trouble, stay calm: relax, raise your arm for help and float on your back.

How to identify Rips In Australian Beach's

A rip is a strong current running out ot sea from a surf beach. It can carry you out very quickly. A rip is created when water from broken waves flows back to the sea in channels between sandbanks. Rips can be extremely powerful and even strong swimmers find it hard to swim against them. If you are caught in a rip, swim across it, not against it. Try and determine the shortest distance to a safe area, and swim to that area, keeping parallel to the shore Swim into shore only when you are clear of the rip. If you are not a strong swimmer, remember the three R's: Relax, raise your arm, wait to be rescued, To identify a rip, look for the following:
Water discoloured by sand
Foam on the water's surface beyond the beach area
waves breaking further out, usually on either side of the rip.
Debris floating out ot sea
an area of rippled water amid calm water

Boating Safety In Australia

Make sure you use a vessel that suits the conditions. Small craft should not be used in rough water. Spend enough time in calm conditions to familiarise yourself with your boat's capabilities before venturing into rough and or open water.

In Australia entrances between estuaries and the ocean,known as bars, are notoriously hazardous for boats. Anglers in boats under 4 m should only attempt bar crossings in calm conditions: boats of 5 or 6 m are a realistic offshore size.

Rock Fishing

Rock fishing can be hazardous, and anglers need to take some basic steps to ensure their own safety:
Be aware of swell sizes, changing tides and weather conditions. Avoid fishing in places that become cut off when
the tide rises.
Before fishing, watch the sea for about 20 minutes to get a sense of the size of the waves.
Plan an escape route in case you fall in. If you do fall in, swim away from the rocks and look for a safe place to swim
ashore or float until help arrives
Wear suitable footwear.
Fish in the presence of other anglers.
Seeek local advice about dangerous areas.

Surfing in Australia

The best surf is often found at remote and unpatrolled areas, in these instances surfers are responsible for their own safety. AVoid putting yourself and others at risk by observing the following tips:

If you are inexperienced, as many visitors are, take lessons.
Always surf with someone else.
Only surf if you can swim 200 m through turbulent water without tiring.
Check conditions thoroughly before entering the water, listen to weather reports, talk to locals and watch the Main surfing Beach on the Gold Coast
water carefully for rips and currents.
Pick out a landmark, a tree or headland and use it to maintain your position.
Avoid collisions by paddling clear of the take off area.
Avoid areas where local surfers are known to be aggresive.
Understanding the ocean is very important - the more you know about how waves,
wind and tides affect conditions in the water, the better able you are to keep yourself
safe, or even rescue others, from danger. Recognising danger signs and awareness of surf conditions is an essential part of lifesaving.

Remember the F-L-A-G-S and stay safe I found this great saying to keep save while surfing:

F Find the flags and swim between them - the red and yellow flags mark the safest place to swim at the beach.

L Look at the safety signs - they help you identify potential dangers and daily conditions at the beach.

A Ask a surf lifesaver for some good advice - surf conditions can change quickly so talk to a surf lifesaver or lifeguard before entering the water.

G Get a friend to swim with you - so you can look out for each other's safety and get help if needed. Children should always be supervised by an adult.

S Stick your hand up for help - if you get into trouble in the water, stay calm, raise your arm to signal for help. Float with a current or rip - don't try and swim against it.

Diving in Australian Waters

Scuba diving is a highly regulated activity in Australia. A strict rating system applies, based on the experience of the individual diver, which is determined by the number of diving hours he or she has accrued. Reputable operators adhere to this system and will not take inexperienced divers to inappropriate sites. The following are a few key points to remember:
Only scuba dive if you have completed an accredited course.
No matter what your level, if you are entering unfamiliar waters always dive with a local diver.
Before diving, ensure you have the correct equipment for the conditions. Seek expert advice if you are diving in an
area you are unfamiliar with.
Check that all your equipment is in good working order before every dive.
Make sure your wetsuit is suitable for the conditions.
Check the weather forecst and also assess the weather and the dive site before entering the water.
When diving from a boat, it is always best to dive with a buddy. Fly a dive flag and make sure someone stays to mind the
boat.
Have contact details and emergency numbers available and have a plan in case of an emergency.

There are numerous safety and personal health issues associated with diving in Australia. Just take the above precautions
and your holiday will be safe and happy.

Dangerous Creatures in Australia

The Australian coastline is home to a variety of dangerous and even deadly creatures. Swimmers, surfers and divers
should check conditions with locals before entering the water. This is particularly so in remote areas or places where there
are no beach patrols.

