Why you should give blood

Blood transfusion saves lives and improves health, but many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Providing safe and adequate blood should be an integral part of every country’s national health care policy and infrastructure.

Click on the link to hear why you should donate blood:

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/why-you-should-donate-blood

To find out more about blood click on the link below:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blood-safety-and-availability

Thinking about donating?

If you’re interested in donating blood, visit the Australian Red Cross Blood Service website to learn more about how blood donation works, who donations help and the types of donation possible. Take the quiz to find out if you are eligible to donate, or call 13 14 95 to talk to Red Cross staff about donating.

Want to know more, click on this Youtube video from Facts.net for more blood facts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vecdqv6TmSE

National Burns Awareness Month (NBAM) aims to drive greater awareness amongst the Australian community of burns prevention and the correct first aid treatment for burns.

National Burns Awareness Month is an initiative of Kidsafe, Australia’s leading community organisation dedicated to child injury prevention, and held in June each year as there is a significantly increased risk of burns during winter.

How to treat a burn:

REMOVE jewellery and clothing from the burn area.
Clothing, nappies and jewellery can hinder the healing process in two ways. Clothing and jewellery can
retain heat and can also restrict the body if swelling occurs. (A burn will continue to burn the skin until
the area cools).

COOL the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.
The longer a burn is left untreated, the deeper and more serious it becomes. It is therefore vital that
cooling the burn area is the critical first step in burn first aid management. Ideally this should be done
under cool running water however if running water is not available, two dampened cloths can be used
and alternated as heat will be transferred from the burn area to the cloth quite quickly. If the burn
surface area is large i.e. front or back torso of a child, or full arms, the body may lose heat due to the skin
losing its ability to regulate normal body temperature. Children can become cold very quickly if the burn
is large. At any sign of shivering or shock the patient should lay down and be loosely covered to keep
warm.

COVER the burn area with  a clean lint free cloth or cover loosely with cling wrap
Many burn complications arise as secondary conditions to the burn itself. These are commonly related
to shock, toxicity to the area or local infection of the wound and surrounding tissue. To reduce the
likelihood of infection and to assist the body in retaining body warmth it is advised to cover the burn
injury loosely with a plastic cling wrap or clean, lint free cloth. It is important to wrap the area loosely to
allow for some swelling of tissue.

SEEK medical advice
If the burn area is larger than a 20 cent coin or on the face, hands, feet,groin area, in skin folds or if there
is potential damage to the lungs and throat seek immediate medical attention.

To learn more click on the information guide link and watch the video below:

https://kidsafe.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Burns-Information-Guide.pdf

Cairns had 37 cases of Corona Virus and at present has no active cases.

Check on this site for statistics:

www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/statistics

We all still have an important role to play in continuing to stop the spread by keeping up good hygiene.

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Crohn’s and colitis awareness month aims to raise awareness about this condition. This is also a major fundraising event for Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, a supporting organization which helps people with Crohn’s and colitis. 100% of money raised goes towards supporting people with this condition and for further research for a cure. 

Often referred as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s and colitis are conditions which affect the intestines. These conditions cause the intestines to become red and inflamed. Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the intestines whilst colitis (formerly known as ulcerative colitis) affects the large intestine (colon).

As with many other conditions, symptoms of IBD can vary between individuals. Symptoms of Crohn’s and colitis can include:

• fatigue and tiredness
• frequent diarrhea & bowel movement
• abdominal cramps and pain
• anemia
• loss of appetite
• weight loss

Whilst the cause of IBD is not known, environmental, genetic and immunological factors may be involved. It’s also thought that the symptoms of IBD may be ience long periods of remission with flare ups from time to time.

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month promotes greater understanding of IBD. The major supporting organization, Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, have in recent years used the ‘Can’t Wait’ theme to carry their message.triggered by environmental factors such as bacteria and viruses. There is no cure for IBD although it can be managed with medication. People with IBD often exper

“If You Can’t Wait, Don’t wait… See Your Doctor With Any Bowel Related Symptoms“.

