QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | WWW.ER24.CO.ZA
MAKE IT YOURS
Wayne Jooste: From the stage to the ambulance
ER24 SUPPORT There when you might need it
FIND US ON
IN THIS ISSUE Front page stories 20
When you need extra support
Life can sometimes be an uphill battle, but these photos reveal how ER24 is not only there for the minor bumps and bruises but also for the encouragement you might need from the sidelines.
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From the stage to the ambulance
Company interest 31 34
Fidelity ADT Security partners with ER24 Mediclinic’s focus on broadening learning opportunities
Clinical 32
Bringing stroke treatment into the future Mediclinic Bloemfontein’s dedicated stroke unit offers patients specialised care - and gives other facilities an example to follow.
ER24 events 16
PHOTOS: ER24 out and about
From the Sasol Solar Challenge 2018 to the Cape Town Marathon, see what ER24 has been up to.
ER24 staff 5 24 4
Shameema shines at female entrepreneur awards.
Branch, region of the year awards 2017/18 ER24 offers trauma service to SU
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When death is felt by all
A reflection piece by Russel Meiring, ER24’s Communications Officer.
Awareness 6
71-year-old survives a crocodile attack
Peter Knottenbelt recounts the day he inadvertently stepped on the back of a 3m crocodile while crossing the Olifants River in Limpopo.
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Crowding at an accident scene Child safety: Falling from a height
Electrical shock: What you should know
CONTACT:
Email: communications@er24.co.za Tel: 086 1084124 Web: https://er24.co.za Emergencies: 084 124
DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Mediclinic Design Studio Ineke van Huyssteen
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The next edition of Priority One will be published at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.
Content for consideration may be sent to ER24 Communications Department by any staff member or client. Send content to communications@er24.co.za
Left to right: Elonie de Klerk, Ivan Cohen and Bree Steele Middle (front): At Grobler
ER24 OFFERS TRAUMA SERVICE TO SU While ER24 is known as an emergency response service, what many may not know is that other services such as trauma counselling are available to our clients. One of these clients is Stellenbosch University (SU). It is ER24’s second contract with the University. At Grobler, ER24 Trauma Coordinator, and his dedicated team of locums represent ER24 from a trauma support side. The three locums are Ivan Cohen, Bree Steele and Elonie de Klerk. The team offer trauma support after hours from 16H00 – 08H00 every day as well as on weekends and public holidays. The team operates directly from campus and meets with students
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when required. “It is important for students and for people to know that Stellenbosch University offers a service like this. We are there to help. If something happens to a student, it sometimes affects the roommate as well as the whole class. Trauma counselling can be with an individual, or it can be on a larger scale,” said At. Although the counselling isn’t longterm, At acknowledges that they do still check in with a student once or twice after an incident. “You are the first person they speak to after a specific incident, and you’ve gained their trust. It makes sense that they’d prefer to chat with you once or
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twice after the initial session. From there we do refer them to the remarkable psychologists working at Stellenbosch University,” said At. The purpose of the service is to act promptly around emotional distress/ trauma when the integrity of the individual and/or the environment is under threat. Psychological crises would include the following: the death of someone close to you, suicide, accidents, rape, sexual abuse, depression, divorce, stressful situations/examinations, serious relationship problems, etc. The service is fully aligned with the safety and risk system of the SU.
SHAMEEMA SHINES AT FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS
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n August, Shameema Adams, ER24’s Marketing Manager, was awarded runner-up in the category Top Entrepreneur Smallholder in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) – Western Cape Female Entrepreneur Awards 2018. Minister Alan Winde announced the winners and runner-ups at an event ceremony held at Vredenheim in Stellenbosch on the 7th of August.
Shameema Adams with her award.
“I was so surprised and delighted when I received the award. I am feeling very motivated as the award provides me access to markets and offers the support I might need to grow my project further,” said Shameema. Shameema explains that the members came to visit her project and encouraged her to enter the competition. This was followed by a panel interview. Her farming project
entails growing organic produce in tunnels and selling vegetable packs to the public. “We need to recognise the women playing an amazing role in agriculture. We must nurture and cherish these women so they can grow in the sector,” said Minister Alan Winde.
Minister Alan Winde with some of the runner-ups and winners.
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71-YEAR-OLD SURVIVES A CROCODILE ATTACK Peter Knottenbelt recounts the day he inadvertently stepped on the back of a 3m crocodile while crossing the Olifants River in Limpopo.
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On the 6th of January 2018 at around 14:00, while my granddaughter and I were crossing the Olifants River (in Limpopo) by foot, I inadvertently stepped on the back of a 3m crocodile. My wife and other members of the family were on the bank of the river. Some rangers who owned another guest house about 100m downstream heard the screams for help as our family members watched the gruesome situation that was unfolding. The moment that I stood on the crocodile’s back it reacted with violence, gripping my right leg in its jaws and throwing me from side to side. I heard bones in my leg being crushed. While I fought for my life, I thought it was a futile attempt against such a large predator. The rangers were shooting into the water close to me attempting to frighten the crocodile. I managed to find its head while it was swimming into deeper water for the inevitable drowning. I forced my thumbs into its eye sockets with all my might. I think this went on for about 5 minutes after which I believe the croc was disoriented and literally spat me out close to a sandbank. A brave ranger jumped into the river and dragged me to the shore despite the massive risk to himself. I was severely injured. The total time of the ordeal was estimated at 20 minutes. Later medical treatment showed a broken sternum with bruising of the heart, six broken ribs including a punctured lung, and massive tissue damage on the right chest, dislocated right collarbone, fractured scapular, both wrists were broken, internal bleeding, and of course multiple severe fractures of the right leg and foot. I was stabilised using a tourniquet and odd bits of clothing to stop the bleeding. An ambulance had been called for from Tzaneen.The location was remote, and the roads were terrible. A paramedic arrived about an hour later with the ambulance following. Further stabilisation occurred, and I was placed in the ambulance only semi-conscious. The nature of the injuries required urgent treatment with sepsis already establishing itself. The ambulance was redirected to Polokwane, and my
Peter Knottenbelt recovering in hospital.
