Summer is a great opportunity to spend more time outdoors with family and friends. But it’s also important to pay attention to your body and the surrounding elements to ensure you stay safe during the warmer months.

Here are our top tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe and happy during the summertime and ensure that you're prepared for any summer scenario – from water to heat health and fire.

Fire Safety.

During summer there’s an increased risk of fires. So whether you’re staying put or holidaying far from home, keep fire safety top of mind and take the following easy steps below to stay safe.

• Be sure to listen out for weather warnings daily, particularly fire safety warnings from your local fire brigade and CFA. Take caution and ensure that when there is a fire ban, you abide by it.
• Be prepared at home – install smoke alarms and regularly check spoke alarm batteries and fire extinguishers; and don't deadlock doors.
• Clear your gutters and house surroundings of leaves, timber and other flammables.
• Plan to leave early and know your route.

Water Safety.

Even the strongest swimmers can get caught in a dangerous rip, while accidents around the pool can happen in a heartbeat. Play it safe around water with these tips.

• Always swim at patrolled beaches. If you get caught in a rip, stay calm and consider your options.
• Never take your eyes off children around water.
• Never overestimate your abilities or underestimate the risks around water.
• Don’t drink alcohol before swimming and never swim alone.
• Learn CPR and be ready to save a life.

Heat Health.

Extreme heat causes more deaths in Australia than any other natural disaster. If left untreated, extreme heat can cause heat stroke, which is fatal in up to 80% of cases.

The most at risk are the elderly, young children and those with existing health conditions. So take care of yourself and keep an eye on those around you with the following tips.

• Never leave a child in a car, even for a moment.
• If you or a loved one is taking medication, visit your doctor to see if you need to make changes to it as the weather heats up.
• Keep an eye on the more vulnerable members of our community – children, elderly and people with existing conditions.
• Stay cool, don’t exercise outdoors, and drink plenty of water.

Be Sun Smart

In Australia we have one of the highest levels of UV exposure – and highest rates of skin cancer in the world. So sun protection measures are recommended when the UV Index is 3 and above.

Try to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible, especially during the sun’s peak times of 10am – 3pm (Standard time) or 11 am – 4 pm (Daylight savings time). If you do go into the sunlight, try and wear protective clothing including a hat, sunglasses, long pants and a shirt. Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ (or higher) sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. And remember – you can still get burnt on cool or cloudy days. So think UV, not heat.

Stay Snake Safe.

You don't have to be the Bush Tucker Man to know that with warm summer days now here, snakes are way more likely to be active – especially in the vegetation, wetlands, and open areas around Ashbury.

So make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and follow these four simple rules to stay snake safe summer!

• Be aware, alert and do not approach a snake.
• Safely remove any people or pets from the area where the snake was sighted.
• Do not try to capture the snake.
• Call the Council or a local snake catcher to remove the snake.