Safety risks
Your health and well-being can be affected by a range of possible risks at work, at home or when you're out and about.
For instance:
- Natural hazards, such as spider or snake bites, fire or floods
- Accidents or injuries
- Being abused or attacked
- Drink driving
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Safety resources
There are numerous safety resources available on the internet for all kinds of activities:
- Need ideas for safer driving? Take a look at the Traffic Accident Commision (TAC) (new window) safe driving tips
- Do you ride a bike? Check out Bicycle Victoria's safety tips for cyclists (new window)
- Looking for ideas about farm safety? Check out the Better Health Channel (new window)
- Want to party, club or rave more safely? See our Party Safe page for tips and ideas
- Love going to the beach? Surf Life Saving Victoria (new window) has some good advice on beach safety
- When love hurts (new window) is an on-line guide for girls on love, respect and abuse in relationships
- If you're feeling unsafe in a home or personal situation, see Reach Out! (new window) for some steps you can take to assess, and get out of, danger
Safety situations
Unfortunately not everyone has your best interests at heart. Incidents such as violence, drink-spiking and sexual assault don't only happen at night. They don't only happen to girls and women, but they shouldn't stop you from going out.
Just be aware of the issues, and any points that could make you seem vulnerable. You can make choices to help protect yourself and minimise some of the risks.
Assaults or violence can also take place at home or in other familiar places. Abuse and violence is never acceptable - not from strangers and not from people you know or care about. If you need help, phone Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Safety is not just about extreme situations. It also involves lots of every day scenarios such as exercising safely, avoiding food poisoning, using machinery and driving.
Safety is about taking responsibility for yourself and for others.
Emergencies
Emergencies are life or death situations when every second can count. Things are less likely to go wrong if you can stay calm, focus on the situation at hand, and get help.
In some types of emergencies, people panic and worry about other issues like getting into trouble with parents or the police. For instance, if someone has overdosed on alcohol or drugs (new window), or you are somewhere where you aren't meant to be. Remember - ambulance officers do NOT call the police unless someone dies or people feel threatened.
If someone needs medical attention you need to focus on that and make sure you get help. Things will only be worse if someone ends up with serious or permanent injuries, or dies.
The Better Health Channel lists who to contact (new window) for help in different kinds of emergencies.
Take a look at Safety Victoria (new window) for ideas about coping with different types of emergencies such as bushfires and storms or accidents at work or in and around the home.
Safety courses
Learning self-defence and getting some first aid training can give you practical skills and extra confidence when it comes to some safety situations.
Many organisations offer first aid training, including:
- Australian Red Cross (new window)
- St John Ambulance Australia (new window)
Safety issues links
Safety Victoria
Information about staying safe in all kinds of situations including on the road, while travelling, at the beach and at work. It also includes info on preparing for and dealing with emergencies, and security and terrorism.
Better Health Channel - Farm Safety
Provides articles on farm safety and safety at play.
Victorian WorkCover Authority - WorkSafe
Details workplace safety basics and issues for workers in different industries.
Safety & relationships links
When Love Hurts
An on-line guide for girls on love, respect and abuse in relationship.
Reach Out! Safety & Violence
A series of up-front articles on safety and violence including abusive relationships, assessing your safety, domestic violence, safe chat over the net and sexual assault. They also provide information to help you if your friend has taken pills or hurt themselves.
Emergencies links
The Victorian Ambulance Service
Find out about metropolitan, rural and air ambulance services in Victoria, and ambulance membership schemes.
Victorian Legal Aid - Drug Overdoses
Here's a range of factual information about overdoses - what to do to help yourself or a friend and what the legal issues are.
