O
PRI Make it yours
RITY NE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
ISSUE 3 - SEPTEMBER 2016 WWW.ER24.CO.ZA
West Metro outshines the rest Medic Appreciation Day 2016 Team Australia EMS returns
O
PRI Make it yours
RITY NE
IN THIS ISSUE
5
Page
Front page stories
3 Cream of the crop announced 11 Medic Appreciation Day 2016 33 Team Australia EMS returns
ER24 staff 5 7 8 9 15
Natasha Kriel dedicated to saving lives
Paramedic jets off to Dubai
ER24 staff members participate in blood drive Message to new staff Life of a trauma counsellor
Company interest 16 17 18 19 20
Page
18
Patients are our number one priority ER24 continues to dominate Youngster impresses paramedics When is it appropriate to call for an ambulance? Your voice has been heard
20 Halfway Toyota - The obvious choice CONTACT:
Email: communications@er24.co.za Tel: 0861084124 Web: https://er24.co.za Emergencies: 084 124
DESIGN AND LAYOUT:
Chitra Bodasing
COPY COMPILED BY: Chitra Bodasing
NEXT EDITION:
The next edition of Priority One will be published on 9 December 2016.
STOCK IMAGES:
Envato Australia TriggerFinger Photography
NEXT CONTENT DEADLINE:
All content must be submitted by no later than 4 November 2016. Content for consideration may be sent to the ER24 Communications Department by any staff member or client.
Global Assist
Page
21 Global Assist makes history 23 On-site services to suit your needs 23 ER24 a sponsor at first aid competition
21
Clinical
25 Striving for excellence 26 Promoting a patient safety culture
Community involvement
27 29 29 30 30 31 32
Page
First aid course for rangers
House for Julia Naila
27
Electric wheelchair for Lindiwe Nhlapo Supporting worthy causes Staff visit schools School gets a splash of colour Mandela Day 2016
Training
Page
35 First aid training saves lives 36 Refresh your memory
31
Health and awareness
38 38 39 40 42 43
Alcohol while pregnant?
Illness versus identity Hand injuries - safeguard yourself Hepatitis - What you should know Blood donations are needed Visiting an unfamiliar area?
Events
44 Event compliance is vital
Page
42
ER24 staff
Branch of the Year Award goes to ER24 Cape Town West Metro.
Cream of the crop
announced
ER24 recently announced the Region, Branch and Site Based Service of the Year. The Coastal Region was named the Region of the Year. ER24 Cape Town West Metro took the Branch of the Year Award and the ER24 Transnet team was named the Site Based Service of the Year. The awards were judged by assessing each operational unit against seven quality and performance measures. Ben Johnson, ER24 Chief Executive Officer, said, “Congratulations to all involved on a job well done during the 2015/2016 year. Managing an operational unit is a challenging task since 3|
various factors can influence performance through the year. Each group demonstrated excellent team work, great service delivery, a clear focus on patient care and are living up to the company’s values.” This was ER24 Cape Town West Metro’s first ever win. Branch Manager, Shane Fascio, said, “I am thrilled that West Metro was announced Branch of the Year. The commitment displayed by every employee was the driving force behind our success. It makes me incredibly proud to have such a tremendous team beside me. Acknowledgement of our achievements and the hard work put in is humbling.”
He added that goals were and continue to be achieved through a culture of teamwork and ownership at West Metro. “By identifying our shortcomings year on year, we were able to devise strategies that allowed us to close the gaps in our operation. We adopted an overarching theme and focus for each financial year. We committed a significant amount of our time to rebuilding our market share when West Metro reopened at the beginning of 2013. Once re-established, we continued providing excellent service to our clients. This commitment to service excellence instilled a level of trust in us. Now that we have proven ourselves
as market leaders, we have turned our focus to further improving our efficiencies. There is a system in place for every task to be performed,” said Fascio. In a heartfelt message to his team, Fascio said, “Without each of you we would not be here. We would not be delivering realhelprealfast. Do not ever underestimate your contribution to our collective success. This is a phenomenal achievement and I look forward to moving West Metro to even greater success in the future with all of you by my side. I could not be more proud of you all. Congratulations. You deserve this.”
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
ER24 staff
Cape Town West Metro celebrates.
Peter van der Merwe, ER24 Site Based Services Manager, commended the Transnet team for their performance. He said that the Transnet team do what they do the ER24 way, the realhelprealfast way, for the right reasons and with the right attitude, giving consistent excellent customer care to both the patient and client. “We have strict KPI’s in place which they achieved. The project also doubled in size which means that this project showed the biggest growth,” said Van der Merwe. Michelle Saayman, Site Based Medical Services Coordinator at ER24, said that she is honoured and proud to be part of the team. “Team members display dedication, respect for each other and have great communication skills. They encourage each other and take the time to implement initiatives to achieve the set goals. “All these characteristics contribute to a great winning team. My message to the team is to continue upholding the values and standards of ER24. We are not a team because we work together. “We are a team because we respect, care and trust each other,” she said.
Number One. An ER24 Transnet team celebrates after winning this year’s Site Based Service of the Year Award.
A braai after success. Another ER24 Transnet team celebrates.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
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ER24 staff
Natasha Kriel dedicated to saving lives
August was National Women’s Month, a month put aside to celebrate every woman’s achievements, contributions and the important role they played and continue to play in the progress of the country and its people. With the belief that women and their successes should be celebrated every day and not just in August, ER24 commends every woman for their contributions made toward a better South Africa. We are proud to have a
number of these women in our employ, women who go beyond the call of duty, women who have dedicated their lives to saving and being there for people in their greatest time of need. Among the successful women working at ER24 is Natasha Kriel from the ER24 Cape Town South Metropole base in Constantia. Not only is she an Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic but also a lifeguard, air sea rescue technician, surfer and soon to
be triathlon competitor. Kriel (29), who lived in Gauteng until the age of nine before moving to Cape Town, wanted to become a professional dance choreographer/composer after completing her schooling career but soon realised that saving lives was her passion. “I did dancing as a subject while in school but really enjoyed the anatomy/sport science syllabus. My love for human physiology was triggered. “After school I worked as
Saving lives, be it out on the road as an operational paramedic or at the ocean, is Natasha Kriel’s passion.
