We are fast approaching the silly season! The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer – can you feel it in the air? Summer is just around the corner.
In the last 2 years the world has been riding that crazy Coronavirus coaster ride and before that, Australians were in a melting pot with raging fires all over the countryside! We have had waves of lockdowns, some states in lockdown for a seemingly forever state.
An intense couple of years? – that’s an understatement!
Ever wondered why they call it the silly season? In Australia the silly season refers to the Christmas and New Year festive period, where Aussies are fond of getting out and about to socialise. Then add at times, copious amounts of alcohol and shenanigans as part of the celebration to end a hectic year in the height of a sizzling Australian summer!
What could go wrong you say?!!
The result? Generally, some silly outcomes, silly decisions, or silly mistakes are on the cards hence -
THE SILLY SEASON!
This year we are likely set for the biggest silly season yet!
Why is that?
With COVID-19 changing the shape of our lives as we know it, the constant pressures of modern life combined with pandemic fatigue – It is more likely that people will be partying harder, letting loose as ‘freedom’ days are on the horizon. The pandemic has set a level of uncertainty for the future, and it has caused a great deal of stress and overwhelm for many people.
Upon reflection of the past 20 months, people have missed out on school formals, milestone birthdays, graduations, getting married, seeing loved ones, and being able to say goodbyes at funerals just to name a few. On top of that, there is the daily drama of physical distancing and constantly living with this invisible disease – one that we are told will weave its way constantly into our future lives.
Let’s just keep it real and talk about the hard stuff……tips to keep you safe during the Silly Season in 2021!
Teach our young ones how to cope
Schoolies is fast approaching. If you are my age, cast your mind back to what that was like when venturing out for that moment of freedom! Fast forward to today, add in all the complexities of social media, plus a pandemic and you will see that our youth need some extra support. Often our youth feel invincible….and we know sadly that statistics say they are not.
No judgement, no lectures, just simple measures of what to do if something goes wrong. Education around First Aid management goes a long way for building REAL LIFE skills. At the end of the day, wouldn’t you feel better knowing that your teens are prepared to potentially help save the life of a mate?
More than that, it’s not just about the physical first aid, it’s also about the mental health and well-being of our youth – likely to be the most impacted of communities during the pandemic. F.A.S.T. First Aid Training can support by providing real practical strategies and training. Teaching our youth how to respond using any everyday item to grab during an emergency. It’s not likely they are going to carry a first aid kit with them! It’s these practical strategies that will make all the difference, plus learning about critical self-care strategies to also help them build resilience.
Keeping your head above water!
Now that is a statement! I think over the past 18 months we all feel like we’ve been sinking at times, however, let’s talk about the literal word – drowning! If you are Australian, you will know we all have an affinity with the water, however drinking alcohol and jumping in for a swim – yeah – nah – they simply don't mix. Drownings happen in any season; however, the majority happen in the December and January months. Is that coincidental that it aligns with the silly season?
More distraction, inhibitions lowered = more risk, sadly resulting in more drownings. More than 40% of the 770 people who drowned in Australia’s inland waterways in the past 10 years had been drinking (reported in the Sydney Morning Herald – 2016). This confirms that there is a strong link between alcohol, drownings and risk taking in the water.
You then add adults drinking during the silly season, who are responsible for supervising young children in the water and that could spell disaster.
What can you do?
1. Supervise
2. Learn CPR – a critical life-saving skill!
Hydration, hydration, hydration!
Notice the key word here? Hydration is key! We live in a hot, humid climate, so dehydration is a constant battle just from a weather perspective! Add in some alcoholic drinks and it ups the ante for dehydration.
For every alcoholic drink a person has, they should also have a full glass of water. This will help to limit the amount of alcohol they consume. If you are having a party, as host, make sure your guests have plenty of access to water and ice top-ups during the festive celebrations, plus plenty of food and non-alcoholic options.
Be Kind
Now that sounds simple, doesn’t it? yet as many have seen during the pandemic, may be harder for some to deliver on. The truth is we don’t know how difficult it is in someone else’s patch, so always important to be kind. We are currently seeing unprecedented levels of stress and overwhelm for many people, from all walks of life, and traditional services are not equipped to help simply because of the volume of people requiring support. We have expanded our services to include a Mental Health and Well-being focus - to be there for you.
Shenanigans and Code of Conduct
If you are heading to the work functions, you are still on the clock at work. Just keep that one in mind, as people often forget that bit! If you wish to stay in the good books with HR, you will need keep your behaviour in check.
That works both ways too, an employer also has an obligation to the worker to ensure the venue is safe, excessive alcohol is not being served and employees are following the business’s code of conduct. Save your shenanigans for a different audience!
Invest in a budgeting App
Now you might be wondering how this makes it into this list! Risk is not only related to alcohol, but the silly season can also promote some reckless spending leaving you struggling to get back on your feet in the new year.
If you haven’t already, invest in a budgeting app to keep you across your spending and make it easier for yourself as you get through the Christmas period.
Help our healthcare and social services industry – turn the tables
The last 20 months has been exhausting for this sector. COVID management has put enormous strain on the services, the resources, and our wonderful people working in the healthcare and social services industry. What an incredible job they have done, keep doing and the daily challenge of the pandemic continues to create such complexities.
The sad truth is, this sector is inundated with a call for services during the festive period, for unexpected harms and experiencing injuries like broken bones, sprains, drowning or as we see each year, accidental deaths. This occurs largely due to the binge drinking culture that many Australians have adopted. This could be your time to turn the tables – to instead, be of service – to volunteer. Since the pandemic hit, many in this sector have seen a significant drop in volunteers. Here is a chance for you to be a part of the solution and help to fix the problem.
Invest time in your community
At a time when people are celebrating the end of the year, the drinks are flowing and people are enjoying some time out, look around you. You might be surprised to see that some people are masking their loneliness, isolation, and despair, more than ever during the pandemic. Reach out to those in your community, spend some time helping others.
A small investment – a conversation, a helping hand – it may just mean the world to just one person.
Get back to Nature
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has taught us to be grateful for what we have. Here in Australia, we are truly blessed to have nature right here on the doorstep. Spend more time reconnecting with nature - small steps in the right direction. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for it. It will help you to lower levels of stress and keep you in a better frame of mind ahead of the Silly Season.
There you have it! The 9 tips to keep you safe this Silly Season!
F.A.S.T. First Aid Training have been enormously supported by our clients and community over the past year. Navigating the way with you, in and out of lockdowns and weaving through the pandemic to keep things moving and on track.
We send a heartfelt thank you, for being there with us along this journey and looking forward to working alongside you in 2022!
Wishing our clients and readers a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Hope you find these tips useful to stay safe during the Silly Season:)
