The obvious and not-so-obvious risks of the festive season

While the message may sound repetitive, it remains relevant given the festive season is a high-danger period for several obvious and not-so-obvious reasons.

Victoria Police statistics tell us that December is historically the worst month for drink driving offences with the highest number of drink driving detections and the most collisions involving an alcohol-impaired driver.

Speeding detections also increase in December, due to an influx of traffic on the road as travellers head to holiday destinations.

Ambulance Victoria said that warmer weather and school holidays contributed greatly to a rise in “preventable emergencies”.

It reports more heat-related illnesses, water incidents and people getting into trouble outdoors.

Ambulance Victoria is reminding the public that the temperature inside a parked car can rise by 20 to 30 degrees in minutes, and a child’s body temperature rises up to five times faster than an adult’s.

People are urged to wear lifejackets, supervise children closely and avoid alcohol around water as the risk of drowning doubles on public holidays, with more than one third of inland drownings taking place within a person’s own postcode.

Warm weather also sees an increase in venomous snake activity, whose bites require urgent medical attention.

Ambulance Victoria says it’s a good idea for people to educate themselves on what to do in the event someone is bitten.

Bush and hiking-related incidents are also known to increase during the warmer months, where people can become dehydrated, suffer falls or become disoriented.

“Christmas is a time for connection and celebration, but it can also be a busy period for emergency services,” Ambulance Victoria Hume 2 region acting area manager Bec Avard said.

“Our paramedics are proud to serve the Shepparton community, and we encourage everyone to plan ahead, look out for one another and enjoy the holidays safely.”

Shepparton Search and Rescue vice-president Craig Duke echoed her sentiments, suggesting he’d prefer everyone stayed safe and enjoyed their Christmas so emergency services personnel could do the same.

“Take it easy and let us enjoy Christmas,” Mr Duke said.

With warmer weather also comes the risk of destructive fire.

The CFA says fire safety is a shared responsibility.

“We can’t have a fire truck in every driveway,” a CFA spokesperson said.

“Know the fire risk in your area. You may be travelling to an unfamiliar area and it’s important to understand the fire risk of your holiday location. Now is not the time to become complacent.”

The CFA suggested people keep an eye on the Vic Emergency app for warnings and information.

As Victoria Police’s 15-day Operation Roadwise begins on December 18, with a focus on impaired driving, motorists can expected increased alcohol and drug testing anywhere and at any time of day or night.

Police will also be highly visible enforcing speed on major regional Victorian roads and busy holiday hotspots.

Shepparton police Acting Inspector Brad Fisher urged locals to abide by laws.

“It’s a time for celebration,” he said.

“Look after each other, your family and friends. Don’t become a statistic.”

The warning comes as 282 lives have been recorded as lost on Victoria roads in 2025 (as at December 17), four more than at the same time last year.

Twenty of those deaths have happened in the first 16 days of this month, surpassing the 19 total fatalities recorded in December last year.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the roads, visit the Road Safety page on the Victoria Police website.

Heat health resources are available in multiple languages on the Ambulance Victoria website.