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a swimming teacher to pay for my studies. I completed first aid courses as it was a requirement. “This was also a requirement for lifesaving. “I assisted a number of people with these skills however, felt I needed to learn more. I completed the Basic Life Support (BLS) course in order to do more for people in need while on duty as a lifeguard. “One day in 2013 while on duty as a lifeguard, I witnessed a man go into cardiac arrest. Two lifeguard’s rushed to him and immediately started CPR. “A couple of minutes later, ER24 arrived and collectively, we continued treating the patient. “I could not help but feel that I needed to improve on my patient treatment and knowledge. “I applied to work at ER24 the following week. Once I started working in the prehospital setting, I realised what a large knowledge gap I had and decided to improve my skills,” said Kriel. She qualified as an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) medic in 2014 and later, studied further to become an ALS paramedic. She completed her ALS course earlier this year. She is glad she furthered her studies. Kriel said she is fulfilled every day knowing that she makes a difference in
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ER24 staff people’s lives. Having learnt a lot in recent years, Kriel opted to share her knowledge with others. She lectures during Continuous Professional Development (CPD) evenings. The aim of the courses is to keep medical practitioners up to date with the latest research and improve patient treatment. Kriel the lifeguard Kriel has always been an avid surfer and ocean lover. She became a lifeguard in 2012. “Lifesaving seemed like the natural progression for someone spending most of their free time in the ocean. “Our lives are filled with meeting deadlines and stress. “Lifesaving is the sport I use for relaxation and fitness. The ocean is definitely a force to be humbled by. “As lifeguards, we have to ensure we remain competent by training continuously and knowing how to use our rescue equipment. The restless ocean, big swells and strong winds are the fun parts of the training. “Volunteering my off-time at the beach is my excuse to spend time in the ocean. “Saving lives, whether out on the road as an operational paramedic or at the ocean, is my passion,” she said. Kriel, who belongs to the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club, also competes in lifesaving competitions. For the 2012/13 season, Kriel took second place for individual sprints, second place for flags, third place for surf swim rescue and second place for board rescue at the Cape Championships held in Mosselbay. She took bronze for flags at the provincial championships. During the 2013/2014 season, Kriel received gold
for board rescue, silver for surf swim rescue and gold for beach relay at the Cape Champs. During the provincial championships, her team won overall gold for the province. Kriel received a bronze for the swim/board/ski/run relay medley and gold for beach sprints. She took fourth place for flags and silver in beach sprints at the Lifesaving South Africa Surf Nationals. She did not compete in the 2014/15 season as she was completing her ALS course. Sea rescue Kriel applied to become an air sea rescue technician in 2014. Once her application was approved, she had to endure a tough fitness assessment to ensure her mental and physical wellbeing was up to standard. She was successful. Speaking about what the job entails, Kriel said, “You have to ensure you are physically fit and strong as well as be ready for all that mother nature can throw at you at any time. We train continuously. It is worth it as there is nothing more enjoyable to me than being out at sea with the rotor wash pushing down on you, the adrenaline pumping and salty ocean spray in your eyes in rough conditions where one experiences the raw power of mother nature. “We can be called out to at any time of the day for a rescue. “The helicopter has to take off within five minutes of receiving the call. “That gives us about 10 minutes to don our rescue gear and go to the nearest helicopter landing pad. “The rescue would entail being picked up by the rescue helicopter at the closest helicopter pad all geared up,
Priority One | Issue 3, 2, September June 2016 2016
Natasha Kriel loves the restless ocean.
flying to the incident location and assessing the situation. Once the patient is spotted, the rescue technician either jumps out of the helicopter into the ocean or is hoisted down. “The patient is secured onto a harness and lifted out of the water. “If the patient is not visible, we conduct a search and rescue operation. “Given the extreme temperatures of our waters and weather, the rescue needs to be conducted fast in order to save the person’s life. “If the patient is not found, we hand over to the SAPS for body recovery,” said Kriel. Triathlon Between being a paramedic, lifeguard, air sea rescue technician and surfer, Kriel is also training for triathlons and hoping to start an ER24 sport
group considering the number of sports enthusiasts in the company. When asked how she manages to do all that she does, Kriel said, “I have chosen a life of health. “Sometimes one has to realise that there are greater things out there than what we think we need for ourselves. “The passion to help others is what drives me to persevere. It does get tiring and exhausting at times. I do take a day off occasionally. “Having friends and family who are supportive makes a big difference in one’s success. “My fitness training and surfing is my ‘Natasha time’. Concerning my job, as the saying goes, ‘choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life’. That is how I feel about what I do,” said Kriel. | 64
ER24 staff
Paramedic jets off to
Dubai
Marthine de Kock is proud to have been an ER24 employee.
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ER24 bid farewell to Johannesburg-based paramedic, Marthine de Kock, earlier this month. De Kock moved to Dubai with the aim of advancing her career. She will be involved in road operations and will also work rotational shifts on a medical helicopter while in Dubai. In addition, she will be involved in quality improvement and ambulance crew education. Although excited to be furthering her career in Dubai, De Kock (31), expressed sadness having left her home country, family, friends and colleagues at ER24. “I love South Africa. This is my home. All my friends and family are here. I will miss them terribly. However, opportunities for me in Dubai are endless. I want exposure to different working environments and Dubai offers this. I want to see how things work there and maybe improve it. “I believe that even though we can do with some improvement in South Africa, we still have one of the more advanced emergency medical services systems in the world. “Moving to a different country is definitely a challenge. Maybe this is a trait of an emergency medical services personality as we are always looking for a new challenge. Moving to Dubai also brings about an opportunity to travel further. “I love travelling. My plan is
to save money and continue travelling. There are also limited opportunities from a promotion point of view in South Africa. International exposure will give me a professional edge in the industry,” she said. Studies and career De Kock, who is highly respected among peers and known to take on challenges with ease, qualified as a paramedic at the end of 2012 and started working the following year. Her decision to become a paramedic however, came about suddenly. “I did not know what I wanted to be while growing up. I just knew it had to be something with biology or anatomy since these were my favourite subjects. “Initially, I did a BSc Degree in Medical Science. “I went on to do my Honours in Anthropology. I wanted to go into forensics. Unfortunately, there was little scope for these qualifications in South Africa at the time. A friend’s mother recommended I become a paramedic. I did a First Aid Level 1 course while still busy with my Honours Degree in Anthropology and loved it. “I later did my BTech Degree in Emergency Medical Care. I have never looked back,” said De Kock. During her third year of BTech at the University of Johannesburg, De Kock received a Golden Key Award for outstanding
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ER24 staff academic performance. Her successes also include having published her Anthropology Honours and BTech research in international journals. De Kock believes that the path she chose was the right one. “Being a paramedic is extremely satisfying. You help patients during the most critical period of their illness or injury. Patients trust you immediately and know that you want to help them. That type of trust is humbling. During transfers I enjoy explaining to patients or family the meaning of the medical terminology used. I also enjoy helping
them understand the illness they have. People always appreciate, and are comforted by, the information that I provide to them. I also love implementing my knowledge and training when treating patients. It feels like I am making a difference,” said De Kock. ER24 De Kock remains humble and believes that ER24 contributed tremendously towards her success. “I started my career in emergency medical services at ER24. The experience I have is because of ER24.