Marine Stingers

(Box Jellyfish) There are two species of dangerous marine stingers found in Australia's tropical waters north from
Agnes Water in Queensland to Exmouth in Western Australia. The highly venomous Chironex and the less common irukandji
are usually found in coastal waters from October to May. Many popular beaches in northern Queensland have a stinger resistant
enclosure for swimmers. It is not safe to swim at other places. Observe signs and heed local warnings. In case
of a sting, seek immediate medical aid. Douse the sting in vinegar. Ice packs can be applied to relieve the pain but do not rub.
CPR may be required in some cases, a severe attack can slow down or stop breathing or cause heart failure.

Sharks

Sharks are unpredictable and little is known about why they occasionally attack humans. There are dangerours sharks
in many of Australia's coastal waters. Many species will attack without killing, but the larger, faster species, notably
tiger sharks and white sharks, are proven killers. Take precautions to avoid possible shark attack by swimming in patrolled
areas, swimming with others, avoiding discoloured water and leaving the water before sunset.

Sea Snakes

There are around 21 species of sea snakes in Australia's tropical waters. Some species have a powerful venom that is dangerous to humans. Sea snakes can usually be recognised by their paddle like tail. They can be aggressive if handled or trodden on, so stay well away from them. Anti venom is available. Seek medical advice immediately if bitten.

Stonefish

Stonefish are found in the tropics, usually around shallow coral and rocks or camouflaged in mud and sand. The brownish green fish has 13 venomous dorsal spines, which can cause a painful sting when pressure is applied. The venom can be lethal. Avoid contact by wearing sturdy sandshoes around the water, it is best not to turn rocks or pick up coral.

Blue Ringed Octopus

These small creatures, about the size of a golf ball when fully grown, are common on shallow coral reefs and in rock pools around Australia. They are pale brown to yellow in colour, but electric blue rings light up when the octopus is threatened. The beak can bite through a wet suit, although the bite might be painless, the highly toxic venom can cause paralysis.

CrocodilesCrocodile Sydney zoo

Two varieties are found in northern Australia, man eating salwater crocodiles and the less dangerous freshwater species. Saltwater crocodiles are found in tidal estuaries but can travel to freshwater areas, sometimes as far as 300 km upstream Freshwater crocodiles are much smaller, with a long narrow snout, but they can be agressive if mating or protecting their
young. They are found in tropical rivers. Both varieties are well camouflaged:
Here are some tips to follow:
Heed local warning signs
take special care in tidal estuaries
avoid swimming, paddling or camping near water in crocodile infested areas.
Anglers should avoid wading into rivers or leaning out of boats in crocodile prone areas

Bushwalking In Australia

Around Australia there are sensational coastal walking routes, some of which are known the world over, such as the walks across Freycinet Peninsula in Tasmania and Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. These popular walks take in very remote areas. Avoid danger by following these steps if possible:
If walking in a national park or other reserve, seek advice from park staff and advise them of your route.
Addvise a friend or relative of your itinerary
Walk with other people or join a tour
Carry good wet and cold weather gear. Even at the height of summer, coastal condtions can change dramatically

Remote Driving

Many areas in Australia are remote and good planning is needed to ensure a safe trip. Different areas present different hazards, the northern tropical regions, for example, are subjuect to monsoon conditions during the Wet (October/November to April), at which time roads flood. When planning a journey to a remote spot, I would consider the following:
Are all the roads sealed? If not, will a 4WD vehicle be required?
Do long disgtances separate places where supplies, including petrol, are available?
Are roads likely to close? If this is a possibility, do you know how and where to get information on closures?
Is there accommodation availiable en route?
If not, are there places to camp?
Will a communications device be needed?
Are you covered in the event of a breakdown?
What are the limits of your coverage?

First Aid while traveling Australia

If you are planning to spend a lot of time around water, first aid training will be really worth while. Hundreds of lives, many of them childrens, are saved each year by the administration of basic first aid. It is also advisable to carry a first aid kit. Basic kits that cover most minor accidents are widely available at places like camping stores in Australia. Speciality kits, designed for particular enviornments and types of travel, are also available.

Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day author: Marc Llewellyn,Natalie Kruger,Lee Mylne,Natalie Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day Kruger asin: 0764564544

Lonely Planet Healthy Travel: Australia, Nz & the Pacific (Lonely Planet Healthy Travel Guides Austr author: Isabelle Young asin: 1864500522