Playing it Safe in Oz
We recommend that you get out there amongst it, which will mean that you are going to be in positions where you will see things that are foreign to you such as snakes, spiders and other animals and plants. If you use your head you’ll be fine, but just in case your head is suffering from the night before, here are a few tips to keep you out of trouble. Preparation is the key to a safe trip. If you are going bush, register your intended trip with someone who can alert the authorities in case of an emergency. Always remember to de-register once you return so people don’t go out looking for you while you’re sitting in the pub having a beer. Collect maps and up to date on the area you are travelling to. Ask the locals what to look out for - they always know the pitfalls and the highlights of the area. Check the nature of the territory and make sure that there is water on the way, otherwise carry enough to get you through.

Plan your camp-sites in advance if possible and plan your walking distances, taking into consideration the ability of the group. Don’t trek alone. Apart from being boring it’s not as safe or fun as trekking with a companion. Be prepared for weather extremes. Obtain weather and fire danger reports. ALWAYS OBEY FIRE RESTRICTIONS. Don’t push yourself. Eat and drink well to avoid fatigue. Check that you don’t need permission to traverse any lands. Carry an emergency first aid kit. You only need a small one for the basic emergencies and these take up the space of a book. Just remember you can’t do much with the book once a snake has bitten you or had a love bite from a croc. Respect the bush and others who use it. If you open a gate, close it. If you create rubbish, take it with you. If you need to go to the toilet please find somewhere away from the trails or water ways and try to bury it to so the bloke or gal behind you doesn’t step in it. Take a hat and wear it. Baseball caps might look trendy but they don’t protect your ears or the back of your neck from the brilliant Oz sun. Take sun screen and always carry water

Possible Nasties Snake Bites:
If you see a snake, the best thing to do is stand still and watch the bugger really closely. Apart from being amazing to watch they will invariably slither off into the bush without so much as a hiss if you leave them alone. They hate bushwalkers as much as you hate them. The fact is, snakes have a really keen sense of smell and there’s nothing that offends them more than the feet of a backpacker whose been tramping through the forest for ten hours.
• If someone near you gets bitten, don’t let them move at all or the only thing that will work will be to carefully dig a hole and lay the injured person in it. (In Oz this is commonly referred to as a burial). Make a decision (quickly) between running to get help to come to the victim or taking the victim to the help. Firstly, call 000 and either way you should do the following:
• DO NOT WASH the bitten area as residue may help to identify the offending snake. DO NOT cut the bite and try to suck the poison out. DO NOT apply a tourniquet.
• Apply a broad bandage over the bite area immediately. Begin by applying two turns above and below the bite area then bind over the bite area in two long figure of eights. Continue on spiralling the bandage above the bite for the full length of the affected limb. Use more than one bandage if necessary. The bandage should be firm but not tight. Immobilise the affected area by splinting.
• Reassure the patient. Keep them calm and ensure their pulse stays as low as possible. The whole concept behind doing all these things is to minimise the blood flow and thus prevent the venom spreading to the vital organs. The same stuff should be done if a spider bites someone.
• Finally - observe breathing. If it stops apply emergency resuscitation. (Don’t let the patient read this bit). Remember to remain calm.