False Bronze Idol About this time every year, the ‘vanity beast’ is set free and Australians develop an overwhelming urge to tear off the winter-woollies and get a tan. For decades the ‘Bronzed Aussie’ has been an idol; something for sun loving Aussies to aspire to. We have the best beaches, the best summers and long, hot, days to work on the ultimate tan. But, at what cost? Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and, as a matter of fact, one in every two Australians will develop a skin cancer (melanoma). It is the most common cancer of people aged between 15 and 40 and is the highest cause of cancer death in young adults. If all of that sounds ominous, it is. Sunburn is the skin’s reaction to the ultraviolet radiation (UV) in sunlight. Almost all of us will get sunburnt at least once in our lives, and about 5.6 million Australians get sunburnt each year. Sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes and can take a few days or weeks to heal depending on the severity. Mild sunburn can be treated at home, but severe and blistered burns need prompt medical attention. The long term effects of repeated bouts of sunburn include premature wrinkling and increased risk of skin cancer. Also, once the skin damage occurs, it is impossible to reverse. This is why prevention is much better than cure. Remember to ‘slip-slop-slap’ whenever you go out in the sun - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen (SPF 30+) and slap on a hat. Wear sunglasses too, since UV radiation can also hurt your eyes. Oh, and it’s best to keep out of the sun during the middle of the day. There is no cure for sunburn except time and patience. There’s no cream or lotion that will stop burnt skin from peeling off as this is part of the natural healing process therefore treatment aims to help manage the symptoms while the body heals. For more information on skin cancer, cancer prevention and detection, contact the Cancer Help Line on 13 11 20.

Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel
Driving is a very demanding task, yet almost all drivers try to do other things while behind the wheel. As we approach the holiday season, Navy Safety is warning drivers to give the driving task their top priority.

“Multi-tasking behind the wheel has become very common,” comments Canada Safety Council president Emile Therien. “Drivers eat, use laptop computers, talk on the phone, and try to stop their kids from fighting. Any distraction can be dangerous if it takes your attention off the road.”

Driving is one of the most demanding tasks we do, says Therien, yet a lot of drivers treat it as a secondary activity. He warns that unless you always give the driving task your top priority, you’re bound to have a mishap sooner or later - and it could be a serious one. Driver distraction in its various forms contributes to about nine per cent of serious or fatal crashes.

Our society has, to a great extent, condoned multi-tasking while driving. Most vehicles have cup holders.

Many also have complex in-vehicle systems for navigation and entertainment. Fast food drive-throughs encourage “dashboard dining.”

Drivers discipline their kids, argue with passengers, use mobile phones and other electronic devices, groom themselves, and even read while on the road. In a 2003 study in Canada, 80 per cent of drivers surveyed admitted to multi-tasking behind the wheel.

The Canada Safety Council and DNAVSAFE offer drivers a few tips to minimize distractions and focus on the driving task:
• Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

• Ensure children are properly buckled up.

• Consume food and beverages when the car is safely stopped.

• Review driving directions before you start.

• Avoid involved conversations with passengers.

• Use roadside rest stops and the Defence Highway Rest Stop Program.

REVIVE – SURVIVE and come back ALIVE so that you can continue to KEEP NAVY SAFE.

Source: Canada Safety Council <www.safety-council.org>

Defence Highway Rest Stop Program
In the last twelve months Defence records list 10 personnel as having been killed on Australian roads as a result of vehicle accidents – this has included motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians from all three services and other groups in Defence. The main contributing factors to most fatal vehicle accidents are speed, fatigue and alcohol and these too have been identified as significant causal factors in Defence vehicle related deaths.

Christmas is a time when many Australians travel significant distances by road. This is typically the case with Defence personnel who are posted over the period. Whilst road safety experts consider that both speed and fatigue are major causes of road accidents, fatigue is likely to have a higher accident profile for those travelling over the Christmas period.

To combat fatigue, two of the most essential elements are:

• getting enough sleep; and

• taking regular rest breaks.

The Centre for Sleep Research in Adelaide has identified that a person who has gone without sleep for 17 hours has the same chance of having an accident as someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 (the legal limit for driving).

Researchers have also noted that many fatigue-related accidents tend to occur in two distinct periods – between midnight and 6am, and between 2pm and 4 pm. These periods correlate to our normal circadian rhythm where the body is at its the lowest level of alertness. Taking a break in the early to mid-afternoon period significantly lowers the chance of a fatigue related accident.

Drivers may often make a choice to get away early on a Friday afternoon and drive through the night to maximise their time at their destination or drive on for those extra few hours to save on accommodation costs. Whilst this may save some money this significantly increases the chance of a fatigue related accident.

Defence sponsors an annual road safety initiative known as the Defence Highway Rest Stop Program which allows Defence drivers to make use of on-base transit accommodation at a number of bases around Australia.

It is specifically targeted at those travelling on holidays as opposed to members travelling on posting who are already in receipt of appropriate allowances. All participating bases provide accommodation and use of on-base facilities and a number even provide basic accommodation for families.

Due to a number of considerations including SAFEBASE and service accommodation needs, bookings must be made in advance. Full details of the program may be found on the Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation Branch
website at:

Defence Intranet: http://ohsc.defence.gov.au/Programs/RoadSafety/
Defence Internet http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/ohsc/Programs/RoadSafety/
Email: ohsc.mi@defence.gov.au.