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SAFETY AT THE BEACH Australia's infamous wild animals should be
the least of your worries when heading down to the beach. Sharks are
occasionally present, but attacks off Sydney beaches are rare, as
offshore meshing and regular aerial patrols protect the masses from the
marauding monsters of the deep. In fact, sunburn (Australians have the
world's highest incidence of skin cancer) presents much more of a threat
than sharks, especially for visitors who have fled a Northern Hemisphere
winter. Most of the popular beaches have nearby kiosks and general
stores selling sunscreen (ask for one with a 15+ rating), but even with
this protection, a wide-brimmed hat or beach umbrella is recommended.
In the water, bluebottles are the biggest danger. Known locally as "stingers," they are often confused with box jellyfish. These annoying critters float in with summer's north-easterly breezes, en masse, and are easily recognizable as bright blue sacks with tentacles trailing up to two meters. Stings are not fatal but can involve intense local pain, lasting 10-15 minutes, and will leave long red welts where the tentacles touched you. Rubbing the affected area with wet sand removes many of the unbroken stinging sacks, but the poison that's already been discharged will run its course. Dousing the wound with Methylated Spirits or vinegar may ease the pain (surf clubs always have a supply). Most Sydney beaches are patrolled between October and Easter by volunteer surf lifesavers. Distinctive red-and-yellow flags are set up on the beach to indicate safe swimming areas.
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