daughter went ahead to make arrangements at the hospital. The ambulance reached Polokwane at about 20H30, about six hours after the initial incident. At Mediclinic Polokwane I was immediately treated for the severe injuries; lung drainage, wound cleaning and staples to reduce further blood loss, blood transfusion, artificial ventilation and directed for surgery – severe infection had already set in. A decision was made to airlift me to another hospital in Johannesburg using the ER24 Oneplan medical helicopter. At this stage, I was entirely unconscious under sedation. I was placed in trauma ICU at a hospital in Johannesburg at 02:00 on the 7th of January. Twelve surgeries followed during my induced coma over the next 14 days. Since I was unconscious I never even had the chance to enjoy the helicopter ride! I am lead to believe that the infection from the leg and chest was too much for my body to handle. Together with a gross infection of my whole body, the massive damage caused to the foot and lower leg necessitated the amputation of the right lower leg through the knee. My sons and daughters were prepared for the inevitable but once the amputation had taken place the ‘numbers’ improved dramatically. I was strong physically and mentally. My recovery started. After 44 days of intensive care, I was transferred to the general ward and then to a rehabilitation centre close to my home in Benoni. At the time of writing (20th August 2018) I have been back home for several months. I have re-joined the gym and swim an average of 1km daily. I am building strength, of course not as fast as I want, but much faster than anybody including the medical specialists could ever have thought possible. I have received a prosthetic leg and I am learning to use it effectively for most situations allowing a sign of progress to a “normal” life. I could easily have passed on to the afterlife had it not been for the professional care given to me by the medical and helicopter staff. I also
believe that the many prayers and messages of support have been a driving force in my recovery. I use this opportunity to thank all those that have supported me over the rescue and recovery period to date.
*A real-life story told by Peter Knottenbelt. Peter’s daughter also won an Air Angels competition where she will have an exclusive VIP ride on the Gazelle 342 helicopter. She has asked that her dad be the recipient.
I have lived my life positively focused on the development of young people. I still have a lot to offer and this second chance at life stimulates me further to support humanity in any way I can.
Peter showing he is capable of moving around in the house.
Spending some time at the gym.
Peter is seen sitting in front of one of the ER24 Oneplan medical helicopters in which he was airlifted to hospital.
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ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | PRIORITY ONE |
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Wayne Jooste, ER24 medic.
FROM THE STAGE TO THE AMBULANCE From releasing his first album titled Vir ’n Oomblik on iTunes and Google Play to a sold out CD launch in Bloemfontein, Wayne Jooste has had quite a year. It is easy to forget that this muso is as comfortable on the stage as he is in an ER24 ambulance.
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ayne is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) medic from the ER24 Bloemfontein branch. He is currently completing his BTech degree in Emergency Medical Care. Wayne, who grew up in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, has been calling Bloemfontein home since 2012. The Musician Currently, Wayne is part of Sneeubal Musiek, a musical group that consists of him (voice and guitar), Chantelle Minnie (voice) and Jaco Spies (drums). Wayne wrote all the songs featured on the album, and in July the band officially launched their CD in Bloemfontein. “The launch went very well, and we sold a lot of CDs. We even had a group of nurses from Mediclinic Bloemfontein who came to see the show. Everyone was very supportive of us. At the end of the month, we will be performing at Aardklop in Potchefstroom. We are also hoping to do a show in Paarl in December,” said Wayne. “We are planning to release another single in December and then a whole album next year. So, watch this space.” Lucas Bezuidenhout, ER24 Bloemfontein Branch Manager, is a big fan of Wayne’s music. “I listen to his CD in my response vehicle, and I think it is music for the soul. I try and support him wherever I can. He is also a very passionate medic who I am happy to have as part of my team.” Wayne’s love for music started at a young age. He used to do the sound engineering for events, and this enabled him to make some pocket money. Ironically enough, it was his love for music that also pushed him towards the emergency medical services.“I played the guitar for a known gospel singer and while travelling I was intrigued by the ambulances I would see on the road. If you frequently travel, as we did, you also come across a lot of incidents. This just sparked my interest to pursue a career as a medic,” said Wayne. The Paramedic “I’ve been working for ER24 for the past three years. It is nice to be part of a groundbreaking company where I, on a daily basis, learn and grow tremendously,” said Wayne.
