The national healthcare scheme, Medicare, offers a reciprocal arrangement – free essential healthcare – for citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Italy, Malta, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. This free treatment is limited to public hospitals and casualty departments (though the ambulance ride to get you there isn’t covered); at GPs you pay up front (about $40 minimum) with two-thirds of your fee reimbursed by Medicare.
The Sun
Australians of European origin, especially those of Anglo-Saxon or Celtic decent, could not be less suited to Australia’s fierce sun, which – together with an outdoor lifestyle – is why two out of three Australians are statistically likely to develop skin cancer in their lifetime, the world’s worst record. About five percent of these will develop potentially fatal melanomas, and about a thousand die each year. Looking at the ravaged complexions of some older Australians (who had prolonged exposure to the sun in the days before there was an awareness of the great dangers of skin cancer) should be enough to make you want to cover yourself with lashings of the highest factor (SPF 15+) sunblock, widely used and sold just about everywhere. Don’t bring along those tubes you took on holiday to the Aegean last year either: it has recently been proven that sunscreen loses its effectiveness with age. Sunscreen should not be used on babies less than six months old: instead, keep them out of direct sunlight. What looks like war paint on the noses of surfers and small children is actually zinc cream; the thick, sticky waterproof cream, which comes in fun colours, provides a total blockout and is particularly useful when applied to protruding parts of the body, such as noses and shoulders.
These days, Australians are fully aware of the sun’s dangers, and you’re constantly reminded to “Slip, Slop, Slap”, the government-approved catch phrase reminding you to slip on a T-shirt, slop on some sun block and slap on a hat – sound advice. Pay attention to any moles on your body: if you notice any changes, either during or after your trip, see a doctor; cancerous melanomas are generally easily removed if caught early. To prevent headaches and – in the long term – cataracts, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses; look for “UV block” ratings when you buy a pair, although any sold in Australia have to conform to an appropriate standard.
The sun can also cause heat exhaustion and sunstroke, so as well as keeping well covered up, stay in the shade if you can. Drink plenty of liquids: on hot days when walking, experts advise drinking a litre of water an hour – which is a lot to carry. Alcohol and sun don’t mix well; when you’re feeling particularly hot and thirsty, remember that a cold beer will actually dehydrate you.
Wildlife Dangers
The danger from other wildlife is much overrated: snake and spider bites, and crocodile and shark attacks are widely publicized and an essential part of the perilous Outback myth – nonetheless, all are extremely rare. There are always scares: there was mild hysteria in Queensland in 1996 after a couple of people died from being bitten by flying foxes infected with the lyssa virus, so keep away from bats until the virus has been eliminated. Rabies is unknown in Australia.
Apart from never smiling at them, the way to minimize danger from saltwater crocodiles (which actually range far inland) is to keep your distance. If you’re camping in the bush within 100km of the northern coast between Broome (WA) and Rockhampton (QLD), make sure your tent is at least 50m from waterholes or creeks, don’t collect water at the same spot every day or leave any rubbish around, and always seek local advice. Four-wheel drivers should take extra care when walking creeks prior to driving across.
Snakes almost always do their best to avoid people and you’ll probably never see one. They’re more likely to be out and about in hot weather, when you should be more careful. If you treat them with respect, it’s very unlikely you’ll be bitten: most bites occur when people try to catch or kill snakes. Don’t creep about, do wear boots and long trousers when hiking through undergrowth, collect firewood carefully, and, in the event of a confrontation, back off. Sea snakes sometimes find divers intriguing, wrapping themselves around limbs or staring into masks, but they’re seldom aggressive. If bitten by a snake, use a crepe bandage to bind the limb firmly, then a splint to immobilize it (this slows the distribution of venom into the lymphatic system) and get to a hospital for treatment. Don’t clean the bite area (venom around the bite can identify the species, making treatment easier), and don’t slash the bite or apply a tourniquet. Despite what you might hear, death from snakebite is extremely rare.
Two spiders whose bites can be fatal are the Sydney funnel-web, a black, stocky creature found in the Sydney area, and the tiny redback, a relative of the notorious black widow of the Americas, usually found in dark, dry locations. January and February are the months in which there is the greatest danger of bites by both. Treat funnel-web bites as for snakebite, and apply ice to redback wounds to relieve pain; if bitten by either, get to a hospital as soon as you can – antivenins are available. Other spiders and scorpions can deliver painful wounds but are only a problem if you have allergies.
Ticks and leeches are the bane of bushwalkers. Some ticks are poisonous and you may want to check yourself over after a hike, but you’ll probably feel them – look for local irritation and swelling (usually just inside hairlines) and you’ll find a tiny black dot. Kill the tick with kerosene and then, using tweezers, twist and pull it off. Pulling alone will leave the head behind, which might fester. Leeches are gruesome but harmless; insect repellent, fire or salt gets them off the skin. Spraying repellent over shoes and leggings might keep both pests away in the first instance.
The menace from box jellyfish (also known as stingers or sea wasps) in summertime tropical sea waters is more realistic – especially as it occurs at a place and time of year when a cooling dip in the sea is just about all you can think of. Their stings leave permanent red weals, and if the weals cover more than half a limb, serious damage could result – possibly even death. Treat victims by dousing the sting area (front and back) with liberal amounts of vinegar (never rub with sand or towels, or attempt to remove tentacles from the skin – both could trigger the release of more venom); apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if needed, and get the victim to hospital for treatment. Don’t risk swimming on tropical beaches during the stinger season (roughly October to May).
Other health hazards
Other health hazards are far less pressing. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere. It doesn’t always taste good, but bottled water is commonly available. Although you’re unlikely to find yourself in the path of a raging bushfire, it helps to know how to survive one. If you’re in a car, don’t attempt to drive through smoke but park at the side of the road in the clearest spot, put on your headlights, wind up the windows and close the air vents. Although it seems to go against common sense – and your natural instincts – it’s safer to stay inside the car. Lie on the floor and cover all exposed skin with a blanket or any covering at hand. The car won’t explode or catch on fire, and a fast-moving wildfire will pass quickly overhead. If you smell or see smoke and fire while walking, find a cleared rocky outcrop or an open space: if the terrain and time permits, dig a shallow trench – but in any event, lie face down and cover all exposed skin.