When travelling there is a lot to think about.
Some important issues that must be taken into consideration.

EMERGENCY DETAILS

Always leave your mobile phone number, your registration numbers of your motorhome, caravan and vehicle and your UHF number used, so that in an emergency, the Police can find you, if you are not in a designated camping ground and are free camping or off the beaten track.
We found we were meeting fellow travellers, similar to us, on the same route. So, if you can organize to hit the road with them, then this is handy when free camping, in remote areas and safety when travelling on the road.

FIRST AID KIT

Every traveller needs a first aid kit.

There are some great first aid kits on the market, here is a basic outline of some of the essential items to include in your glove box/recreation vehicle or when on holidays and camping.

Disposable gloves – keep in glove box just in case you come across a car accident and the passengers in the vehicle need assistance, it is a good idea to put them on, to save yourself unnecessary drama of disease or infection.

Paper bag – keep in glove box just in case you need it for a sick passenger. It is also handy for someone who is hyperventilating and need carbon dioxide.

Resuscitation Mask – available through St. John’s is a one way valve and there are different varieties available.

Bushmans Repellent – we have found this the best insect repellent. Great for leaches, mosquitos, sand flys and for all those nasties.

Eye drops – saline/eye wash, just in case you get dirt or insects or other foreign objects in your eye.

Antiseptic Cream – for all your cuts and abrasions, stop infection!

Sunblock – keep in the car, you never know when you might need it.

Headache tablets – painkillers for any time you may need them. Drink lots of fluids.

Antihistamine – stop the itches, clear the nasal passages and relieve allergic reactions.Soothing sunburn lotion – aloe vera based is the best for instant relief. Will require reapplication regularly.

Bandaides and elastaplast – to cover all cuts and abrasions.

Tornicade and bandages – for breakages and/or sprains.

Car sickness tablets – essential if your passengers suffer from motion sickness.

Tweezers – to remove any thorns or stingers picked up.

Scissors - to cut to size.

UHF STICKERS

Have you ever noticed the stickers with people’s name and UHF numbers on the back of motorhomes, caravans, camper trailers and the like, so that you may talk to them whilst on the road. This is a valuable service to others on the road as people can contact you in an emergency or when overtaking etc.

From experience we had smoke coming from the back of our caravan, whilst we were on the road, and we were gratefully contacted by another road user of this problem. As a result we pulled over and discovered our brakes were about to ignite, saving our lives and further expense.

SECURE YOUR BELONGINGS

When travelling it's easy to forget your personal safety.

Always keep an eye on your property and if you need to leave make sure you lock up your car and accommodation. Don't give people the chance to steal your belongings by leaving property in your car, it can really ruin your holiday.

A friend of ours learnt the hard way, he was invited to a BBQ in a caravan park with some travellers and he failed to lock his 4WD, which was only metres away and in full view and someone opened his back door and stole his valuable camera with irreplaceable photographs. Ann advertisement in the local paper appealing to the perpetrator to return the photographs were unanswered, it was probably long gone.

In Australia, if you wish to report a crime or need Police help, call Crime Stoppers on Freecall 1800 333 000.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Please phone 000 for any police emergency, fire emergency or medical emergency.
You can visit on-line for up to date information, the Australian website for emergency services:-
www.emergencyservices.net.au

SWIMMING

Beaches

When swimming at our beaches there can be a lot of rips and currents.  If stuck in a rip swim diagonally across it and not against it.

If you get in to trouble raise your right hand directly above your head which will indicate to the lifeguards that you need help.

Some Australian beaches are patrolled by life savers, areas between the red and yellow flags indicate that there is currently a lifesaving service operating on that beach and will closely supervise that area.

If you get into trouble wave one arm above your head.

For more information on Australian beaches visit

http://beachsafe.org.au/surf-ed/lifeguards-top-tips

Rivers, Creeks and Estuaries

Never dive into the water before checking the depth and feeling for any foreign materials that may lay underneath the water out of sight.

Wear a good pair of clogs or water shoes to prevent cuts from glass or sharp objects hidden beneath the water.

The Australia motto is "slip, slop, slap".  Which means slip on a long sleeve shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat.

Always carry some water to stop dehydration as Australian conditions can be very hot.

Be Crocwise. If you are travelling up the northern end of Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia, pay attention to safe to swim signs. If there are no signs, then don't swim. It's not worth the risk. We have a lots of crocodiles up north that move around in the wet season with the flood waters, so please be aware and take notice of signs.