I completed multiple short courses, such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), through the company. I was an Advanced Life Support (ALS) shift leader when I started working at ER24. This taught me, maybe a little in a hard way, how to work and manage people. I learnt considerable communication and management skills. “I started working in the Critical Care Retrieval Services unit, where the team exclusively does inter-hospital
transfers of high acuity cases, in July 2015. I learnt a lot that was not taught during studies in terms of medicine. This included different ventilation strategies and various disease processes. ER24 is part of ‘my family’. I have worked hard for the company and they have looked after me,” said De Kock. She hopes to return to the company when she eventually comes back to South Africa. “I will visit former colleagues when I am in South Africa. Otherwise, see you in a couple of years. Be safe and never stop advancing your knowledge,” said De Kock.
ER24 staff members participate in blood drive ER24 staff recently participated in a blood drive that was held at the head office in Paulshof, Johannesburg. The blood drive was hosted by the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) on 7 July. ER24 staff came out in their numbers to show support for the initiative. 25 units of blood were collected on the day despite a number of willing donors being unable to donate. This initiative started when Tiisetso Mashego, Acting Marketing Manager for ER24, decided to create awareness around the importance of donating blood given the industry of emergency medical services that ER24 operates in daily. “Taking into account our paramedics’ line of work, it is imperative that we consistently reinforce the importance of donating blood to all staff. Although not all staff members work on the road and may not understand the impact of blood loss, it is still essential that they
understand what a difference their blood can make to someone’s life,” Mashego said. Most trauma cases involve blood loss at some stage. Patients who require surgery or who have certain medical conditions are also likely to require blood or blood products. Severe blood loss can lead to a number of complications and result in death. The SANBS was highly appreciative of the blood donations received from ER24 staff. Thatayaone Mosasane, the Public Relations Practitioner for SANBS, said, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the donors for attending our blood drive held at the ER24 offices. Your continued support and willingness to host blood drives is highly appreciated.” Due to the positive response received, ER24 will host another blood drive at its offices in Paulshof soon. “We look forward to yet another positive turnout from staff,” Mashego said.
Priority One | Issue 3, 2, September June 2016 2016
ER24’s Rochelle Dispan donates blood.
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ER24 staff
new staff
Message to Welcome to all staff who recently joined the ER24 family. We are looking forward to working with you. I am sure that your first few weeks will be filled with many new and exciting challenges, and as such, you will be quite busy. However, rest assured that
we will provide you with all the necessary support and resources to make this transition as smooth and effective as possible. We at Human Resources look after all the aspects pertaining to you as an employee. We have the privilege of getting to know you first
by assisting with your paperwork. We take care of your benefits, such as pension fund and medical aid, and are the custodians of all policies and procedures that govern the company… not forgetting you having a salary in your bank account.
by Sindy Bedessie, HR Manager: ER24
An overview of what we have to offer our valued employees: We understand that we are an emergency medical services organisation and in the
INCON Health’s EAP programme provides confidential, individual assistance and support to help employees cope with personal problems adversely affecting their personal lives, behaviour and/or work performance. The programme aims to enhance employee effectiveness through the prevention, identification and resolution of personal and productivity issues. INCON Health delivers this service through their WAKE® programme that focuses mainly on Employee Assistance (social WAKE®) and Disease and Disability Management (medical WAKE®). 3|9|
unlikely event of you being injured on duty, it is important for you to note the following:
We ensure that the professional service you offer to your patients is afforded to you through Remedi Medical Insurance, a closed scheme. You have the flexibility to cover yourself at an affordable premium and the company pays a portion towards this.
Together with this, we engage annually with all staff through the “Your Voice” engagement survey. The purpose of this survey is to understand our shortcomings and to pave a way to improving our service offerings to the key individuals who make our organisation a success. We plan for your future by offering flexible retirement cover. Benefits include: • Flexibility to choose contribution by employee. • Company contribution. • You have an opportunity to
change your benefit structure once a year. • Disability insurance. • Flexible life cover option. • Funeral benefit to employee. • Funeral benefit to spouse and children (dependent on age).
ER24’s Learning Centre offers you the opportunity to progress in your career while still securing your employment. We have qualified professionals who assist you in this journey.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
ER24 staff
Meet the HR team
Florah Hlungwani Looks after the Gauteng and Northern regions and manages the wellbeing of employees as the leave administrator.
Aveshnie Gounden Oversees the Site Based Medical Services division. She is also the disciplinarian in the business, handling all industrial relations matters for employees and the company.
Tommy Roodt Takes care of the Central Region and Contact Centre. As the payroll custodian for ER24, Roodt ensures that a pay cheque is in your bank account at the end of the month.
Fiah Isaacs Looks after temporary employees who work through the contracted agency, Medical Human Resources. Isaacs ensures staff are paid and handles the process of signing on prospective candidates.
ER24 staff are rewarded for their commitment to the company in the form of long service awards. The following people recently received five year long service awards:
Abel Matekoane from ER24 Welkom.
Elsie Letaoana from ER24 Welkom.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
Thato Mokgatlhane Handles the Head Office and Coastal Region as well as ensures that employee recruitment is a successful process in terms of your paperwork.
