Sun Safety
The Australian sun can be very hot and may be stronger than what you are used to in your home country.
There are some steps you can take to protect your skin:
- Check the UV index before you plan on being outdoors. It's a good idea to download the SunSmart app which lets you know when you do and don't need sun protection.
- Wear a SPF50+ water resistant sunscreen to protect your skin and apply 20 minutes before you go outside.
- Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before swimming to ensure it doesn't completely wash off. Then re-apply sunscreen after swimming.
- Wear a hat and UV protective sunglasses.
- Avoid spending time in the direct sun between 10am and 4pm, as this is when the sun is strongest.
- Make sure you follow these tips even when it isn’t sunny – you can still get burnt on cloudy or overcast days.
Water Safety
Australia has many beautiful beaches but it is important to take care when swimming.
Here are some tips for staying safe in the water:
- Never dive into water if you are not sure how deep it is.
- Only swim at patrolled beaches (a beach where there are lifeguards on duty) and always swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards can see you.
- Many Australian beaches have ‘rips’. These are strong underwater currents that can be hard to spot but which can draw you away from the shore quickly. If you swim between the flags, you should not have any problem with rips. If you do find yourself in a rip, try not to panic or swim against it. Stay with your surfboard or other floating device if you have one. Swim gently parallel to the beach out of the rip zone, or wave and call for assistance from lifeguards or other swimmers and surfers.
- If you see someone waving for help at the beach, find a lifeguard or nearby surfer. If there is no one around, call the emergency number on triple-zero (000).
For more information on water safety visit the Surf Life Saving website.
Image credit: Destination NSW
