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December 2020
Follow These Steps to Become Fire Ready With warmer and drier conditions approaching, now is the time to prepare for fire season.
When at home, ensure you also: ■
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Planning what you’ll do in the event of a fire is a great first step. Hold a family or household meeting and make sure everyone knows what is expected of them in a worst-case scenario. Also do this when you arrive at a summer holiday destination, creating a plan that suits the new environment.
Just Chillin’ – Try These Heat Busters This Summer: 1. Drink plenty of water or other cool nonalcoholic fluids even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinking extremely cold liquids as they can cause stomach cramps. 2. Reduce activity and avoid exercise. If activity is unavoidable, try to schedule it for the cooler part of the day and rest often. 3. Stay indoors or in the shade whenever you can. 4. Keep air circulating around you. Keep windows covered and turn on your fan or air conditioner. 5. Eat smaller meals more often and make cold meals such as salad. 6. Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibres like cotton and linen. 7. Place wet towels on your body, put feet in cold water and take cool (not cold) showers. 8. Consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping centre, public library or cinema.
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Know where to access information on high risk days. Keep grass cut low. Fire can ignite and travel quickly through long grass.
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Get rid of dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark around your home. Remove or prune shrubs near windows and well away from branches of mature trees. Keep gutters and roof areas clear of leaf litter.
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Remove all materials from around the home that could burn, such as boxes, furniture and woodpiles. Cut back overhanging tree branches close to property – make sure there are no branches within 10m of any building. Check your smoke alarms. More information www.emergency.vic.gov.au
Burns and Scalds on Children Tea, coffee, hot food, hot tap water, vehicle exhausts, treadmills and campfires – what do all of these have in common? They are all major causes of child burn and scald injuries and the home is the most common location where these injuries occur. Garden hoses exposed to direct sunlight during summer can heat the water inside the hose (not flowing) to 130-140 degrees, which can cause burns especially to children. It is recommended to let the water flow a few minutes to cool before spraying on people or animals. Every year in Victoria, more than 1000 children are treated in hospital for burn or scald injuries, with children aged 0-4 years at greatest risk.
20 minutes. Do not use butter, oils, ointments or ice to treat burns as these can further damage the skin.
A child’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s and will therefore result in a more severe burn. Injuries from burns or scalds can cause a great deal of pain for a significant period of time and often result in scarring; in some cases, skin grafts are required.
Dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance if the burn is to the face, airway, hands or genitals or larger than the size of the child’s hand.
If a child is burned, apply immediate first aid by placing the burn under cool running water for a minimum of
Resources: Royal Children’s Hospital Victoria, Kidsafe Victoria, Essential Baby Australia, Raising Children Network.
If you’re not sure how severe a burn is, contact a doctor, hospital or medical centre immediately.
Volunteering Opportunities for Young People in 2021 Whitehorse City Council’s Youth Services is looking for young volunteers aged 12-25 to get involved in their local community in 2021! Written by Violet – Current FReeZA Flying Pig Events Committee member, Peer Facilitator and studying a Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies.
I have had the most amazing experience and time while being a part of the FReeZA Flying Pig Events team and am very grateful that I made the decision to join.
Violet
I have made some brilliant pals and been a part of some terrific events. While being a part of the team I have been able to develop confidence,
experience in event management and see my ideas come to life through the support of the team and community. By joining the FReeZA team I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of different people and have developed some valuable communication skills. I would highly encourage as many young people to take up the opportunity of joining the FReeZA Flying Pig Events team. More information Jac Piper on 0408 356 997 jacqueline.piper@whitehorse.vic.gov.au
