Top 5 Springtime Safety Tips for Australians
Spring season is here once more in Australia, and with its arrival comes a lot of things that we’ve been looking forward to all year. These include a warmer and milder weather that’s perfect for outdoor activities, as well as the blossoming of many flower-bearing plants. The latter is especially something to anticipate, as it heralds the opening of the many flower festivals all over Australia, such as the month-long Floriade Flower Festival in Canberra and the King’s Park Festival in Perth to name just a couple.
That being said, the coming of springtime in Australia also means being exposed to elements that could prove problematic or even hazardous to your health. To help you keep yourself safe and healthy enough to enjoy the wonderful weather, take heed of this list of top 5 safety tips for when springtide comes rolling along.
Beware of conditions that could arise from pollen exposure
As mentioned above, spring brings with it the blooming of many flowering plants. This, in turn, increases the amount of pollen in the air. Pollen is particularly notorious for being an airborne allergen, one that can easily trigger allergy symptoms in sufferers. These allergy symptoms can range from watery eyes and runny nose to an itchy throat and constant sneezing.
If the allergic reactions are strong enough, a person’s condition could escalate to something more serious and potentially life-threatening, such as asthma and anaphylactic shock. The symptoms related to these conditions include shortness of breath, chest discomfort, wheezing, coughing, or swelling in the throat, tongue, and lips. In such cases, emergency medical attention should be quickly sought, and first aid care should be administered without delay.
If you’re particularly sensitive to pollen, then wear a medical mask and a pair of sunglasses to protect your nose, mouth, and eyes from pollen exposure. You should also stay indoors if you don’t really need to venture out. Additionally, consider getting a HEPA air filter to remove outdoor allergens that may have contaminated your indoor air.
Finally, you should also learn how to properly address asthma and anaphylaxis emergencies. You can do so by getting first aid training from a nationally accredited training centre like Australia Wide First Aid. Such training will teach you what to do when pollen-induced allergic reactions affect you or your loved ones. Your training will include information on what medicines and tools you need to pack for your personal asthma- and anaphylaxis-ready first aid kit, as well as how to administer important medications to yourself or another person.
Keep yourself hydrated
If you’re going to take advantage of the spring season to go to outdoor events, then make sure that you are adequately hydrated at all times. Always carry a water bottle with you, one that you can sip from and refill easily as you go about your activities. Dehydration can result in some very serious health conditions, including heat stroke, seizures, problems involving the urinary system, and more.
Cover yourself from the sun
Wearing sunblock may seem like something you only do during summer, but it’s perfectly applicable and recommended for springtime as well. This is because with the warmer and milder weather also comes clearer skies, which, in turn, allows for a lot more UV rays to reach the ground. People are also naturally drawn to the outdoors during this time of the year.
As you may very well know, prolonged exposure to UV rays will result in painful sunburns, as well as increase your risk for skin cancer. As such, make sure to slather on that sunscreen and slap on that hat when you’re venturing outside, even if it’s not summer yet! Your skin needs all the protection it can get.
Beware of snakes
Springtime is also the season when snakes come out of hiding to hunt for food as well as breed. This is because spring marks the end of their brumation period—the reptilian version of hibernation. As a result, the chances of you encountering snakes outdoors or even around your home considerably increases.
Protect yourself by wearing tough, tall leather boots when walking outdoors, especially in the wilderness, as these will help protect your feet against snake bites. Also mow your lawn and re-arrange your woodpiles to deprive snakes of hiding places. If you or a loved one does get bitten, don’t hesitate to call for an ambulance while administering appropriate first aid, such as applying a pressure-immobilization bandage on the entire affected limb. The bandage will help slow down the spread of the venom in the body, giving the medical professionals enough time to introduce the antivenin.
Take breaks during long driving trips, and watch out for animals
If you’re doing a lot of road trips during springtime, then get into the habit of taking frequent breaks in between long periods of driving. Drives in Australia can get quite long, which can result in you falling asleep at the wheel due to driving fatigue. Make sure to take naps to refresh yourself and keep alert.
Moreover, be sure to watch out for animals such as kangaroos. Such faunae are very quick on their feet and may attempt to cross the road at the worst possible time. Such an event will leave you with mere moments to react, which could result in an unfortunate vehicular accident. To prevent this from happening, slow down the moment you see even just a single animal on the side of the road.
Heed these safety tips for a safe and sane Australian spring
Don’t let the risks and hazards that come with Australian springtime spoil your fun during this wonderful time of the year. Take the safety tips listed above into consideration, and you’ll be able to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm.
