The big killer in a bushfire is heat radiating from a fire onto bare skin. You need to cover all bare skin with long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, jeans or overalls, sturdy shoes and wool or cotton socks. If you are outside don't forget to wear a wide-brimmed or hard hat, goggles or glasses, and gloves.

Other causes of death are inhalation of super-hot air and flames, dehydration in the hot, dry conditions and being hit by falling trees and branches.

Although radiant heat is fierce, it is easily blocked by a solid barrier such as building walls. If you are caught in a bushfire, the safest place is inside a building away from the radiant heat, hot air and flames.

Peak values of radiant heat from even the worst bushfire rarely lasts more than ten minutes. If you can shelter for this time you have a good chance of survival.

Houses have never been known to burn down in the first ten minutes when the fire front is moving past. They are usually ignited by blowing embers, radiant heat and the burning of adjacent structures like wood heaps, trellises and timber decking, and they can take hours to burn down. If you shelter inside while the fire front goes past and then put out the small spot fires inside and around the outside of your house there is an excellent chance that you and your home will survive.

The dry and hot air around bushfires can cause dehydration. Remember to have a drink of water as often as you can, preferably every ten minutes. Do not drink alcohol - it will dehydrate you even more.

On fire danger days, use the radio to keep up with the latest information on the weather and fire situation. If you plan to stay in your house make sure you are well prepared. If you plan to leave, then leave early. Getting trapped by a fire when you are out in the open is very dangerous. Keep a woollen blanket in the car and get under it if you are trapped in a fire. Remember that car petrol tanks don't usually explode in a bushfire. You are much safer in your car than out in the open and you are much safer in a building than in a car.