Home and outdoor safety

Camping safety

This page provides information on how to stay safe on camping trips.

Before setting off, make sure you get advice about the area where you will be travelling.

Tell a friend or family member where you are going, who will be with you and when you expect to return.

Plan carefully. Make sure your camping equipment and vehicle are in good working order.

Before setting off you should read about:

Take plenty of water

In the Northern Territory (NT) you need to drink at least two litres of water a day - more if you are outdoors or exercising.

Pack for the conditions

Take a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes for when out and about in the bush.

Be aware of the different weather conditions at different times of the year. Extreme cold in the south can be just as dangerous as heat in the north.

Insect repellent

Mosquitoes are active around sunset. Take insect repellent with a DEET base.

Pets

Dogs and cats are generally not allowed in national parks and reserves in the NT.

Read about rules for pets in parks.

You must camp in designated areas only.

Camp at least 50m away from the water in the Top End and be crocwise.

Lock your vehicle and secure any valuables.

If you are out in the bush, you should carry:

  • a first-aid kit
  • a compass
  • a map
  • a whistle
  • a lighter
  • water purifier tablets and some salt or salt tablets.

Stay on walking tracks and carry water and food on longer walks. Stay well back from cliff edges and waterfalls.

Read about bushwalking and hiking, including tips, rules and the best places to walk or hike in the NT.

The waters of the NT are home to many saltwater crocodiles. You should only swim in signed areas.

Never dive or jump into waterholes or rivers. Supervise your children, especially near water.

Find out more about where you can swim. Read about crocodile safety.

You will need to plan ahead and take extra care if driving on unsealed roads and tracks.

Driving a four-wheel drive does not mean that you can go anywhere. It does mean that you will be able to access more remote areas.

Please take care, particularly at high speeds. On unsealed roads braking distances are longer and four-wheel drives are more unstable.

Extra concentration will be needed if you are new to four-wheel driving.

Aboriginal land

You must get a permit to enter Aboriginal land. Read more about permits for entry and other activities.

Pastoral land

Pastoral properties are private property. If you are going off-road, make sure that the road is a public access road or get permission from the landowner.

When passing through, leave everything as you found it. Closed gates should be shut again and open gates left that way.

Before setting off on the water you should:

Do not clean fish or dispose of carcasses in or near the water. This can attract saltwater crocodiles.

Never wash your hands over the side of the boat.

Read more about recreational fishing.

Check if you can have a campfire and pay attention to any alerts – go to the SecureNT website.

You should take the following fire safety advice when camping:

  • do not park your car or tow vehicle in areas where a fire could start, like long dry grass
  • have a portable radio to keep updated about the weather and fire restrictions
  • never leave children or pets alone in a tent
  • never cook or smoke in tents and consider buying a flame-retardant tent
  • set up your fire downwind and a safe distance from tents
  • collect firewood off park and only fallen branches
  • only light fires in fire pits where permitted and keep them small
  • use fires only for cooking and warmth
  • do not use fuel of any type to start or promote a fire
  • never leave cooking unattended and always secure matches and lighters
  • turn off any lanterns and put out campfires before going to bed.

Caravan safety

You should read the information below to stay safe when using your caravan.

When planning your caravan trip you should:

  • check for gas leaks using soapy water
  • turn off any pilot lights before towing or when the towing vehicle's engine is running
  • check your smoke alarm and consider putting a fire extinguisher and fire blanket near the exit
  • check the expiry dates on your extinguisher
  • test all electrical and gas equipment
  • store all gas cylinders outside the caravan - they must be well secured with the valves facing away from the van
  • have a fire escape plan that considers all occupants of a caravan.

To stay safe on your caravan trip you should:

  • check gas connections after driving on country roads - remember that LPG is heavier than air and will build up in low-lying or enclosed areas
  • not park your car or tow vehicle in areas that could catch fire like long dry grass
  • have a portable radio to keep updated about weather conditions and fire restrictions
  • never leave children or pets unattended in a caravan
  • light campfires downwind
  • not use fuel to start or promote a campfire
  • never leave cooking unattended in caravans and always secure matches and lighters
  • turn off any lanterns and put out campfires before going to bed.

When you arrive at a Northern Territory caravan park, ask the manager for a copy of the park’s emergency management plan. Know where to find your nearest fire hose reel.

Make sure you are no closer than 3m from any other van or annex.

Smoke alarms must be installed on the ceiling of caravans.

They must be installed in all moveable dwellings used for living or sleeping in, including:

  • permanent tents
  • caravans
  • holiday vans
  • park van annexes and similar structures, whether they are registered for road use or not.