Above: Wessel Oosthuizen from ER24 Bethlehem receives his certificate from his branch manager, Neels Moller.
Left: Seun Mathlare, ER24 Welkom Base, receives his certificate from ER24 Central Region Manager, Sidney Venter.
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ER24 staff
Medic AppreciationDay ER24 held its first ever Medic Appreciation Day on 24 August. The event coincided with ER24’s 16th birthday. Our medics work tirelessly and do their best to make a positive difference in the lives of people in their greatest time of need. It is amazing to give something back to them.
Ben Johnson, ER24’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We made funds available to each branch and gave them the opportunity to decide on what they would like to do for the day.” Judging by the photos, staff thoroughly enjoyed the day. Medic Appreciation Day will now be an annual event.
2016
ER24 Joburg East kept it in-house and had a braai at their branch for all crew members.
ER24 Cape Town West Metro attended a dinner and a show at a local restaurant.
ER24 Cape Town North Metro crews were treated to a lunch at the local Spur.
ER24’s Cape Town regional office, regional Contact Centre and Specialised Medical Services Department spent time together.
The ER24 Bethlehem crews were treated to a breakfast at the local Spur.
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PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
ER24 staff
Medic AppreciationDay
2016
ER24’s Contact Centre staff, in Paulshof, spent their time finding out who’s the best karaoke singer.
Sidney Venter, ER24 Central Region Manager, joined the ER24 Bloemfontein crews. The staff received appreciation certificates.
ER24 Joburg West spent their time at the local bowling alley in Cresta Mall.
ER24 Joburg North decided to sweat a bit. Crews took part in an obstacle course team building exercise.
ER24 Highveld treated their crews to a Wimpy breakfast.
ER24 Welkom held a braai.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
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ER24 staff
Medic AppreciationDay
2016
ER24’s Cape Town East Metro held a braai. Later on, they took part in a cricket match.
The team from ER24 Kuruman got together and had a braai to celebrate.
ER24 Pretoria also treated their crews. Some of the staff members at the branch got together for a quick photograph.
ER24 Vaal stepped out for a bit and treated the crews to a sit-down lunch. Each staff member also received a personalised gift.
ER24 Nelspruit treated their crews to Steers and a gift.
ER24 Kimberley had a potjiekos day.
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PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
ER24 staff
Medic AppreciationDay
2016
ER24 Potchefstroom took a deal with the Romans. Staff were treated to tasty pizzas.
ER24 Newcastle had a braai at their base. They also released 16 helium filled red balloons as part of ER24’s 16th birthday.
ER24 Durban crews opted to take each other on in a soccer match. They enjoyed the event.
ER24 Durban Branch Manager, Jannes Prinsloo, showed off his skills at the soccer match.
ER24 Southern Cape gave each medic a gift.
ER24 Midstream crews also received a gift.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
Keeping it in-house, ER24 Joburg South held a braai at their branch.
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ER24 staff
trauma Life of a counsellor by Henning Jacobs, Trauma Support Coordinator: ER24
Few people know and understand what a trauma counsellor has to face on a daily basis. A trauma counsellor never has the same day twice. Every day has new challenges and different types of trauma cases. We never meet people or clients on a happy note. We are greeted with trauma and fear every day. Our job starts when the phone rings. We may have a scared, traumatised or anxious person on the other side of the line… a person who is in desperate need of help. What we say and do on the phone or during a session is of utmost importance. We try to give the person skills to cope. We have to determine if they will cope or if they need further assistance. Among the common types of trauma cases counsellors at ER24 attend to are armed robberies, hijackings, suicides and motor vehicle collisions. We deal with the absolute sadness of losing a loved one to counselling people who have been affected by crime. When we do on-scene calls, we leave the patients in the capable hands of paramedics 315 | |
and focus on the family and/ or friends of that patient. We as trauma counsellors have to admit that the sadness and trauma we deal with every day causes secondary trauma to ourselves. Therefore, we do not only put coping skills in place for clients. We make use of the same skills. We firmly believe “you can only give what you have”. We put the same coping skills in place for us
and our paramedics so that we can cope with the trauma and assist people. Ultimately, we are only human and we have to recognise this and make sure we support ourselves and our co-workers. By doing this, we can provide the best service to others when called upon. We are proud to be trauma counsellors. The most rewarding part of our jobs is when we leave a scene or a client knowing that what we
did or said has changed that person’s day and given them hope. Ultimately, what a trauma counsellor does is give a person hope. We put a plan in place for those in need. Every day has people waiting for us to assist. We devote our lives to helping others deal with whatever bad experience or sad event they are facing. We love helping and would not have it any other way.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Patients
Company interest
are our number one priority
by Ben Johnson, CEO: ER24 At ER24, we strive to ensure that the patient remains our primary focus in everything we do. While this may easily be understood by people actively involved in patient care, a company-wide alignment towards this concept is of utmost importance for us to be able to deliver on our company mission, vision and values.
“Patient Experience” can be described as putting the patient above and beyond any other aspect related to our business. It involves creating a working environment that directs and engages all employees towards creating positive patient experiences. As an emergency medical services company, our business activity has to create this impact, as our services are often requested in a person’s real time of need. So, how can you influence “Patient Experience”? It is not rocket science. Our everyday choices, actions and behaviours make all the difference. Often, it is the little things that really matter. It may be as simple as going the extra mile for a patient’s wife or stopping to check on
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
a car that may have broken down on the side of the road. It could be about dealing with a complaint or query quickly and efficiently or providing medical advice to a concerned mother. Remember, this does not only refer to road operations or specialised medical services. All employees have a role to play. This is a company-wide focus that starts with the CEO and filters through the entire organisation. What behaviours support this concept? We identified five key behaviours that can have an immediate and positive impact on patient experience. These are: • Smile and Greet when
engaging with patients, public or clients. • Trust in your colleagues and company. • Respect yourself and your colleagues. • Play your part in creating a working environment that engages all employees. • Encourage and embrace teamwork. Let us all do our bit and strive to put the patient first in everything we do.
“Patient Experience” workshops are held at Mediclinic hospitals near you. Speak to your line manager to book your place.
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Company interest
Out in full force. ER24 staff at a recent Dominance Day event in Gauteng.
