Turtle Wisdom: Summer Calm Kit (ACT & South Coast)
image of floating flamingo on the surface on a sunny day
Slow and steady, safe and ready.
Why this matters: Summer = heat, water, bugs, bushwalks, BBQs —here’s a calm, practical cheat sheet you can skim now and keep handy later.
1) Heat & dehydration (most common summer issue)
Spot it: headache, dizziness, cramps, nausea, very thirsty, dark pee.
Do:
Move to shade/AC, loosen clothing.
Sip water or oral rehydration slowly.
Cool the body: damp cloths, fan, cool shower.
Call 000 if confused, fainting, hot + not sweating, or worsening symptoms (possible heatstroke).
Tiny habit: Pack a 750 ml bottle per person; set a phone reminder every hour on hot days.
2) Burns (BBQ, campfire, hot surfaces)
Do immediately: Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.
Remove rings/watches early. Cover with a non-stick dressing or clean cling film.
Avoid: ice, creams, toothpaste, butter.
Call 000 / see urgent care if the burn is deep/charred, larger than the patient’s palm, on face/genitals/joints, or in children/older adults.
3) Snakebite (bush tracks, long grass)
ACT & coast = snakes are active.
Do (Pressure-Immobilisation):
Keep the person still; call 000.
Do not wash the bite (helps with identification later).
Apply a firm elastic bandage over the bite, then wrap the entire limb up to the groin/shoulder.
Splint and keep the limb still.
Don’t: cut, suck, or apply a tourniquet.
Pack list: two wide compression bandages + a lightweight splint.
4) Stingers & bites (bluebottle, stingray, bees/wasps)
Bluebottle (common on NSW south coast):
Carefully remove visible tentacles (gloves/stick).
Hot water immersion (as hot as you can safely tolerate, up to ~45 °C) for 20 minutes or until pain eases; if not available, use a cold pack.
Avoid vinegar for bluebottles (it can make pain worse).
Call 000 for breathing trouble or severe pain.
Stingray puncture: hot water (as above) + urgent medical assessment (risk of deep tissue injury/infection).
Bee/wasp: scrape stinger out (credit card edge), cold pack, observe. EpiPen if prescribed for anaphylaxis; 000 if breathing/swallowing difficulty or widespread rash.
5) Water smarts (pools, beaches, rivers)
Rips: swim between the flags; if caught, float, signal, and go with it until released, then swim parallel in.
Kids: active supervision (arm’s length for under-5s). Gate pools; keep toys out when not swimming.
Alcohol + water: don’t mix.
6) Smoke & asthma days (bushfire season)
Check pollen/smoke forecasts; keep preventer inhalers up to date.
Follow your asthma action plan.
On heavy smoke days, reduce outdoor exertion; use recirculate in the car.
7) The 10-item Summer Calm Kit (boot or beach bag)
2× wide elastic compression bandages
Triangular bandage or light splint
Instant cold pack
Saline ampoules (wound/eye rinse)
Hydrogel burn dressing or cling film
Basic dressings & tape
Tweezers/safety pins
Oral rehydration salts
Sunscreen & lip balm
Personal meds (inhaler, antihistamine, EpiPen if prescribed)
When to call 000
Breathing trouble, chest pain, collapse, seizure
Severe burns or bleeding
Snakebite or suspected envenomation
Worsening symptoms despite first aid
Keep the learning going—what would you like to learn more about?
Book here for CPR in 1 hour (HLTAID009) — perfect refresher before summer.
Book here for Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) — core skills for heat, burns, bites, and sprains.
Book here for Childcare First Aid (HLTAID012) — ideal for parents & carers.
Other courses like advanced? Click here for the complete range of courses
FAQ
Do I put vinegar on every jellyfish sting?
No. For bluebottle stings on the NSW/ACT coast, use hot water (or a cold pack). Vinegar is used to treat box jellyfish stings in tropical waters.
How cold should “cool water” be for burns?
Tap-cool is fine. Aim for comfortable running water for 20 minutes; keep the rest of the body warm.