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Many visitors to Australia are drawn by the sunshine, so there’s a good chance that’s at least partly what interests you. There’s a trap though, in the endless sunny days. If you couple them with the high elevation of the sun and the clear atmosphere, the result is that you’re exposed to quite extreme levels of solar radiation. So a few uncomfortable facts:
* Depending on your skin type (northern European is worst) you can get very uncomfortable sunburn, leading to peeling skin, from just half an hour’s exposure to the sun – if you do not have some sun protection.
* Australia in general, and Queensland in particular, has the world’s highest incidence of skin cancer. OK, the effects tend to be cumulative with time, but about 300,000 skin cancers are diagnosed yearly and exposure to the sun is the main cause. Skin cancers don’t show up until years later, but lead to over 1200 deaths a year in Australia. For comparison, Australia has about 1600 road fatalities yearly (one of the world’s safest). The message in the second photo is meant to be taken far more seriously than it may appear!
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 All you wanted to know about
snakes by tiabunna
The good news is that most visitors are unlikely to encounter snakes anywhere except in an enclosure at somebody’s zoo or animal park. You never know, the animal park might even encourage you to have your photo taken with one – but you can be sure it will be from the entirely safe python family. So go ahead and be a devil, then you can amaze everyone when you go home. :-)
Yes, every year Australia has about 3000 suspected snakebites, but most bites do not require antivenom treatment and, on average, snakebites result in only one or two deaths yearly. In other words, you are at substantially greater risk every time you cross the road (slightly over 200 pedestrians are killed yearly).
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 This sign near a Darwin
beach says it all! by tiabunna
Avoidance is the best answer. They are found in tropical northern Australia in the months between October and May, so be very careful if you wish to go swimming in the ocean then: swim only at patrolled beaches and watch for warning flags; do not run or dive into the water; supervise children; and wear protective clothing (believe it or not, pantihose will provide protection). If someone is stung, the best immediate treatment is to douse with vinegar - but being careful not to contact the tentacles yourself.
Personally, if I was in northern Australia in summer (and I’d strongly suggest that’s not the time to be there) I’d be quite happy to just sit alongside some hotel pool with a cool drink and let others risk these things!
The Australian Institute of Marine Science website has more information :
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 Flags as used at swimming
beaches in Australia by tiabunna
There are some very simple ways to avoid any risk.
* Don’t swim after meals or, particularly, after drinking
* Swim only at patrolled beaches, or in pools. At patrolled beaches, you will see flags such as those in the photo (taken at a museum display on surf lifesaving) – swim ONLY between the flags. Hopefully they will be further apart than they are in the museum photo! :-)
* Don’t swim if the beach is closed (red flags) and follow any warning instructions.
* Supervise children.
* Don’t go out of your depth and, in the unlikely event you find yourself in trouble with a ‘rip’ (strong current) do not fight against it, allow it to carry you along the beach while you swim diagonally toward shore. Most of all, if you are in trouble, hold up your arm to signal for help.
The website below gives all the information you’re likely to need on beach safety.
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 Copperhead snake by tiabunna
The ways to avoid snakebite are simple: watch where you are walking if you are not in an urban area, avoid walking in long grass without good shoes or boots, and should you see a snake, don’t panic: just move away and give it a wide berth. If you do that, you’ll have no problems. Most of all, leave it alone!
The photo shows a Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus), with a toxicity about equal to a Cobra, I found near our house. This species of snake is by nature a timid animal – they just want to be ignored to quietly go their own way. Let them. Some other types, such as the Brown, are less benign.
For more information about Australia’s snakes and the treatment for bites, the website below should meet your needs
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 Essentials for sun protection by tiabunna
*slip on a long-sleeved shirt,
*slop on some sunscreen lotion and
*slap on a hat.
If you do that, you’re well on the way to being sun-safe. The other thing is to not overdo enjoying the sunshine – head under some shade rather than frying your hide in the sun all day, because you might just pay for the consequences later!
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 Look RIGHT or look out! by pchamlis
I once read that the leading cause of injury to American tourists in the UK was pedestrian mishaps, when they failed to look RIGHT before stepping into the street. I'd guess that the same is true in Australia as well.
In the accompanying photo, you can see that the Australian government deems it enough of a tourist hazard to actually preint LOOK RIGHT warnings at pedestrian crossings. And if you want to see the danger involved with ignoring this advice, look in the upper right corner of the photo. Yep, that's a car bumper, slowed only by a very fast shutter speed.
LOOK RIGHT mates. Or die. Leave a Comment
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 Altered Sign - Blinman to
Parachilna. by IntrepidduckLeave a Comment
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 warning sign by Myndo
Here you can find a lot of dangerous Snakes and Spiders (the Black Widow for instance).
But thats not all. There are even more in the water.
The biggest problem would be the box jellyfish which is quite poisonous.
At some places around Australia they have nets, so you can swim without any danger.
On the beaches you often find "help-points" with vinegar. This isn't for doing salad :-) but it helps, if you are stung by a jellyfish, just poor a lot over it..
Other poisonous things here in the sea can be: Stonefish (almost impossible to see), blue ringed Octopus, some Snails (yes), Lionfish, Scorpionfish ... etc.
Before you let yourself be frightened off, you should keep in mind that it is actually never as bad as it sounds.
You will be lucky if you actually see a snake. Most of them "hear" (or better feel) us coming long before we are close to them and go out of our way.
Same goes for the spiders who tend to be hiding and have no real interest at biting something which is not a prey.
People are living in Australia, and they are living with these animals since long.
Take these precautions:
- When diving and snorkeling remember: do not touch ANYTHING, especially if you do not really know what it is.
- If you can, swin inside the jellyfish nets they provide
- Do not walk around where you can not see where you step.
- When camping turn your shoes over before steping into them in the morning.
- Wear high closed shoes and long trousers when walking through the bushes.
- Take care when turning around stones and branches. Leave a Comment
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 Croccie.... by Amelei
Be careful and use commonsense.
Do not swim in waterholes any further than around Townsville. This is where crocs breed and are active.
It is no joke at all and should not be taken lightly.
Another friend of mine's cousin who lived in Cape York (northern end of QLD), went for an early morning swim. She was 10 years old. She jumped in the river, and was swimming around and was taken under by a croc. She was lucky though as she did survive.
I'm no expert on crocodiles, but in her case this animal was doing what is commonly known as 'The suicide roll', where they will roll their victim around and around until you drown. When you drown is when they will eat you.
Not trying to freak you all out but it really worth mentioning.
DO NOT SWIM in waterholes, creeks etc in the north end of Austalia. Ask advice from locals and be very very careful.
Below townsville is fine. I lived on a property in lower QLD and NSW and swam in creek ways and waterholes all the time. Leave a Comment
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