ER24 continues
to dominate ER24’s Dominance Day initiative is gaining momentum and Team Red continues to showcase why ER24 is the premier private emergency medical care provider in South Africa. The initiative kicked off at the ER24 Vaal base in April 2015 following discussions between the ER24 Regional Operations Manager for Gauteng, Gareth Staley, the Support Services Manager for Gauteng, Martin Cole, and some branch managers. The aim was to increase brand awareness, to educate the public on the number to dial should they be faced with a medical emergency and to build relationships with clients, hospital staff and the general public. Not only has this been achieved, but a number of lives have been saved in the
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process. Cole said, “Each branch manager in conjunction with Staley and his Support Services team visit local hospitals, corporate clients, schools and the community on the day of the event. We include standby points at intersections, hand out marketing material and publicise ER24’s emergency contact number, 084 124. During this time, our teams remain available for all emergency calls in the area. This increases the emergency resources available to the community on that day. We have been able to contribute to the public’s health and safety at major incidents through the availability of a large contingent of highly trained medical first responders. We assisted at several incidents
with increased resources available, including rescue vehicles, helicopters, trauma counsellors and highly qualified paramedics. We saved lives with compassion, speed and efficiency.” Cole added that not only does the initiative give people peace of mind knowing that they have access to realhelprealfast but also motivates ER24 crews. Crews have a great day with colleagues from other branches and know that they have support and backup during emergencies. “The event also helps build relationships between operations management and the crews on the ground. Opportunities and potential threats to crews and our business of saving lives are identified. “Additionally, there is
interaction between the branch managers. We also include administrative staff from our head office. They see first-hand what we do for the community. They are exposed to how Operations work on a daily basis and the challenges faced. Additionally, administrative staff meet people they normally interact with telephonically or electronically, allowing them to further build on these relationships,” said Cole. To date, 15 Dominance Day events have been held in several provinces including Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the North West. Cole said that future plans include increasing interaction with communities, hospitals and clients while still providing quality services to people in need.
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Youngster impresses Company interest
Often, members of the public request to spend a day with ER24 paramedics to find out more about what their job entails. Among those who recently spent time with paramedics was Niike Neervoort, a Grade 7 learner at St Stithians Girls’ Preparatory. As part of a school project, learners had to create a Visible Learning Project (VLP). They were given a two-month deadline to conduct research and present what they learnt. Neervoort (13), decided to conduct a video interview with Oliver Marshall, an Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) at ER24 Joburg North. The video interview was conducted on 21 July. “Neervoort wanted to gain an understanding of the emergency medical services environment and the work ER24 paramedics do on a daily basis, including the difficulties we experience on the road, the good versus bad calls and the emotional hardships faced. She also wanted to generate more public appreciation for the work paramedics do and determine what could be done to make paramedics’ work easier and safer,” said Marshall. Adding further, Neervoort said, “I had so many questions whenever I saw an ambulance driving past. So I thought this project, titled ‘A Day in the Life of a Paramedic’, would be a good opportunity to find the answers to my questions. I had many goals set out for
myself of which one was to create a ‘wow’ project. I wanted people to look at my project and think to themselves ‘I never knew that about the emergency medical services industry’. I wanted to find out what happens behind the scenes and how paramedics deal with what they see and experience.” She described the time spent with Marshall as “absolutely amazing”. “I learnt so much. There were some things I never thought about like how patients are prioritised (P1, P2, P3 and P4), and what the difference is between an ambulance and a response car. Marshall was very helpful and explained everything clearly. I now understand more about paramedics and how they deal with different situations and calls. I enjoyed doing this project very much as I learnt a lot about something that most people generally do not know much about,” she said. After having conducted the interview, Neervoort edited the video and typed the interview word for word and displayed it on a huge board for people to read. She presented her project on 1 August to all learners from St Stithians Junior, Girls’ and Boys’ Preparatory, parents, teachers, the community and other interested parties. Marshall said all paramedics at ER24 Joburg North were impressed with Neervoort. “She was interested in the work ER24 paramedics do and was enthusiastic to
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
Above: Niike Neervoort presents her project titled ‘A Day in the Life of a Paramedic’. Left: A learner supports a pledge to move out of the way of approaching emergency vehicles.
raise awareness and show appreciation of the role paramedics play in her community. Furthermore, she compiled a list of things that she, her peers and school community could do to make the jobs of ER24 paramedics easier and safer. She then compiled the latter into a list of pledges. These pledges were then placed on students’ faces as a demonstration of commitment to them. One of the pledges was to move out of the way of approaching emergency vehicles in a safe and controlled manner. We were impressed with Neervoort’s interest, effort
and appreciation,” Marshall said. Neervoort added, “Thank you so much to ER24 for helping me with my project. This interview probably made 80% of my whole project as it inspired my pledge, filled a whole board with information and allowed the community to be able to watch an interview with a paramedic on an iPad. The pledge paper filled very quickly. I will hand it over to you soon so that you know the Saints community will always stand behind you and support you as well as always move out of the way when an ambulance is trying to pass.” | 18
Company interest
When is it appropriate
to call for an ambulance?
by Margie Saunders, Manager of Funders & Medical Schemes: ER24 and Jocelyn Eales, Fund Manager: ER24 ER24’s key responsibility to its contracted medical schemes is to ensure that all members and dependants have access to quality emergency medical services in the case of a medical emergency. As the largest emergency medical services provider in South Africa, ER24 together with its quality-controlled provider network, is able to guarantee clients access to the appropriate level of care emergency medical service resources countrywide. Given the medical schemes’ financial pressures and the need to contain costs and increase reserves whilst trying to keep contribution increases to the minimum, ER24 is beholden to ensure that every transfer is medically justified. Ambulance transfers are costly, and as such cannot be considered for payment if it is a non-emergency and the member could have travelled in a private vehicle. Some examples of nonemergency conditions that do not justify transportation in an ambulance are as follows: • Where the member/ dependant is well enough to travel in a car, bus or taxi to see a doctor or go to a hospital as an outpatient. • For conditions such as minor lacerations and sprains, abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, dysmenorrhea, 3 19 | |
constipation and headache (excluding migraine). • When it is not a lifethreatening condition and consequently urgent medical attention is not required. • Transportation home from the hospital when the member or dependant is well enough to be discharged. • Pregnancy without any complications at the onset of labour. • When the member or dependant needs to be admitted for an elective procedure. What then constitutes a medical emergency? Below are some examples of when an ambulance would be the appropriate mode of transportation: • Serious injuries, such as broken bones or injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions, which require stabilisation and medical monitoring whilst being transported to the appropriate healthcare facility. • An unconscious patient or a person who is fitting. • A person with acute chest pain. • A person who is unable to breathe. • A woman in premature labour or with a known complication with the pregnancy. • A child who has ingested a poisonous substance.