According to Wayne, people within the industry say that a medic has a ‘shelf life’ of three years, but this, he says, he doesn’t agree with. “Being a paramedic is hard work, and it can be very tough both physically and mentally. My music provides me with a healthy escape from the things you might encounter as a paramedic. Music and the songs I write, provide me with the good stuff I need to stay focused and not to burn out,” said Wayne. He laughs when asked whether people are intrigued when hearing about his two different interests. “People are usually surprised, but it makes for a nice conversation,” said Wayne. Michael Lewis, Wayne’s colleague and friend, frequently supports him at his shows. “He is a great paramedic who is passionate about patients as well as service delivery. He is also very confident in everything he does, and I think this is a good characteristic to have. I am fond of his music as the words have meaning, and it is well written. He speaks about his music and profession with the same passionate voice,” said Michael. Finding the right harmony Although Wayne’s musical career has hit a high note, he won’t be leaving the EMS soon. Right now, he is focusing on balancing both and enjoying what comes his way. “I have a massive passion for the EMS. I am hoping to start with my master’s degree next year. I won’t leave the emergency services to focus solely on my music; I can do both. I believe I can make a difference in people’s lives both as a paramedic and as a performer. You inspire, you are in service of people, you help - whether with your songs or with your hands,” said Wayne. Wayne laughs as he continues, “if I leave the EMS, what do I do from a Monday to a Friday?” In 10-years’ time, he hopes that he will still be doing what he does now, with a few minor differences here and there. “I’d like to write songs for movies and have my songs featured on soundtracks. Writing songs is a big passion of mine as is performing. I’d like to work as a flight medic as well, and hopefully, I have completed my master’s degree by then.”
From left to right: Jaco Spies, Wayne Jooste and Chantelle Minnie.
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CROWDING AT AN ACCIDENT SCENE T
he public plays a vital role at accident scenes as they are often the first people to call for an ambulance or emergency assistance. The public can also provide crucial bystander CPR when a patient is showing no signs of life or is not breathing. However, it is essential to clear the way for medical personnel or ambulances when they arrive at a scene to ensure that the patient gets the help they need, fast. Recently, ER24 medics responded to a scene where 15 people were injured following a four-vehicle collision in Alrode, South of Johannesburg. ER24 medic Justin van Wyngaard said that because of the magnitude of the collision people were curious to see what had happened. The crowd made it difficult for the medics to move through and access the patients who required urgent medical help. “It took about five minutes from where I parked the ambulance to get to where the other paramedics were and where they needed us. People didn’t want to move, and this takes precious time away from the patients who need our help immediately,” said Justin. Justin continues saying that “it is usually the case at big collision scenes, as there are a lot of people and they aren’t always willing to move or make way.” The crowding or reluctance to move doesn’t just affect the medics getting to the patients, but they now also have to concern themselves about the safety of the public around them. “If there are about 25 bystanders standing close to us, we now have to worry about our patient, about ourselves and everyone standing around us. The safety of members of the public also become a concern especially when it’s a road accident, and the lanes haven’t been closed off for traffic. That’s why it is best to move back and stand on the sidewalk or next to the road. Give us some space to carry out our
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work,” said Justin. As members of the public, the best thing is to always be aware of your surroundings. If medical services and the police have been notified and you hear the sirens or see them approach, move out of the way and give them space to park, work and walk freely. What to do at an accident scene: •
Never pull someone from a vehicle unless the vehicle is actively burning, and it is safe for you to reach the patient.
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Remember, your safety is the first priority.
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Never turn an overturned vehicle back on its wheels while a patient is still inside of it. Wait for fire and rescue services.
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Do not shake or pull on the vehicle or doors to try and free someone. Wait for fire and rescue services to use proper equipment to free the patient.
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Do not make contact with body fluids such as blood, etc. Instead, ask the patient to apply pressure with their hand on a wound, if possible. Alternatively, ensure you have gloves on before rendering any first aid. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before you return to your vehicle or home.
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ER24 OUT AND ABOUT
ABOVE: Thumbs up for the Sasol Solar Challenge 2018. Seen here is the driver of team TUT. It is the third time that ER24 is partnering with the Sasol Solar Challenge and it is also the 10-year anniversary of the event. BELOW: ER24 provide medical checkups to team members after they’ve reached the finish line for the day. Seen here is team Nuon getting themselves checked out before they get ready for Day 4 of the Sasol Solar Challenge.
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ABOVE: The ER24 Air Angels HEMS crews are going pink for the month of October to create awareness around cancer. The 22 - 23rd of September was the first public display at the Airshow held in Pretoria. This novel initiative is a collaboration between ER24, Air Angels Air Ambulance Services (the CSI division of Flightshare – ER24’s aeronautical partner), the Breast Health Foundation, Novartis and Oneplan Health Insurance.
ABOVE: Names are seen all over the pink ER24 Air Angels helicopter. At each activation, anyone whose life has been touched by cancer are invited to sign their name or the name of their loved one on the pink helicopters, signifying their support of this important message of early detection. ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | PRIORITY ONE |
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ABOVE: Petru Jonker, ER24 Training Coordinator, and the rest of the ER24 team from Corporate Office spent their Mandela Day Outreach by training staff members from Child Welfare Bloemfontein & Childline Free State in Family and Friend CPR training. “We would like to show our appreciation for the support shown towards us. ER24 expressed their support for needy children and families by training our staff members and by donating comfy packs to our children,” - E H du Plooy, Programme Manager: Marketing Child Welfare Bloemfontein & Childline Free State.
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ABOVE: Mediclinic and ER24 were positioned along the various routes of the Cape Town Marathon to ensure a safe event for all runners. Mediclinic and ER24 are proud to be the official medical service providers of this world-class event.