The theme ‘Can’t Wait’ was chosen as it works on many levels. On a basic level, ‘Can’t Wait’ reflects the urgency IBD sufferers experience when they need to go to the toilet at short notice.

On a deeper level, the theme reflects we can no longer wait for:

• improved access to specialized care and treatment.
• employers and schools to recognize IBD as a condition in its own right, and to help those with this condition manage it.
• the long time between initial and final consultation.
• an accurate diagnosis of IBD.
• the government to prioritize IBD in their health programs.
• the public to more become more aware about IBD.
• the stigma and feeling of embarrassment towards this condition to be reduced.

There is also a ‘Can’t Wait’ program with a dedicated website. Business owners are encouraged to participate in a special access toilet sharing program for IBD sufferers. They display a ‘Can’t Wait’ sticker in a prominent place (such as a shop window). People with IBD apply for a Can’t Wait Card and can use this to gain access to these toilets.

Donations help support people with this condition and provides funding for research into a cure. For more information visit:

http/www.crohnsandcoless-month-2020/itis.coms:/.au/awaren

This event raise awareness about spinal health & how poor posture can affect a persons life. This week is a chance to promote good posture which can prevent future health problems.

Spinal Health & The Nervous System

The spine covers and protects the spinal cord of the nervous system. The nervous system controls every cell, tissue and organ in the body. Poor posture can cause the spine to go out of its natural alignment, affecting the ability of the nervous system to control body functions.

If the spine is out of alignment, even just slightly, pressure may be put on the spinal nerve disrupting the nervous system. A study by Dr. Suh at the University of Colorado showed that a small pressure on the spinal nerve, as little as the weight of a dime, can reduce nerve function by 60 percent.

Effects Of Poor Posture Include:

• Back Pain
• Joint & Muscles Disorders
• Spine Problems
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Rounded Shoulders

Around 90% of people have poor posture; this could be caused by the way a person sits at work, does things at home, or carries things the wrong way.

Improving Posture

Good posture is crucial for optimal body function. Posture can directly health; improved posture can lead to better well being.

A healthy spine means a healthier life.

Today’s technologies, in the form of home entertainment, mobile phones, computers and games consoles mean that more people than ever are adopting poor posture in favor of being active. Sitting for extended periods of time whilst slouched in a chair can affect our spinal health. Spinal Health Week encourages people to become more aware of their posture and to take regular exercise to prevent health problems later in life.

By maintaining good posture we can help prevent visits to a doctor or chiropractor. In many cases, good posture and regular exercise can also prevent the symptoms of preexisting spinal health conditions becoming worse.

For more information click here:

https://www.chiro.org.au/patients/campaigns/spinal-health-week/

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It is characterised by sclerosis a Greek word meaning scars. These scars occur within the central nervous system and depending on where they develop, manifest into various symptoms.

MS affects over 25,600 in Australia and more than two million diagnosed worldwide. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, but it can affect younger and older people too. Roughly three times as many women have MS as men.

There is currently no known cure for MS however there are a number of treatment options available to help manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease.

To find out more about MS click on this link:

https://www.msaustralia.org.au/what-ms

To go to downloadable resources click here:

https://www.msaustralia.org.au/about-ms/information-sheets

Are you wearing your mask correctly and safely? Here are some medical mask tips.

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Thyroid Disorders affect all Australians and 1 in 10 Australians will be affected by some form of thyroid disorder, 7 of the 10 are women.

The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck, below the voice box. As part of the endocrine system, the thyroid plays a critical role in the healthy function of the body, influencing and regulating the activity of all cells and tissues. A healthy thyroid gland uses ingested iodine from iodine enriched foods to produce thyroid hormones which regulate body and brain growth and development, body temperature, energy levels and metabolic functions.

Early detection is important, a simple blood test and if necessary a thyroid ultrasound examination will either determine or eliminate the possibility.

Do not hesitate to visit your GP and discuss your concerns.

For more information check out the Australian Thyroid Foundation Site on:

http://www.thyroidfoundation.org.au/

Video to watch about the thyroid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=eQyL8EBDkVc&feature=emb_logo