Safety in parks
When you visit a park, you need to be aware of risks and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of anyone else in your care, including children. You should take some precautions in case you become unsure of your location, the weather changes or you encounter hazardous landscape features or dangerous animals or insects.
It is recommended that you inform friends, family and/or police of your travel dates and the locations you plan to visit (your itinerary) during your travels into parks and reserves in Western Australia. Provide them with regular updates to ensure they know where you are. Agree on what they should do if you are overdue or do not return when you said you would. Use this Trip Intentions form and provide sufficient detail so that they have the information needed to get help if required.
Plan and prepare for your visit and hopefully it will be a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience.
Emergency alerts and warnings
Park alerts are available from the Park Alerts website. Emergency alerts and warnings are posted by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the Bureau of Meteorology and the ABC through various digital channels. The ABC also broadcasts warnings on ABC Local Radio. Check Main Roads for road alerts and closures.
In an emergency
Contact emergency services by phone for urgent emergency assistance on the following numbers:
- Triple Zero (000) is Australia's primary emergency services number. Triple Zero (000) can be dialled from any fixed or mobile phone, payphone or some Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. All Australian satellite phone service providers offer access to Triple Zero (000). If your provider operates via another country, check access with the provider. Do not call Triple Zero (000) to check.
- 106 is a Text Emergency Relay System for those with a hearing or speech impediment. 106 can only be used from a textphone or teletypewriter (TTY).
- 112 is the international standard secondary emergency services number. 112 can only be used from digital mobile phones.. Reception from an individual service provider, SIM card or PIN number is not required.
- Install the free Emergency+ app on your mobile phone and use it in any emergency to call for assistance. If there is no mobile phone coverage you will not be able to call 000 but the app will provide you with GPS location details. Keep your phone fully charged and with location services turned on.
Please note:
- Mobile phone coverage is not reliable in many parks but may be better from hilltops. If there is no mobile coverage on any network, you will not be able to reach Emergency Services via a mobile phone.
- It is not possible to connect to emergency services by SMS (mobile phone short messaging service).
- For more information see https://www.triplezero.gov.au/.
- If you are travelling into more remote locations, it is recommended you carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) or satellite phone. If you are at the location where urgent emergency help is required and you have an emergency beacon such as a PLB or EPRIB, activate it. For more information see 'Be prepared'.
If you get lost
Stay safe by travelling only on existing roads and trails. If you get lost, or your vehicle breaks down or becomes stuck, stay where you are and wait for help. You’ll be found sooner.