Summer is a great time to be active outdoors. This may include playing sport outside or heading to the water to cool down with family and friends. However, while having fun in the sun we also need to stay safe.
Water safety
Both Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia have developed campaigns to prevent drowning and keep communities safe.
Surf Life Saving Australia's Stop. Look. Stay Alive campaign outlines the actions people need to take every time they are visiting our beaches. This includes:
STOP
- before you enter the water
LOOK
- for the red and yellow flags, if they're on the beach swim between them
- for signs and warnings about the area
- at the conditions and weather forecast
- for rip currents and other dangers
STAY ALIVE
- assess the conditions based on your own ability
- if it's unsafe, don't swim
- don't go alone
- complete the online Beach Passport for basic training and education on water safety.
Royal Life Saving Australia's Make the Right Call campaign encourages all Australians, particularly males, to look after their mates and keep each other safe around inland waterways. Dangers of rivers and lakes include hidden currents and debris.
People are encouraged to:
- avoid going alone
- wear lifejackets
- avoid alcohol around water.
Royal Life Saving Australia's Keep Watch campaign reminds parents and carers to constantly supervise children around water to prevent drowning. It is vital to designate a responsible adult to supervise children around water, especially during holidays and social gatherings.
The Australian Government provides funding to both Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia through the Water and Snow Safety Program. This program is closely tied to the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030, with the outcome of reducing the incidence of water related injury and death in Australia.
Sun smart practises and physical exercise
Summer is a great time to enjoy sport, however we also need to keep sun safety top of mind.
Australia experiences some of the highest skin cancer rates globally. Participation in outdoor sport exposes athletes and support staff to increased levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This has an increased risk of sun damage, sunburn, and skin cancer.
Therefore sun protection and prevention strategies are essential for everyone involved in outdoor sports. This includes athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators.
Sporting groups and individuals can protect themselves by following the 5 SunSmart steps of Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide.
The AIS have also developed a Sun Safe Position Statement. It ensures sporting organisations have the information they need to develop a positive sun protection culture.
Bushfire risk and exercising
During summer it is important to monitor the air quality when exercising outdoors. Smoke haze from bushfires can pose a health risk to recreational and high-performance athletes.
The AIS have developed a position statement to help coaches, support staff and athletes to better understand how bushfire smoke can affect air quality. This will help guide training decisions. Things to consider include:
- current health status
- past medical history
- air quality
- the type of exercise.
High smoke pollution triggers inflammation in the airways and will be worse in asthmatics or those involved in high intensity training.
When air quality is low, it is recommended to keep your workouts indoors and drink lots of water.
The best way to find out about air pollution levels in your area is to check your local air quality index.
Image credit - Royal Life Saving Society Australia