ABOVE: Disadvantaged children took to the skies over Grand Central Airport in Midrand during the Children’s Flight initiative. Many of the children - orphans and disabled - experienced flying for the first time. ER24 is proud to have been part of the event. ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | PRIORITY ONE |
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WHEN YOU NEED EXTRA SUPPORT Life can sometimes be an uphill battle, but these two photos reveal how ER24 is not only there for the minor bumps and bruises but also for the encouragement you might need from the sidelines. These are the untold stories of two incredible photos.
Photo courtesy of: Chris Hitchcock
4 August 2018: Spur MTB Challenge held in Durbanville This photo, taken by the photographer Chris Hitchcock, was widely shared on social media. People were wondering what the photo would say if it could talk. Nazeem Fredericks, the ER24 event medic on the photo, shares the story. “We were in the medical tent when we got a call over the radio that someone had fallen on the top of a hill. When I got there, I found a little boy who had fallen on his knees and didn’t want to continue the race. I cleaned his knees and helped to carry his bike and helmet while walking alongside him to the finishing line.
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“I spoke to him about the race, and he said that he didn’t want to continue as he was upset that he kept falling. He did say that he loves this sport. I think it might just have been one of those days where things didn’t go according to plan,” said Nazeem. Lenise van der Westhuizen, ER24 Western Cape Events Coordinator: “When I saw the photo I thought wow, who is this medic? I then thought to myself it must be Nazeem just because he is the type of person who is always willing to help. He is always available to work all the events.”
7 July 2018: The Momentum Knysna Forest Marathon & Half Marathon
Although being the last one to cross the finish line, she did complete the race.
The lady in the photo is 92-years-old and was completing a half marathon held during the Oyster Festival in Knysna. Wesley Greeff, ER24 Southern Cape Events Coordinator, found the lady at the 6km mark where she had taken a tumble.
“It was a wonderful thing to see, and we all cheered her on. This moment left a massive smile on my face as well as on my partner’s. Seeing her competing in this event with so much energy was truly motivating. We were glad we could be a part of this event.”
“She said she was fine and she didn’t want to be checked out in an ambulance – she wanted to continue the race. I just made sure to keep an eye out for her as she continued the race, especially during the higher climbs. We encouraged her and cheered for her from the sideline,” said Wesley.
Johann Prinsloo, Branch Manager of ER24’s Southern Cape branch: “Wesley is always willing to walk the extra mile not just for his patients but also for the clients. I’ve never heard him complain once. This photo symbolises his character and his willingness to help.”
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ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | PRIORITY ONE |
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CHILD SAFETY: FALLING FROM A HEIGHT A bed, a couch or even a table can be a dangerous place for a baby or child. It is essential to be vigilant and consider safety aspects at all times.
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he risk of children or babies falling off of something is quite high as a child does not have the full developed coordination or balance just yet compared to that of an adult or adolescent. Dayne Olsen, an emergency care practitioner (ECP) at the ER24 Vaal Branch, recently responded to an incident where a baby fell from a height at a home in Sebokeng in the south of Gauteng. At this specific scene, a one-year-old baby girl sustained serious head injuries after she allegedly fell from the top of the table. Dayne and other paramedics treated her and had to provide her with advanced life support interventions before she was airlifted to hospital. “It happens quite often where young children fall off of something. Even if you as a parent or a supervised adult think you’re just quickly going to reach for this or quickly going to do this, an accident can still happen. Please don’t leave your children unattended for even a second. Not on a high chair or even on the bed as they can roll or fall off of the bed,” said Dayne. How do I know if the fall seriously injured my child? According to The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, it depends on the seriousness of the fall and this can be influenced by three important factors: •
The height the child can fall from
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What the child falls onto
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What the child may hit as they fall
The height the child can fall from The lower the height, the lower the danger. What the child falls onto
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Hard surfaces such as concrete, ceramic tiles and even compacted sand are more hazardous to fall onto than softer surfaces. Impact absorbing or soft fall materials under play equipment are recommended to provide a softer landing. What the child may hit as they fall Place sharp-edged furniture such as coffee tables to the side of the room, where a child is unlikely to fall on to them. General safety tips: • Take a first-aid course. Parents, caregivers and domestic workers should be proficient in CPR and basic first aid. • Keep a comprehensive first-aid kit at home. • Pin a detailed list of emergency numbers on the fridge and keep it next to the phone. Save ER24’s emergency number, 084 124, on your phone. Make sure it is visible in your home, so it can be quickly accessed and remembered.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Minctate qui doluptae vel eum con prae volende stiusam, to tem lautempor aciatem quatiorrum faci blaciet omolo.
