How to Stay Safe During Bushfire Season

Bushfire season in Australia can be relentless.

Record-breaking temperatures made this bushfire season a force to reckon with. Five-hundred homes in New South Wales alone have gone up in flames. Koalas are fighting for their habitat, and some claim them to be in danger of becoming extinct.

Preparedness is vital when it comes to bushfire safety. Everyone should have a plan in case of an emergency. This gives you peace of mind by teaching you how to survive a bushfire.

We've put together this handy guide to supply you with the bushfire safety tips you need. Keep yourself and your family safe this season by learning how to stay safe.

Discuss Your Bushfire Season Survival Plan

Just as you should have a fire escape plan, you should have a bushfire survival plan in place with your family. It takes only a matter of minutes to discuss and will be essential in case of an emergency.

The biggest decision is whether to stay or leave your home in the event of a bushfire.

Leaving Home

If you choose to go, you'll need to decide at what point you'll leave. Will you head out if you see smoke near your home? Or will you wait until you can see the fires approaching?

The next step is deciding where you'll go and how you'll get there. Do you have family you can turn to? Or will you head to the nearest neighborhood safer place?

What will you take with you when you leave home? Pack your car ahead of time if the threat of fire starts looming. It's easier to unpack your car once the danger passes than to try and pack everything in haste.

Don't forget vitals like your medications, first-aid kits, and water. If you are traveling through a danger zone, bring wool blankets to stay safe in your vehicle.

Staying Home

There are a lot of things to take into consideration if you'd like to stay home during a bushfire.

Do you have anyone with special needs in your family? This may be someone with a disability or an older adult with limited mobility? You may be putting them at risk by choosing to stay.

Do you have all the necessary equipment you'll need for survival? This includes firefighting items like water hoses and an ample water supply. It also includes protective clothing like eye protection and sturdy shoes.

Are you ready to take all the necessary safety precautions to protect your home? This includes tasks like blocking drain pipes and filling all sinks and tubs with water.

Do you know how to protect yourself and your family as fires approach your home?

Safety Kits

Whether you choose to leave or stay home, you should have emergency kits on-hand at all times. This means having one for your family in your house and one in each vehicle, too.

We recommend the Medium Leisure First Aid Kit for your home and vehicles. The kit provides enough supplies for up to six people. It includes supplies like cold packs, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and dressings.

It doesn't hurt to invest in extra burn-specific supplies for your kits. Our Burn Aid Gel is an affordable supply that's small enough to toss in your first aid kit. The Burn Aid Dressing will help soothe and relieve pain if you or your family gets a burn.

We recommend buying several fire blankets and keeping them on hand, too. They can be useful in case someone or something catches fire in your home.

Our Burn Grab & Run Module is perfect for placing near your front door for convenience. Simply grab it on your way out and toss it in your vehicle for additional protection against burns.

Know the Alert Levels

Understanding the different alert levels can mean the difference between life and death. The government uses these three alerts to notify residents of current threat levels.

Advice means a fire has started, but there is no current threat.

Watch and Act means that conditions can change at the drop of a hat. Residents should keep their eyes and ears open to any sudden changes and be ready to act.

Emergency Warning is the highest level. When you hear this warning, it's time to take immediate action.

Listen for Updates

If you live in a bushfire-prone area, you need to be diligent about listening for updates. Even if the primary fire seems far away, embers can travel fast and create new fires on their own.

Check the NSW government website for major fire updates frequently. You can also use their Fires Near Me tool to determine if there are any fires nearby that you should be aware of. The Fires Near Me NSW app for your smartphone is handy to download, too.

If, for some reason, you're unable to connect via the internet, you can call 1800 NSW RFS for fire updates.

Prevention

Knowing how to prevent bushfires is essential for Australians living in fire-prone areas. But it's not only knowing how to prevent them. Learning how fires progress can give homeowners a sense of urgency they need to do their part.

Fire embers can create "ember attacks" that do a lot of damage in a very short period of time. In fact, over 85% of home-destroying fires start because of embers.

Embers can travel far ahead of the fires, sometimes many kilometers ahead. They are the main reason why fires can skip over roads and areas without vegetation.

Before fire season starts, clear any debris around your home where embers could start fires. Dry foliage, like fallen leaves, can catch fire very quickly. Be sure to check your roof and gutters.

If you have flammable items on your property, keep them far away from your home.

Keep your lawn mowed and remove garden waste as soon as possible.

Knowledge is Power

Bushfire season is scary, but it doesn't have to be. You've already learned how to protect yourself by reading this guide.

Knowing what to do in a bushfire will help you stay calm if fires approach your home. If you're ever in doubt, the safest thing to do is to leave. You don't want to be unprepared, especially if you have a family to think about.

Put your mind at ease even further by investing in the right emergency supplies. Shop our first aid kits to find the option that works best for your family.