Summer in Australia means a mass exodus from cities to regional areas as families and friends hit the road for their holidays.
Many head to beaches near and far, others set up camp on riverbanks, lakes and watering holes for their summer water fix.
For a large number, summer also means the annual get-together on farms and country properties.
And the more adventurous head beyond the bitumen to explore our vast and stunning outback.
Most will return home sunburned and tired, with happy memories and hundreds of photographs.
But for others, holiday memories are of trauma and near-death experiences because they did not plan ahead for medical emergencies.
Take your time on the road
Summer holiday traffic can be a trial no matter where you are headed.
Congestion, speeding and fatigue can all take their toll on the long distance driver.
But there is another issue that often feeds into the increase in road accidents and fatalities — inexperience.
Many drivers who normally negotiate city streets and freeways can find themselves out of their depth when they leave their urban centre.
Adam O'Byrne, the operations manager for the Metropolitan Ambulance Service in Perth, said the volume of emergency calls increases markedly in summer.
"Especially in rural and remote areas where people are getting out and about as well as undertaking recreational activities," he said.
And as surprising as it sounds, very few travellers pack the basics like a first aid kit, although they are venturing far from home base.
So you need first aid? There's an app for that
In an Australian first, St John developed a smartphone application that marries-up those people trained in first aid with those who need their immediate help.
The First Responder app sends a notification to qualified, registered users who are within 500 metres of a public emergency incident.
The responders are people with appropriate first aid training such as off-duty paramedics, doctors, nurses.
Another unique twist is it can alert other members of the public with first aid qualifications.
"It could be an incident like a heart attack or serious burns or an allergic reaction," Mr O'Byrne said.
"And importantly, the app can dial triple zero and automatically send GPS coordinates to the operations centre.
Medical profile card for your pocket
Most people on medications manage them responsibly when they are travelling, but it may not be as straightforward as that.
To help, Healthcare provider Webstercare developed the printed credit card-sized PocketProfile that lists medication regimes and other important information.
Vietnam War veteran "John" is leaving on a cruise with his wife in days, but he has already used it nearer to home.
"Just a couple of weeks ago I was in hospital, and when I was admitted I was asked 'What meds you taking?'
"I showed them the card and they thought it was fantastic. It took all the guesswork out of it for the nurses and doctors."
Pharmacist Kellie Waldron from Warnbro Pharmacy, south of Perth, said many older Australians in particular are on a complicated pharmaceutical regime.
"You may have packed all the medications you need for the days you are away but it is also important to take extra in case your return home is held up for some reason," she said.
"Around 20 per cent of people aged 70 or older are on four or more medications.
"It can get very complicated. Your travelling partner or friends may know what you take, but not the dose."
In a pre-21st Century twist, PocketProfile does not require mobile phones, electricity or a charger to work.
"And there's no way I would have remembered all that information myself," John said.