It doesn’t really matter how many people it takes to change a lightbulb, as long as safety measures, like switching the light switch off, are in place. Is an electrical shock always hazardous? Common household electricity may only cause pain or a spark when you touch it briefly. This does not necessarily require medical treatment unless a heart rhythm disturbance was triggered. Prolonged contact with an electrical point will cause general body seizure movement and can cause severe burns, muscle damage, fractures and heart rhythm disturbance. If you are electrocuted in this way, medical attention must be sought even if you feel well afterwards as the muscle damage could lead to kidney failure. Direct contact with power lines and cables at electrical substations is often fatal. Prevention: • Do not overload power points • Avoid exposed electrical wires • Stay indoors during lightning storms • Do not let children near plug points for electricity • Childproof power points • Never undertake any electrical work unless you understand what to do. If you do know what to do, you should still be careful as mistakes can happen. • Treat all electricity connections and wires as live, even if they were switched off at the distribution board (sometimes referred to as ‘mains’) • Never work in wet areas or with anything electrical and wet. Mowing the lawn or using power tools in wet weather, for example, is dangerous. • General safety tips in your home should be to inspect your appliances regularly, making sure that the power cords are not cracked or frayed; if an appliance sparks or smokes when it is switched on, replace the appliance immediately; make sure there are no unprotected live wiring sources in or around the home. • When there is a power outage, treat all electricity points as live. • Always read an electrical device’s manufacturers
manual and do not service electrical parts yourself that are marked for specialist repair only. Signs and symptoms: • Burn wounds • Injuries, including fractures and spinal injuries, caused by muscle contraction and being flung against items • Heart rhythm disturbances • Loss of consciousness • Cardiac arrest Treatment: • Avoid exposure to the electricity source. If possible, switch it off. • Remove the patient from the electrical source to a safe area. • Check the patient’s circulation, airway and breathing. • If there are no signs of life, start CPR immediately. • If a patient is breathing but unconscious, place the person in the recovery position. • Cover the burn wounds with clean, non-absorbent material. • Call ER24 on 084 124. • Follow the telephonic advice and first aid until an ambulance arrives. ISSUE 3 – OCTOBER 2018 | PRIORITY ONE |
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BRANCH, REGION OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2017/18 The ER24 Awards are annual awards that are relevant to the site based medical services and road ambulance environment. These awards aim to recognise the collective effort of the teams during a financial year, regarding the attainment of their goals and objectives as is laid out by the company. The awards are broken down into the following: Site of the Year under the Site Based Medical Services Category. Branch and Region of the Year under the Road Operations Category.
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It gives us great pleasure to announce the following winners:
It is also the fifth time that the Central Region have won Region of the Year.
Site Based Medical Services 1. Sibanye Platinum 2. Bokpoort 3. Xstrata
“Congratulations to all the winners. Thanks for your hard work and dedication – it does not go unnoticed. Together we make ER24 the leading medical service provider in South Africa. Proudly providing Real Help, Real Fast,” - Ben Johnson, ER24 CEO.
Road Operations Category Branch of the Year 1. Rustenburg 2. Johannesburg East 3. Upington Region of the year 1. Central Region 2. Gauteng Region 3. Northern Region 4. Coastal Region
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SPORT OUR RANGE OF QUALITY CLOTHING LATEST LINE NOW AVAILABLE Powerwear is comfortable, high-quality active and fitness clothing. Order it from the ER24 store at www.er24stores.co.za. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Prices exclude VAT.
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The range consists of the following items: Powerwear Hoodie R480 (S – 2XL) R524 (3XL – 5XL)
Gym Pants R380 (S – 2XL) R409 (3XL – 5XL)
White Skin Long Sleeve Top R303 (XS – XL) R333 (2XL) R364 (3XL)
With chevron
or
Without chevron Shameema Adamsidel with her Volupta doluptam, award. invellature, picipsa eptatiam.
Minister Alan Winde with some of the runner-ups and winners.
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ADVERTORIAL
CALL4CARE: A SUCCESS STORY
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ADVERTORIAL
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tefan’s father is 80 years old and lives alone in a small semi-detached home in Parys, Free State. A few months ago, Stefan visiting his dad from London contracted Call4Care to provide 24/7 monitoring of his Dad (Mr P). Stefan was particularly concerned as he has lost his Mum tragically a few months earlier from the effects of a fall while in their Parys home. Stefan was concerned that his Dad was now alone and had no one to call if he needed help in an emergency. Stefan chose Call4Care after reviewing Call4Care’s sophisticated home-based monitoring equipment and 24/7 monitoring and response capability. Call4Care provides a wearable, waterproof wrist pendant which when triggered opens a two-way audio communication with Call4Care’s 24/7 monitoring centre. He wanted his dad to be in touch with a simple press of a button, at any time from anywhere in his home. At 12:57pm on the 16th of July, Call4Care’s national monitoring Centre in Cape Town received an emergency voice alert from the pre-identified home of Mr P in Parys.
Some 7 minutes later at 13:04pm, the neighbour met the security officers and entered Mr P’s house to find Mr P severely injured from blows to his head. They immediately made him comfortable until ER24’s ambulance arrived a short while later. The offender had by now fled having been startled by the Call4Care operator. Mr P was taken to Mediclinic Potchefstroom by the ER24 ambulance with paramedics providing immediate medical care. At 13:23pm Stefan, in London, received a call from Call4Care in South Africa informing him of the incident and reassuring him that his dad was receiving treatment from the ER24 paramedics and would shortly be on the way to Mediclinic Potchefstroom.
… if it weren’t for Call4Care my dad would not be alive today.
Ray, the Call4Care operator, could hear sounds and loud alarms sounding in the background from Mr P’s home. She could not get a response from Mr P. Realising that there was a violent commotion taking place with Mr P under attack, Ray immediately called Mr P’s own private security company and asked them to send a response vehicle to Mr P’s home urgently. At the same time, Ray’s colleague called ER24 emergency services in Potchefstroom, some 35 minutes away. ER24’s duty operator, Sophie, immediately despatched an ER24 ambulance with paramedics to Parys.