Electrical safety at home

It is important that you maintain safe electrical services in your home.

If you have concerns about the safety of electrical work done on your property, you can call the Electrical Safety team at NT WorkSafe on 1800 019 115.

Go to the electrical safety page on the Power and Water Corporation website for more information.

Firearm and weapon safety

To find out about firearm and weapon safety go to the Northern Territory Police website, where you can get the National Firearms Safety Code booklet and other resources.

Food safety and power outages

This page has information about consuming and storing food safely during and after a power outage.

The basic rule is, 'if in doubt, throw it out'.

Record the time the power outage starts so you know how long your food has been without refrigeration.

Keep your fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Only open them when absolutely necessary - this will keep the food colder for longer.

Place refrigerated foods together to keep them colder for longer.

Place meat, poultry or fish in the coldest section of your refrigerator, making sure they don’t drip onto fresh fruit and vegetables or other ready-to-eat foods.

If needed, use ice to help keep food cold when the power is out.

A closed refrigerator should keep your food cool for four to six hours.

Kept closed, a full freezer should keep your food frozen for up to 48 hours, while a half-full freezer should keep your food frozen for up to 24 hours.

The rate of thawing depends on the amount of food in the freezer. A full freezer stays colder than one that is partly full.

If the power is restored within four to six hours and your fridge or freezer doors have remained closed, some of your food may still be OK.

Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been warm too long, they may contain enough bacteria to make people ill.

If raw food - especially meat, poultry and fish - drip juices, clean and disinfect all affected areas in the fridge or freezer, as well as any counter tops, cutting boards and utensils that have been affected.

The only reliable way to check your food is safe is to check its temperature with a thermometer.

How to check food in the freezer is OK

Food in the freezer can be refrozen or used if it is at 0 degrees Celsius or lower when you check with a thermometer or if ice crystals are visible in the food.

If it is above 0 degrees Celsius you should throw it out.

How to check food in the fridge is OK

If the food in your fridge has been above 5 degrees Celsius for less than two hours, it is OK to eat or keep.

If it has been above 5 degrees Celsius for two to four hours, the food can be used, but you must use it immediately.

It it has been above 5 degrees Celsius for more than four hours, you must throw the food out.

Throw out food that was being cooked when the power went out.

In the case of properly cooked hot food, eat it within four hours or throw it out.

Do not put hot food in your refrigerator or freezer. Without power, this will cause the refrigerator or freezer to warm up much faster.

Home security

You can protect your home, car and belongings by taking the precautions listed below.

You should do all of the following to keep your home safe:

  • lock security doors and screens on windows to provide a barrier but still allow air to flow
  • ask for identification of trades and sales people or strangers before opening your door
  • make sure you know the friends and acquaintances of your children or other people who visit your home
  • keep doors locked, even when at home or in the garden, but don’t deadlock yourself inside in case you need to leave in a hurry
  • install smoke alarms and check them regularly
  • keep cash in the home to a minimum
  • consider a dog as a deterrent
  • display house numbers prominently to make your home easy to find in an emergency
  • don't leave your car keys or other keys lying around or in obvious places
  • don't leave keys hidden outside the house. Leave spares with trusted friends or neighbours
  • don't leave tools outside that could be used to break into your home
  • don't keep a weapon in the home for protection - it could be used against you.

You should do all of the following to stay safe when using your phone:

  • never reveal that you will be going away or that you are not at home
  • never provide your name or address
  • hang up on nuisance callers
  • keep emergency, family and neighbour numbers close to the phone
  • install a phone, or an extension, in your bedroom
  • activate the PIN and security code on your mobile phone.

You should do all of the following if an intruder enters your home:

  • stay calm
  • comply with the intruder’s instructions
  • leave the house if possible
  • contact police.

Medicines and poisons safety

Buying medicines online

Go to the Australian Government's Therapeutic Goods Administration website to read more about buying medicines online.

Medicine recalls

Read a list of Australian product recalls for medicines, therapeutic devices and tests on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website.

Poisons information

You can call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice on poisons and poisoning. The centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Spray drift complaints

Contact the Pollution Hotline on 1800 064 567 or read more about making a complaint related to chemical misuse.

Unwanted medicines

You can return out-of-date or unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy through the Return Unwanted Medicines project. Your unused medicine will be safely destroyed.

Neighbourhood safety

This page has information about programs that you can use to help keep your community safe.

Crime Stoppers

You can provide anonymous information about unsolved crimes to Crime Stoppers. Calls are not taped or traced.

