Sun and water safety
Sun safety
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. In fact, one in every two Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point during their lifetime. The good news is it can be prevented. By minimising your exposure to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR), you can protect your skin and prevent the development of skin cancer.
Skin cancer and skin damage are caused by being exposed to UVR. The key to preventing skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun by practising sun-safe behaviours.
There are six simple steps you can follow to reduce your risk of skin cancer and protect your skin:
- minimise your time in the sun between 10am and 3pm, when the sun is strongest;
- seek shade;
- wear suitable clothing that provides good sun protection;
- choose a broad brim, legionnaire-style or bucket-style hat that will protect your face, neck and ears;
- wear UV protective sunglasses; and
- apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before you go out into the sun.
Read more about sun safety at: www.cancercouncil.com.au
Water safety
There’s nothing better than slipping into a cool pool, river, lake or ocean on a sweltering Australian summer day. Stay safe by following these steps:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach. Lifeguards patrol this area, making it the safest area for swimmers, where you will avoid dangers like rips, undercurrents, rocks, reefs, jellyfish and other hazards;
- Always be careful of rip currents (also known as rips). These are strong currents of water running out to sea. If you get caught in a rip don’t panic. Don’t try and swim against the rip and if you are confident, swim parallel to the beach. If you feel you are unable to reach the beach at any time, raise your arm and call for assistance while floating to conserve your energy. Read more information on rips at: www.ripcurrents.com.au
- Obey the instructions given by lifeguards on the beach. They know what they are doing, and your compliance with their requests makes you safer. After all, you might need their help if you get into trouble;
- Don’t swim at beaches that don’t have lifeguards on duty;
- If you’re swimming in a river, creek or dam, always check the water depth first and check for submerged hazards like rocks or logs. NEVER dive into water without first checking the water depth. Better still, walk in carefully;
- Never swim or operate a boat if you have been drinking alcohol. Alcohol can create physical changes (loss of balance, spasm of the vocal chords, increased risk of hypothermia) and behavioural changes (lack of coordination, risk-taking behaviour, impaired reaction time and judgement) that increase the chances of a water-related accident;
- If you have children with you, keep them under constant supervision. Make sure you can always see them and are close enough to respond if they get into trouble. Drowning can occur in a matter of seconds without any sound of splashing or crying to alert you;
- If you are on a boat, always wear a personal flotation device (PFD), even if you are not far from land;
- Remember that water conditions change quickly. Just because a beach was safe to swim at in the morning does not mean that it will still be safe in the afternoon; and
- Do not enter any body of water (e.g. backyard swimming pools, the ocean, rivers, dams or other body of water) if you don’t know how to swim. You can take lessons from a certified instructor at many local swimming pools. For a list of places near you, go to www.austswim.com.au
Read more about a wide range of water safety issues including water safety and alcohol, safety in swimming pools, boating safety and more at: www.royallifesaving.com.au
Read more about beach-related safety at: www.sls.com.au
Read more about swimming pool safety and children at: www.kidsalive.com.au