Shameema Adamsidel with her Volupta doluptam, award. invellature, picipsa eptatiam.
By now Ray had also called Mr P’s neighbour (from Call4Care’s online records) and asked him to immediately meet the security company officers at Mr P’s home.
The next day Stefan called Call4Care and said “if it had not been for the prompt action of the Call4Care operators my dad would not be with us today. He is recovering in hospital and will shortly be home”.
The security company reportedly told him that it was unbelievable that Call4Care was instantly able to hear everything taking place in Mr P’s home as the attack took place. They felt that it was probably the Call4Care response that frightened the attacker who fled the scene. Call4Care partners with ER24 across the whole of South Africa, ensuring that any medical emergency receives an immediate medical response. Call4Care makes calls to ER24 every single day, and its clients (and their loved ones) know that at the touch of a button that assistance will be on scene within minutes. Call4Care and ER24 are working together to ensure your loved ones are just the touch of a button from emergency medical support.
Minister Alan Winde with some of the runner-ups and winners.
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ADVERTORIAL
PRIVATE HEALTH CARE FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT As South African’s, one of the most significant risks we face every day while commuting to and from work is vehicle accidents. What many people don’t know is that in 2015, the Road Traffic Management Corporation reported 832 431 road traffic crashes. 6% of these incidents were considered to be major or fatal accidents. This amounted to 278 620 people injured on our roads in that year. That’s almost 800 people per day! According to a report published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), out of South Africa’s population of over 54 million people, only 17.4% are covered by a South African medical scheme. This means that just 9.5 million South Africans have access to private medical care while more than 44 million don’t. In the report, it was stated that “Private quality healthcare roughly refers to easy access to general practitioners (GPs), dentists and medication. Having access to adequate medical cover can drastically improve the quality of life and life expectancy of a person. The leading barrier to private healthcare in South Africa continues to be the price. The millions of South Africans living without medical cover put increasing pressure on the public health system.” The same principle applies to injuries sustained from road accidents in S.A. Shameema Adams with her While it’s generally not something that award. we like to dwell on, the truth of the
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matter is that being treated in a private hospital following a motor vehicle accident has significant benefits which could save your life. Patients admitted following a motor vehicle accident have little or no delay in being treated and benefit from personalised care and treatment. Better facilities also generally mean that the recovery time is quicker.
treatment. A R1 million benefit is also available at the main member fee of R259 per month.
accidentANGELS™ was established in 2010, in partnership with ER24, with the view of providing affordable access to private healthcare, following a motor vehicle accident. The main member pays just R149 per month, and he or she receives guaranteed access to private medical care. Included in this membership is the transport cost in an ER24 emergency ambulance to the nearest private hospital.
accidentANGELS™ also assist our members with the submission and management of any valid claims against the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Claims made against the RAF can take as long as three years to be resolved, so this service ensures that the claim receives the right focus and attention. Funds that are paid out are paid back to the member, less any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident. There are no fees deducted from the proceeds before funds are paid to our member.
When our members join us they receive an accidentANGELS™ MasterCard® which is activated on notification of an incident. Members are given access of up to R10 000 for out-patient care, which is treatment in the emergency room at the private hospital. This benefit is immediate because our member simply swipes the MasterCard® at the hospital to pay for treatment. If the vehicle accident injuries are serious enough to require inpatient admittance into a hospital, accidentANGELS™ provide up to R200 000 paid to the hospital for
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Members are also protected if they are travelling in public transport or even while walking as pedestrians on our roads. This means that the accidentANGELS™ benefit is not limited to people that drive a vehicle.
One of our members was involved in an early morning collision where a vehicle drove into the side of her vehicle. This is what she had to say: “It was just another weekday morning when out of nowhere a car drove into mine. Thanks to accidentANGELS™, I was able to go to a private hospital straight away. It was 8am, and I was driving to work on a road close to my home. Suddenly, another driver who had skipped a stop street crashed into the side of my car. I injured my right shoulder quite badly, and I had a
ADVERTORIAL concussion, but I was still able to phone for an ambulance. “When I first bought my car, the accidentANGELS™ benefit was offered to me, and I’m relieved that I decided to join. The accessibility and availability of their staff and services are great, and they helped me tremendously.
and this is one of the reasons why I would recommend this benefit to all my friends.” If you’d like to know more about us and what we do, click here or visit our website.
“I got the sense that the accidentANGELS™ staff truly cared about my well-being. All their interactions with me had a personal touch, and they treated me with genuine empathy,
Shameema Adamsidel with her Volupta doluptam, award. invellature, picipsa eptatiam.
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When death is felt by all In the Emergency Services, we are all brothers and sisters. It is never easy losing someone. It is even harder losing someone that you have worked closely with, risking yours and their lives in an attempt to save someone else’s. On a daily basis, paramedics work alongside various groups within the Emergency Services. Whether it be firefighters, rescue technicians, police, etc. Everyone plays an integral role to ensure the safety of the person in need of help. A high level of camaraderie is evident.
On the 5th of September 2018, the Emergency Services lost three brothers to a fire that broke out at a building in Johannesburg CBD. Two succumbed to their injuries from the fire while the third fell to his death.
The three fallen heroes will not only be remembered in the hearts of the ones they saved but in the hearts of their colleagues who have lost a brother. We pray that our brothers’ families are kept safe and that their memories live on.
