With summer now here, we all welcome the longer days and the warmer weather it brings. It’s important to be prepared to protect yourself and your family so you can enjoy a safe summer season.
Travel tips
Surfing, camping, hiking or perhaps taking a day trip? If you are planning to enjoy Victoria over summer, make sure your plans include being bushfire ready and safe when you travel.
Victoria is facing a hot and dry summer. Follow these tips to stay informed:
- Check Fire Danger Ratings for your journey and destination and make sure you've packed an emergency kit for your car. Be prepared to change plans on Extreme or Catastrophic-rated days.
- Monitor local conditions and follow official warnings and advice. Listen to local ABC radio, download the VicEmergency app, bookmark emergency.vic.gov.au and save the VicEmergency hotline (1800 226 226) into your mobile phone.
For more information on travelling throughout summer, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/travel
Bushfire safety at home
It’s important to plan and prepare for bushfires near your home. Did you know the most
common way houses catch fire is from embers? Embers are burning pieces of bark, leaves or twigs that can get into small spaces and start a new fire.
- Create your fire plan in as little as 10 minutes at fireplanner.vic.gov.au
- Prepare your property by cleaning gutters, having a well-maintained garden and keeping your grass cut to less than 10cm.
- Sign up to MyCFA on the CFA website to get local information on how to plan and prepare for fires and other emergencies in your area.
For more information, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/home/local-information
Urban fringe grass fires
If you live or work close to grassland, parks or paddocks, you could be at risk of fire. For your safety, you need to understand your risk and have a plan. If you live right next to grassland and a grassfire starts, walk at least two streets back from the fire to stay safe and monitor conditions. If you live two or three streets away from grassland and a grass fire starts, stay where you are.
Remember, you won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire starts.
For more information, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/bushfire-basics/grassfires-near-cities-and-towns
Fire Danger Period
The Fire Danger Period for the City of Casey commenced on Monday 9 December. During the Fire Danger Period, Council issued permits to burn are not valid.
To learn more about what you can and can’t do during the Fire Danger Period and on days of Total Fire Ban, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/bushfire-management-casey
Localised power outages
Localised power outages can occur for many reasons, including severe weather such as lightning, floods, heatwaves or high winds. The most important thing to do in a power outage is to stay safe. Make sure you have access to:
- fully charged mobile phone with emergency contact numbers.
- a torch or battery-operated light.
- a battery-powered radio for alerts and updates.
- an emergency kit.
- non-perishable foods and bottled water.
- Stay safe by keeping clear of fallen power lines – always assume they are live – and report any fallen power lines to your electricity distributor.
- If you are a registered power-dependent customer, ensure your power outage plan is
updated and in place.
To find out more, visit energy.vic.gov.au/about-energy/safety/power-outages
Heat health
With heatwaves becoming a regular feature of the Victorian summer, it’s important to plan ahead and consider how you can look after yourself, family, friends, pets and neighbours when the extreme heat hits.
There are simple things you can do to stay safe in the heat:
- Plan ahead. Schedule activities in the coolest part of the day and avoid exercising, renovating or gardening in the heat. If you must go out, wear a hat and sunscreen and always take a bottle of water with you.
- Drink plenty of water — always take a bottle with you.
- Hot cars kill. Never leave kids, adults or pets in hot cars. The temperature inside a parked car can double within minutes.
- Keep cool. Seek out air-conditioned buildings, draw your blinds, use a fan, take cool showers and dress in light and loose clothing made from natural fabrics.
- Help others. Look after those most at risk in the heat. Check on them on hot days via a phone call or visit.
If you or someone is unwell, call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24 for free 24-hour health
advice or encourage them to see their doctor. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
For more information, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/stay-safe-heat
Thunderstorm asthma
Grass pollen season brings an increase in asthma and hay fever. During the season, which runs until 31 December, a high grass pollen count and a certain type of thunderstorm can also trigger thunderstorm asthma.
For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening. Protect yourself this pollen season and speak to your pharmacist or doctor today.
For more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/thunderstorm-asthma
Water safety
Most of us love a good splash or swim in the warmer months, but every year people — children and adults — are injured or killed in drowning or accidents around water.
According to the 2024 Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report, between 1 July 2023 and
30 June 2024, 323 people lost their lives to drowning — 54 of those occurred in Victoria.
This summer, remember to look out for each other and enjoy the water safely:
- Be aware of changing conditions.
- Avoid going in the water alone.
- Supervise children at all times. Keep watch and keep them within arms reach.
- Wear a lifejacket when on a boat.
- Avoid alcohol when swimming.
For more information, visit www.vic.gov.au/water-safety
It’s also important for everyone to follow the 5 healthy swimming steps to help keep pools clean and stop the spread of germs. To find out more, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/healthy-swimming
Protect yourself from mosquitos
Warm and wet weather can mean more mosquito biting and breeding, including the ones that can carry diseases that make you sick. Here are some simple steps to help protect you and your family from mosquito bites:
- Cover up. Wear long, loose fitting clothing because mosquitoes can bite through tight fitting clothing.
- Use effective mosquito repellents containing DEET or picaridin on all exposed skin.
- Install flywire screens on all windows and self-closing wire screens on doors.
- Make sure mosquitoes can't breed around your property by regularly removing stagnant
water. This includes in flowerpots, tyres, buckets, tins, bird baths, children’s wading pools and pet bowls. - Empty children’s wading pools when not being used and keep fishponds stocked with fish.
- Limit outdoor activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
For more information, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/mosquitos-midges