If you call, you will be given a code number to use when making further contact.

If your information leads to an arrest, you may eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Call 1800 333 000 to make an anonymous report.

You can also read about terrorism and reporting suspicious behaviour.

Neighbourhood Watch

You can act as the eyes and ears of the police in your area by joining Neighbourhood Watch.

A police officer on patrol may not recognise a stranger in your area but you and your neighbours will.

Neighbourhood Watch has members in all areas of Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

Membership is free. Go to the Neighbourhood Watch website for more information.

Register your party

You can register a party with police at least seven days before it takes place.

To get a party registration form go to the Northern Territory Police website  or pick one up from your local police station.

Police will check your event and your registration will help them if there is trouble.

Party hosts

If you are holding a party, you should:

  • tell neighbours in advance and provide a phone number in case they wish to contact you
  • make entry by invite only to keep out gatecrashers
  • put a start and finish time on the invitation
  • make sure there are non-drinking adults supervising if it is a young person’s party
  • encourage parents to collect their children at a prearranged time.

If your guests are drinking

If guests at your party will be drinking alcohol, you should:

  • supply the drinks - BYO parties can lead to excessive and unsupervised drinking
  • serve the drinks - make alcohol available from one area, served by a non-drinking adult
  • provide non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks
  • restrict the supply of full-strength beers, champagne, wines and spirits
  • feed your guests - avoid salty foods as these can encourage more drinking
  • consider displaying a Safe Party Alert Poster - available from your local police station.

If all else fails, you’re the host - you can ask people to leave. Be assertive to gain control of the situation.

Call police on 131 444 if things are getting out of control, before they get worse. Call 000 in a life-threatening situation or emergency.

Party guests

If you have been invited to a party you should link up with others to look out for each other, both at the party and when going home.

Nominate a sober driver or someone to pick you up.

Do not take alcohol to the party unless asked and don’t take more than you will drink.

Do not tell others who haven’t been invited about the party. This will prevent gatecrashers.

Parents

If your child has been invited to a party, speak with the hosts about:

  • the invitation list
  • numbers attending
  • the age range
  • food and alcohol
  • pick-up times.

Make sure you know the address of the venue and contact details of the party host.

Be clear about when to drop your child off and when to pick them up. This will stop children gathering on the street unsupervised.

Personal safety

The Northern Territory (NT) is a place where most people feel safe - but the unexpected can happen.

A few simple precautions can improve your personal safety and make life in the NT more secure.

Out at night

Walking home alone after dark, even a short distance, makes you vulnerable.

Avoid it any way you can. Walk with friends, take a taxi, call a minibus or arrange a lift.

Don’t put yourself at risk. Remember, alcohol makes you more confident but less competent.

On the street

When out on the street you should:

  • stay alert, walk confidently, and know where you are heading
  • go to a well-lit area if you feel unsafe
  • make sure friends know where you are going and when you plan to return
  • walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic
  • carry a personal safety alarm or mobile phone
  • keep the volume of your headphones at a level that you can still hear what is happening around you
  • avoid overgrown areas, blind corners, and places where someone could hide
  • be wary of anyone, particularly in a car, who asks for directions or tries to engage you in conversation
  • not carry cash or valuables, if possible
  • carry any bag on the side furthest from the road and don’t let the bag or straps hang loosely
  • keep valuable items such as you mobile phone out of sight.

If you are harassed take a note of:

  • the person’s appearance and clothes
  • what their vehicle looks like, if any
  • their vehicle's number plate, if possible.

You should report the matter to police as soon as you can.

On the bus

When on the bus you should:

  • know the timetables so you don’t have to wait long
  • at night, choose well-lit stops near other people, if possible
  • carry a mobile phone, spare change or a phone card for emergencies
  • sit near the bus driver if there are only one or two other passengers
  • alert the driver or contact police if the behaviour of others is offensive or illegal
  • complain loudly to draw attention to yourself if you are harassed or threatened
  • arrange to be picked up after dark if there is distance between the stop and home
  • keep any personal belongings secure.

On the road

When on the road you should:

  • service your vehicle regularly and check your fuel gauge before travelling
  • keep a torch, pen and paper in your car
  • have your car keys ready when approaching your vehicle
  • check for people loitering when entering or leaving your vehicle
  • keep windows up and doors locked
  • don’t stop to help others who wave you down if you’re alone and there is no traffic
  • never pick up hitchhikers
  • ignore others driving aggressively
  • not leave valuables inside the car where they can be seen
  • not leave your vehicle if you have an accident and if others involved are aggressive - exchange details through a partly opened window with your doors locked
  • put your hazard lights on, raise the bonnet and stay in your car if it breaks down - don’t accept a lift from passers-by and stay with your vehicle until help arrives
  • consider joining the Automobile Association of the Northern Territory (AANT) for roadside assistance.

