Personal Health and Safety

Everyone has their own special medical requirements; such issues can become very important when you are away from home. The further away from home you get, and the further into the outback you go, the more significant the problems can become. Even basic medications can be hard to come by in the outback and long delays can occur, particularly at times of stress.
 

 

You must always consult and follow the advice of your own doctor.  If you have a known medical condition that might require medication or treatment while you are driving WA, please read our section on known medical conditions.

 

The Health Department has produced an excellent booklet called Healthy Directions. This is available at the WA Travel Centre and some regional Tourist Bureaus. It is a great 

Dial 000 - the emergency telephone number- from anywhere in WA, for fire, ambulance, and police.

 

Rural hospitals and nursing posts provide, or can arrange, emergency services. Ambulance services or the Royal Flying Doctor Service can also help you access these services. You can contact HealthInfo on 1300 135 030 or click on this link

 

Generally, disease control and health is excellent in Australia. However, in certain regions (and climates) there is a risk for travellers; for example, in the tropical north, Malaria is a possibility.

 

Cholera and typhoid are almost unheard of in Australia; particularly due to Australia’s isolation and strict quarantine regime. However, there are some dangerous creatures that you need to be aware of; such as snakes, spiders, sharks and crocodiles.

 

Wherever you travel (particularly in the outback) it is wise to ensure that your tetanus protection is up-to-date.

 

Australia has a high incidence of asthma and because of the high dust, and pollen content, asthmatics and people who suffer from allergies must always be well prepared. Inhalers (puffers) are available at most pharmacies without prescription. It is wise to carry a prescription with you on your travels; however, in the outback, their availability may be limited. Purchasing an inhaler before departing is a great idea.

 

Those with serious medical problems may contact the casualty or outpatient’s section of the local public hospital or medical clinic. However, these are often a far distance in the outback. The more remote your DriveWA adventure, the more important it becomes to ensure that help is readily available.

 

If you have a specific medical condition, which might affect you during your DriveWA adventure, it is critically important that you wear a Medic Alert tag. Particularly if the condition is one that would not be readily obvious; for example diabetes, heart condition, allergy, asthma etc.

 

It is also very important that you carry with you adequate stocks of any medication you might need. Have a medical and dental examination before you leave to make sure that you don’t have an undisclosed medical condition, or a tooth that is about to give you trouble.

 

The phone numbers of medical doctors and other medical services are listed in the Western Australian Yellow Pages. You can also visit the public/local hospitals, where there is one available. The further you get from the Perth Metropolitan area, the more likely it is that there will not be a comprehensive accident or emergency hospital in your area. Therefore it is very important that you are well prepared.

  

You need to be able to make a phone call in case of emergency; and without a sat phone in the outback you may not be able to do this.

 

There is no substitute for being well prepared and having effective communication devices at all times.

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