Incidents like this are few and far between, but when these tragedies occur, they are felt around the world. Paramedics, firefighters, rescue technicians and so on, are all part of a larger brotherhood, laying their lives on the line so that others may have a chance to live.
Rest in peace. *A reflection piece by Russel Meiring, ER24’s Communications Officer.
This photo: The Memorial Service for the three firefighters who lost their lives. Bottom two photos: ER24 medics, other emergency services, and the public at the spot of the building fire.
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Fidelity ADT Security partners with ER24 Fidelity ADT Security has selected ER24’s West Williams and little ER24 as its new preferred partner Anatalia. for emergency medical assistance and advice. Commenting on the partnership, Wahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Security Group says, “Providing value-added services to our core security offering is an important touch point for our customers, and we are delighted to partner with such a reputable provider. ER24 operates from 59 bases throughout the country and boasts a comprehensive team of fully trained paramedics, to make sure families get the help most needed during a medical Shameema Adams with her emergency or life-threatening award. situation.”
Bartmann says the medical support is available to customers 24 hours a day. This includes emergencies at home as well as offsite, through an innovative mobile app Fidelity ADT FindU which connects customers to armed response and medical assistance when they are out and about. ER24’s national footprint and exceptional service record made them an ideal partner for Fidelity ADT. “With the partnership agreement now in place, both companies can coordinate and pool resources to further enhance infrastructure, improve training; bolster service quality and provide valuable assistance to customers,” he says.
Bartmann confirms complementary services will include telephonic trauma counselling; critical incident management and emotional support and access to emergency medical assistance. Face to face counselling is also available but on a pay on use basis. “Unfortunately with the violent profile of crime in our country, medical support and counselling have become an increasingly integral part of our service offering,” he concludes.
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BRINGING STROKE TREATMENT INTO THE FUTURE Mediclinic Bloemfontein’s dedicated stroke unit offers patients specialised care – and gives other facilities an example to follow.
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troke remains a leading killer in South Africa. The Heart & Stroke Foundation: South Africa estimates that as many as 240 South Africans suffer a stroke each day, and 70 of those will succumb to the related injuries. Dr Erna Pretorius, a neurologist at Mediclinic Bloemfontein, is on a mission to change that. New treatment guidelines recently released by the SA Stroke Society (SASS) aim to address this pressing issue, by recommending a series of standardised best practices for healthcare workers, in both pre-hospital and emergency centre environments. These new guidelines also fall within proposals made by the Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA), which recognises the hours immediately after a stroke as a hyperacute phase of care, during which standard protocols can be greatly beneficial to a patient’s chances of recovery. The HPCSA notes that “growing evidence [shows] good early stroke management can reduce damage to the brain and minimise the effects of stroke. Because of this early recognition of stroke, the subsequent response of individuals to having a stroke, and the timing and method by which people are transferred to hospital are important to ensure optimal outcomes.”
designed to diagnose, manage and treat stroke patients in line with the new guidelines. “There are different kinds of stroke hospitals,” she explains. “An entry-level hospital can receive and refer a patient, whereas other hospitals will have a thrombologist on standby – while some hospitals can take a patient all the way through to neurological interventions. And these hospitals are graded according to their stroke-readiness as per their resources and expertise.” Traditional stroke treatment follows the routine of an ordinary admission process: after being triaged, a patient would have a CT scan, and once those results indicate signs of a stroke, the condition is managed accordingly. All of this occurs within a reasonable amount of time, says Dr Pretorius – but for most stroke patients, even these few hours can have catastrophic effects. “Proper stroke guidelines have been in place and followed since the 1970s,” she says. “But now the emphasis in changing. We’re now looking at treatment as revolving around a timeframe. SASS advocates that a large part of reducing stroke fatalities begins with recognising stroke as a medical emergency: it should be evaluated and managed with minimum delay. This should involve both healthcare professionals, including pre-hospital ambulatory services, as the general public, too.
The Council recommends that all patients with acute stroke should be managed in a stroke unit: a protocol-driven multidisciplinary team within a hospital dedicated to improving recovery from stroke. Ideally, this unit should consist of trained pre-hospital staff, post-acute care and effective rehabilitation measures.
Dr Pretorius is a member of the Angels Initiative, a global body of stroke doctors and stroke survivors whose aim is to foster a community of stroke centres and stroke-ready hospitals, as a means to improve the treatment – and potential outcomes – for stroke patients around the world. She was recently presented with the Angels Excellence Award, in recognition of the work she is doing to spread stroke awareness in her area.
Dr Pretorius says she has spent two years developing just such a unit at Mediclinic Bloemfontein, the first of its kind in the area. This unit follows a set of protocols that are
“Stroke treatment starts at home,” she emphasises. “We want people to know what a stroke looks like, and to understand that the patient needs to be transferred to the
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nearest stroke-ready hospital, or dedicated stroke unit, as soon as possible. Emergency services and triage nurses are also encouraged to determine without delay whether their stroke patients could benefit from thrombolysis. “The sooner you can get a stroke patient to a clinical thrombologist, the better – we want to restore blood and oxygen diffusion in the brain as quickly as we can.” “Time is brain,” says Dr Pretorius. “Every minute that blood flow is interrupted, two million neurons will die inside the brain.”
systemic complications of acute stroke are an integral part of management. Patients with suspected TIA and minor stroke with early spontaneous recovery should be evaluated as soon as possible after an event. •
Brain imaging is recommended, and non-invasive imaging of the cervicocephalic vessels should be performed urgently and routinely as part of the evaluation.