• A near drowning. • Third degree burns. Medical scheme members can call ER24 on 084 124 and ask to be put through to the 24hour “Ask the Nurse” health line if they require medical information or assistance in deciding whether an ambulance is necessary. They will then be advised to do one of the following: • Go to a hospital immediately (ER24 will dispatch an ambulance if medically necessary). • Go to the doctor. • Go to the pharmacy to obtain over-the-counter medication. To ensure consistent and fair decision-making, ER24 has a documented process for the assessment of any claims that appear to be non-medically justifiable. This process includes the following: • Clinical assessment of the Patient Report Form (clinical case notes) by a qualified paramedic as well as a registered nurse trained in trauma and intensive care. • Interaction with the respective service provider if additional information is required for decision-making purposes. • Acquiring additional information from the respective service provider in respect of the patient’s hospital admission.
• Further review by the ER24 Chief Medical Officer if required. Symptoms Important symptoms for ambulance crews to note on their Patient Report Forms are: • Abdominal pain - When was the last bowel action and, if female, when was the last menstrual period? • Headache - Where is the headache and when did it start? Are there any other associated symptoms such as a cold or influenza, vomiting or visual disturbances? • General body pain - Is the pain muscular or in the joints? When did it start and is it associated with any fever or chronic condition? Specialised vehicles In summary, ambulances are specialised vehicles with highly trained personnel and as such are an expensive means of transport. If you are using an ambulance for a minor condition, you could be preventing an ambulance being used for a critically ill or dying person and you may be held liable for the cost thereof. ER24’s overall objective is to ensure the provision of quality pre-hospital care in a medical emergency – realhelprealfast when it is required.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Company interest
Your voice has been heard by Ben Johnson, CEO: ER24 ER24 and Mediclinic employees were requested to complete a paper-based survey, called “Your Voice”, late last year. This initiative sought to gauge the levels of employee engagement within the organisation and was run by a UK-based company called Gallup. The great news is that your voice was heard. We have analysed the results and can now begin improving the areas identified by you as concerns. There is no overnight fix for a number of these, but I can promise that we are going to make a concerted effort to have them resolved as soon as possible. Below are the key areas of focus for the management team going forward: • Create the ability for employees to learn and grow within a job function. • Focus on employee progression and development within the organisation. • To ensure employee’s feel that their opinion counts. • To create a programme that recognises employee contributions to the company. • To ensure all employees feel that ER24 is a company that cares. Your feedback will be appreciated as we move forward on this journey. Email your thoughts and comments to ben.johnson@ er24.co.za
Halfway Toyota the obvious choice ER24 is proud to announce that it has again signed an agreement, pertaining to the supply and delivery of products and services, with the Halfway Toyota Group. Taking into account the cost effective and efficient services provided by the Group over the past three years and again, offering the best prices on vehicles and service offerings during the recent bidding process, Halfway Toyota was the obvious choice as they proved that they do in fact Lead the Way. The three-year agreement was signed in the Vaal by ER24’s Andrew Boden and Halfway Group Chief Executive Officer, Rob Newton, on 19 July. The agreement guarantees timeous servicing, repairs and maintenance of Toyota vehicles, which includes ambulances and response vehicles, bearing in mind
ER24’s Andrew Boden and Halfway Group Chief Executive Officer, Rob Newton, sign a three-year agreement pertaining to the supply and delivery of products and services.
Halfway Toyota’s footprint. In essence, this agreement will allow ER24 to continue providing realhelprealfast in a safe and efficient manner. The agreement also includes two sponsored co-branded administration vehicles. As part of the agreement, ER24 will be the preferred provider of specialised
medical services, first aid training and first aid kits to the Halfway Toyota Group. The agreement with Halfway Toyota means that ER24 is abiding by its principles of creating longterm relationships with suppliers. This in turn benefits all, including staff and clients.
Rob Newton (Halfway Toyota), Angela Sadler (Halfway Toyota), Peter van der Spuy (ER24), Andrew Boden (ER24), Derek Nel (ER24), Martin Klopper (Halfway Toyota), Willie Visser (Halfway Toyota) and Richard van der Berg (Halfway Toyota) with one of the vehicles.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
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Global Assist ER24’s aeromedical service, ER24 Global Assist, is proud to have been part of a team from the St Helena Government that made history on 4 June. ER24 Global Assist was the first medical evacuation company and only the fourth fixed wing aircraft to have landed at the airport since September 2015. ER24 Global Assist was activated on 3 June from Johannesburg to assist with the evacuation of a critically ill baby. The child was scheduled to be picked up via ambulance from the Jamestown Hospital and airlifted to a hospital in Cape Town. The aeromedical team, which included three pilots, a flight engineer, a medical doctor and advanced life support paramedic, had their work cut out for them. They knew that the airport had unpredictable wind shears. In an article posted by British Conservative Peer, Lord Ashton, on 2 June, he stated that his visit to the airport had been postponed indefinitely,
amidst serious concerns that the airport was too dangerous to use because of vigorous and unpredictable winds. “The official opening of the new airport on the island has also now been put on hold indefinitely,” he wrote. A day later, ER24 Global Assist’s Dassault Falcon 20, operated by Guardian Air, landed safely at the airport. On 13 May the St Helena Government held an Open Day with all St Helena residents invited. “Residents could experience first-hand what to expect once the airport was fully operational and handling commercial flights,” said Gwyneth Howell, Head of Operations at St Helena Airport. The airport is fully certified. However, the official opening of the St Helena Airport had to be postponed due to wind shear problems. A British Airways