At the shops

When out shopping you should:

  • keep cash and valuables concealed
  • not leave your purse, wallet, bags or valuables in the shopping trolley
  • be alert to people loitering nearby
  • keep an eye on your bag while loading shopping into your car
  • keep your bag close to you - don't wrap the straps around your wrist
  • draw attention to yourself by protesting loudly if your bag is grabbed - note the appearance of the offender and contact police.

At the ATM

When using an ATM you should:

  • not let people see you enter your PIN
  • avoid using ATMs in isolated or dark locations
  • count your cash out of sight of others
  • memorise your PIN
  • hit 'cancel', withdraw your card and walk away if you feel unsafe or that you’re being watched.

Product safety

The Product Safety Australia website provides safety information for Territorians and businesses.

You can also check products on the Product Safety Recalls Australia website.

Report a problem crocodile

You can report a crocodile that is a risk to public safety 24 hours a day. 

You can report a croc anywhere in the Northern Territory (NT).

Crocodiles that pose a risk will be removed by trained wildlife rangers from the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

When to report a crocodile

While crocodiles are a natural part of the NT ecosystem, you should report crocodiles that are any of the following:

  • close to a swimming area
  • in an area signposted as open for swimming
  • in a residential area, such as at Darwin Harbour, Katherine River, Nhulunbuy or Borroloola 
  • behaving aggressively to people or posing a risk to public safety.

How the crocodile is removed

Problem crocodiles will be removed by trained and authorised wildlife rangers - by trapping, harpooning or shooting.

Permits may be granted to other land managers to remove problem crocodiles.

Report by phone

If your report is urgent, you should phone the following:

  • Darwin - 0419 822 859 or (08) 8983 2475 
  • Katherine - 0407 958 405 or (08) 8973 8888.

Details to report

You will need to give the following information about the crocodile:

  • location
  • estimated size
  • time of day that it was sighted
  • your name and phone number in case the rangers need further information.

Safety at work

This page has information for workers and employers about safety in the Northern Territory (NT). 

Contact NT WorkSafe

NT WorkSafe provides the following information for workers:

  • how to stay safe at work
  • what to do when applying for high risk and other work licences
  • about making a workers compensation claim and returning to work.

NT WorkSafe provides the following information for businesses:

  • how to keep the workplace safe
  • about licensing and registration
  • about workers compensation and helping injured workers return to work
  • to understand and comply with the laws
  • to report a workplace incident.

Go to the NT WorkSafe website to get safety advice for your workplace.

Recreational water and your health

If you use water for recreational activities, you should be aware of possible health risks in and around the water.

These risks vary depending on the type of water you use and what activity you do.

The main rule is the more contact you have with water, the better the water quality should be.

Categories of recreational water activity

Recreational water activities are defined by the amount of contact you have with the water.

There are three main categories:

  • primary contact – includes swimming, surfing and other activities where:
    • you might plunge into the water
    • there is a risk you might swallow water
  • secondary contact – includes boating and fishing where:
    • you have direct contact with water but
    • the chance of swallowing water is unlikely
  • passive recreation - there is no direct contact. For example, walking and picnicking around the water.

Types of risks

Types of risks in recreational waters include:

  • accidents
  • exposure to jellyfish and crocodiles
  • microbiological organisms
  • chemicals
  • exposure to toxic algae and their products.

If recreational waters are contaminated, it can mean disease outbreaks and illness in the community.

The greatest potential risk comes from microbial contamination by organisms such as:

  • bacteria
  • viruses
  • algae.

What you should do

You should always follow warning signs placed around beach areas and other waterways.

If you are unsure about the quality of a waterway, you should avoid activities where you are likely to swallow water.

Guidelines for managers of recreational water bodies

You should read the guidance notes for recreational water quality in the NT PDF (280.0 KB) if you manage a recreational public water body such as:

  • coastal and estuarine waters including:
    • tidally washed pools and marine baths that interchange with sea water
  • freshwater bodies including:
    • rivers
    • streams
    • lakes
    • weirs
    • dams.

This document explains how to interpret and apply the national guidelines for managing risks in recreational water.

To read the national guidelines, go to the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

Contact

For more information, contact the Public Health Directorate by calling 08 8922 7152.