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Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is recommended for patients with severe (70 – 99%) ipsilateral stenosis, and the procedure should be performed as soon as possible after the last ischaemic event – ideally within 2 weeks – in centres with a perioperative complication rate (all strokes and death) of less than 6%. Survivors of a TIA or stroke have an increased risk of another stroke, which is a major source of increased mortality and morbidity.
Other recommendations of the SA Stroke Society treatment guidelines include: •
General supportive treatment is emphasised and is directed at maintaining homeostasis and the treatment of complications.
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Intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an accepted therapy for acute ischaemic stroke within 4.5 hours of onset of symptoms, but can only be administered at centres with specific resources.
Secondary prevention strategies are aimed at reducing this risk. Stroke rehabilitation is a goal-oriented process that attempts to obtain maximum function in patients who have had strokes and who suffer from a combination of physical, cognitive and language disabilities.
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Awareness and treatment of the neurological and
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MEDICLINIC’S FOCUS ON BROADENING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Mediclinic’s learnerships programmes benefit the community by providing the necessary training to people needing to pursue or develop a career. They also address shortages of qualified and specialist healthcare personnel across South Africa, placing talented employees on a career path dedicated to helping others.
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n the past, these training programmes have focused on developing skills in nursing. Mediclinic became a registered teaching institution to address a shortage of nurses in South Africa and now trains more than a thousand nurses each year. Now, Mediclinic is actively expanding their training programmes to include a wider range of specialities and includes pharmacy assistants and paramedics. “We have a wide range of courses available, across a spectrum of care,” says Avril Stroh, Training and Development General Manager: Mediclinic Southern Africa. “We encourage learners in Grade 12 to apply to come and train to become qualified as healthcare workers at our training centres.” Mediclinic’s training programme has been in place since 1997 – when it received a few dozen learners in its first round of applications – and has grown rapidly. Today, seven training centres are strategically placed around the country and are designed to bring people towards the facilities that need them most. “We adhere to strict equity targets so that we can give opportunities to all racial groups, and we pay close attention to outlying areas where there is a real scarcity of skills. We receive a huge number of applicants. For example, we typically bring in 200 first-year nurses, from about 14,000 total applications.” From those, about 6,000 applicants will meet the requirements. Those are sent for psychometric testing, to test their capabilities and behavioural style, and the top candidates are selected from those who show they would be a good fit for the job. “If we find we need, say, 150 learners across the country, we will interview 300, and make our selection from that group,” says Stroh. Plans are in place to expand these opportunities even further. “In the past, we would have had about 800 or 900 total learners in the system. Over the next few years, we would like to increase that number to about 1,800.” Opportunities also exist for staff members within the company who wish to upskill themselves or embark on new career paths. “Whereas our nurses largely come from outside the company, our pharmacy assistants’ programme usually recruits from within Mediclinic,” Stroh says. “These learners are usually in administrative roles or fairly low-level positions, and we encourage them to apply with us to become assistants in our pharmacies.” There, they will learn new skills and have the opportunity to take their careers in new directions.
Because the basic nursing programme is registered as learnerships, they are not required to pay to complete the course, but they are contracted to work at a Mediclinic hospital for a period commensurate with their training. “With paramedics, it works slightly differently,” Stroh says. “We provided the Diploma in Emergency Medical Care to some learners from the Department of Health, and they won’t be required to work for ER24, of course. We also offer bursaries, and those are contracted to us. Then we have private students, who pay for their own training.” Mediclinic’s training programmes are helping to address shortages of skilled healthcare workers in South Africa, but the work is far from over and there is always room for more qualified staff. “In the beginning, we had a shortage of registered nurses, now we find we need more enrolled nurses”. This means people are coming in and training and working their way up, as per their expertise – which is great for them and good news for our patients, too.” In addition, the organisation has introduced learnerships for administration staff and ER24 contact centre staff. The company also offers apprenticeship opportunities. Several learners and interns from different colleges and training providers are being accommodated for work integrated learning opportunities. These learners are following a mixture of administration and HR related courses. Mediclinic has recently reviewed its management and leadership development strategy, to look for new ways in which the organisation can upskill managers and also prepare persons for future managerial roles. This strategy includes identifying potential for the future. “When we assess whether people are suited to the job we are screening for we also assess whether they are capable of fulfilling responsibilities above and beyond their current positions.” Transformation is a priority for Mediclinic, says Stroh. “The job market is always tough: you need to get experience somewhere and the organisation needs to help where possible. We also want to create more diverse development opportunities for people in Mediclinic hospitals – to identify those people who show potential for growth, right from their first day. We can then target them for training in specific areas, and grow them into senior positions.” The organisation will be introducing a junior level management learnership towards the end of 2018. For more information on training opportunities at Mediclinic, and to browse the full range of courses, visit http://www. mediclinic.co.za/Careers
Recently, Mediclinic’s training centre has adopted a longterm plan to develop paramedics, in association with ER24, by providing training towards the new Diploma in Emergency Medical Care. “We can accommodate about 15 paramedics a year, and we have advertised these positions on social media,” Stroh says. “These learners can come directly out of matric and will need to have done mathematics and one science subject. They will also need to be computer literate.”
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