Boeing 737 was used in a test flight from South Africa to the St Helena International Airport. A video published on the internet shows how it had to abort its first landing attempt due to severe winds. ER24 Global Assist’s aeromedical team departed Lanseria International Airport on 3 June at 09:21 SAST for Walvisbay, Namibia. A technical stop in Walvisbay at 11:45 SAST gave the aeromedical team time to evaluate the weather in St Helena further. Information obtained in Walvisbay was the deciding factor to proceed to St Helena International Airport. The aeromedical team decided to continue to St Helena International Airport and expected to touch down at 15:30 SAST. The St Helena Government would have had to make use of a ship that could have taken more than
five days to reach Cape Town if an aircraft was not available or able to land. ER24 Global Assist’s Dassault Falcon 20 is fully equipped with two state-ofthe-art intensive care beds. Each bed has the capability to accommodate a critically ill patient with several ICU attachments, including non-invasive and invasive monitors and ventilators. A carefully laid out seating plan ensures paramedics and doctors have constant access to patients. Enough room is left over for immediate family to escort a patient to the receiving facility. In this particular case, the baby’s mother travelled with the aeromedical crew to Cape Town. Local blogging enthusiasts, Darrin and Sharon Henry from What The Saints Did Next (WTSDN), captured
Global Assist
makes history 21 |
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
Global Assist the historical moment when ER24 Global Assist’s Dassault Falcon 20 touched down on Runway 2 at St Helena International Airport. Despite all the challenges and wind shear, the aircraft had a successful landing on the first attempt. “They (ER24 Global Assist) landed successfully on Runway 2 without even making a missed approach,” Howell told WTSDN. The ER24 Global Assist aeromedical crew was met by Jamestown Ambulance personnel and transported to Jamestown Hospital where they assessed the critically ill baby. ER24 Global Assist
brought their specialised medical equipment along in order to leave the hospital’s equipment behind. Due to safety precautions, the ER24 Global Assist aeromedical crew stayed over for the night and commenced the journey to Cape Town early on 4 June. They safely touched down at Cape Town International airport at 13:40 SAST. “It was a long trip but the baby was well. The baby and mom were safely handed over to the receiving doctor at the hospital,” said Ilze Milbert, ER24’s Global Assist Fixed Wing Coordinator. On her blog, Sharon Henry wrote, “The residents of St Helena will tell you that their main reason for wanting an airport is to have faster medical evacuations. This
medical evacuation flight landing is a defining moment in St Helena’s history.” Howell told WTSDN that she was very proud of the team and the smooth operation. Dr Robyn Holgate, ER24’s Chief Medical Officer, said, “We have an excellent aeromedical team and we are proud that we were able not only to assist a critically ill baby but support the St Helena Government and be part of their history. We continuously monitored our flight and team from our ER24 Emergency Contact Centre in Johannesburg and knew that they were in safe hands. We look forward to being a part of future medical evacuations and support to the St Helena Government and community.” Janet Lawrence, Airport Project Director at St Helena
Government, said ER24 Global Assist’s approach to the situation was professional and supportive, and this is highly appreciated. “Thank you for your patience and support in answering all of our queries and for the level of sensitivity that you showed in allaying the concerns of the family involved,” Lawrence said.
by Werner Vermaak, Communications Manager: ER24
ER24 Global Assist’s Dassault Falcon 20 at the St Helena International Airport.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
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Global Assist
On-site services to suit your needs ER24 is a first party provider of emergency medical services specialising in onsite medical management, ensuring the health and safety of national and expatriate workforces in the mining, oil, energy and infrastructure sectors of industry throughout Africa, especially in high-risk remote locations. We have a comprehensive range of services, which include the provision of medical assistance infrastructure to mitigate on-site risk, ensuring the continuity of productivity in the event of emergency medical incidents. We also provide onsite clinics (emergency, primary and occupational healthcare service and basic surveillance), 24/7 Contact Centre services, medical
risk assessments, emergency response and evacuation plans and professional emergency courses through the ER24 Training Academy. Industrial projects are commonly associated with urban developments. However, mining, oil and gas, construction, maritime and other industries conduct a significant part of their business in remote areas. The consequences of medical, surgical and traumatic emergencies occurring during these activities can be exacerbated by the very remoteness of the project locations. Qualifications Personnel with various registered paramedic and fire rescue qualifications are often deployed to these enterprises
to provide routine, emergency fire, rescue and preventative medical care. A critical care situation is often expensive, not only to the individual whose health may have suffered irreparable damage, but also to the company which may have to bear the huge cost of a medical evacuation, hospitalisation and subsequent replacement of personnel for business continuity for mitigation of lost time incurred. Remote (site-based) medics are widely accepted as an invaluable resource whilst working in a remote location for treating routine medical ailments, managing trauma and other emergency cases. In addition, they are in a prime position to promote improved safety, health and environmental wellbeing
through the introduction of a structured health programme, reaching a predominantly, but not exclusively, male target group with a reputation of putting their health and wellbeing on hold. A remote (site-based) area has therefore been acceptably defined for medical purposes as a situation “where there is no immediate access to adequate medical facilities, either by direct communication or access in terms of distance or time” (Dawson et al 1993). As a premier provider of site-based medical solutions, we will continue to supply knowledge and skills-based expertise for operational deployments that display our flexibility for response to our clients’ individual needs on a global scale.
ER24 a sponsor at first aid competition
ER24 Zambia was a proud sponsor at the Zambian Chamber of Mines National First Aid Competition held in August.
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Peter van der Spuy, General Manager of Quality Assurance and Support Services at ER24, was part of the company’s South African delegation that attended the Zambian Chamber of Mines National First Aid Competition.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Clinical
Striving for
excellence
by Willem Stassen, Critical Care Paramedic: ER24 Contact Centre We often forget that the first link in the chain of any emergency response is the recognition of an emergency and the initial call made to activate this response. Like the central nervous system initiates and controls all of the vital functions of the body, so too does the Emergency Contact Centre control the entire ER24 operation, ensuring that the patient or caller on the other side of the phone receives realhelprealfast. By ensuring that the correct resource arrives at the correct patient in a timely manner, the men and women who staff our 24-hour Emergency Contact Centre play a pivotal role in saving lives and minimising any complications of the patient’s condition. ER24 is a clinical business that is patient-centric, meaning that we consistently keep the patient in mind when making clinical decisions and resource allocations. One way in which we invested in this was the implementation of a computer-aided dispatch 3 25 | |
(CAD) system. The purpose of this system is to map the closest appropriate vehicle to the specific incident. This is made possible by a series of questions and algorithms that have been programmed into our robust CAD. With this technology at hand, synergy is created between the Emergency Resource Officers (ERO) and Support Resource Officers (SRO); which ultimately leads to efficiencies that are vital in a time-sensitive environment such as the Contact Centre. In the event of life-threatening conditions, the ERO is able to dispatch a resource to the scene immediately at the point of the incoming call. ER24 constantly monitors and refines the criteria to ensure that the system works optimally and to this end, we have implemented numerous enhanced software builds to tailor the CAD system to the unique requirements of our healthcare setting. By using advanced geolocation services, the CAD system is able to determine the proximity of the caller by mapping the location of the telephone number from which the call originates. Once the address is confirmed with the caller, the case and GPS directions are automatically forwarded to an in-vehicle device of the ambulance or rapid response vehicle. It is hence a seamless process from the point of making an emergency call until the moment one of our experienced clinicians arrive
at the patient. The Emergency Contact Centre is not simply there to support our patients, but to support our crew members too, which ensures safer and speedier patient care. Some of the many tasks include assisting our clinicians in updating hospitals of impending arrival of critically ill patients and in determining whether specialist cover is available at receiving facilities. A dedicated clinical escalation team made up of experienced paramedic and doctor consultants is also on call 24/7 to give telephonic advice to our paramedics who are dealing with challenging patient presentations. The Contact Centre facilitates this discussion by means of teleconferencing. This ultimately means that every interaction into the Contact Centre is recorded and archived. The dedicated coordinator team works together with the staff towards quality
improvement. This team consists of members with contact centre, logistics, emergency medical services, counselling, education, research and clinical experience. Together all of these strengths are harnessed to identify any gaps within the environment in order to implement improvement processes to even further refine our service. Our profession is an everevolving one. Patients and clients have evolving needs and are presenting with more complicated pathologies and life-threatening conditions. Every day and with every new process, our aim is to perpetuate the ER24 ethos of providing realhealprealfast. You see, we are all in this together, striving towards excellence. We are here to save the lives of our patients and decrease the consequences of their injury and illness so that they may live long, healthy lives.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Clinical
Promoting a patient
safety culture by Craig Wylie, Manager: Network Providers Clinical excellence is nonnegotiable at ER24. ER24 promotes a patient safety culture. Adverse event reporting is one of a multitude of initiatives we have launched to promote this culture within our business. The initiative relies on every staff member to report any event that can or did influence patient safety during treatment or transportation. What are adverse events? Adverse events are injuries relating to medical management and not complication of disease. Medical management includes all aspects of care including diagnoses and treatment, failure to diagnose or treat and the systems and equipment used to deliver care. An adverse event may be preventable or nonpreventable.
Our fictional case While moving a patient from the hospital bed to our stretcher, the zip of the zip stretcher came undone. The patient fell to the ground causing some pain and discomfort to the patient’s back.
What is a near-miss? A near-miss relates to a serious error or mishap that has the potential of causing an adverse event but fails to do so because of chance or because they are intercepted. Our fictional case While moving a patient from the hospital bed to our stretcher, the zip of the zip stretcher came undone. The patient almost fell but luckily, my crew mate intervened. My crew mate stopped the patient from falling. Why should we report these events? Most errors do not only occur once. They occur multiple times among a a number of practitioners. By reporting and investigating the cause of an event, we are able to
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
ensure that it does not happen to the next patient. ER24 has various methods of reporting an event. Staff members can either communicate through email or log the incident online. Our fictional case After reporting that the zip stretcher failed, an investigation occurred and it was established that the zip stopper was not present on the zip stretcher. Further investigation found that a number of zip stretchers did not have a stopper. By reporting and investigating the event, we ensured that no other patients fell from the same cause.
Who investigates the event and how? All ER24 events are sent to a centralised team that analyses the event and asks various role players to assist with the investigation. The team ensures that the investigation occurs with “just culture” in mind. Just culture is a concept surrounding creating an atmosphere of trust, encouraging people to provide
essential safety-related information on adverse events and near-misses. This is done under the premise that errors are often system failures rather than individual failures. The focus is on understanding the root cause of the problem. This allows for overall improvement, however the concept does not disregard accountability as wilful violations are not tolerated. Our fictional case During the investigation, photos of the zip stretcher were taken. It was noticed that the zip stopper was not present. Keeping the systems approach in mind, the team went to other branches to investigate whether all zip stretchers had stoppers or not. It was found that a large number of zip stretchers did not have a stopper in place. What happens after the investigation? Feedback to the individual who reported the event is important. Anyone will feel a sense of accomplishment if they were personally responsible for improvement of the patient safety environment. Feedback will promote and result in a sustainable reporting culture. The bottom line... ER24 asks staff to report any event that might have influence on their patient. This will allow us to create a better and safer patient care environment. In return, ER24 will handle the staff member’s report in a just manner, ensuring that we improve the system. Any queries can be sent to adverse. event@mediclinic.co.za | 26
Community involvement
First aid course
for rangers
StopRhinoPoaching.com recently completed one of its most significant projects yet. Through a collaborative effort with ER24, Jacaranda FM, CTM and medical supply company MedDev, 205 Kruger rangers, including section rangers and the Air Wing, underwent ER24’s Tactical First Aid Course. In addition, 145 specialised trauma packs kitted for managing gunshot wounds and heavy bleeding were deployed and each person on the course was given a tourniquet. Founding Director of StopRhinoPoaching.com, Elise Daffue, said, “For the first time ever, there is a tactical first aid capability across Kruger National Park. Earlier this year saw the first Kruger ranger being shot by poachers. He and his fellow rangers had attended the ER24 course and as a result, knew how to manage the
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gunshot wound. The group had the right kit to do so, thereby saving the ranger’s life.”
StopRhinoPoaching.com’s aim StopRhinoPoaching.com, founded in 2010, initially meant to be an independent web-based platform dedicated only to raising much-needed awareness and support for the war against rhino poaching. “I had a gnawing feeling for some time that there was something I was supposed to be doing to help rhinos. I just did not know what it was. After a particularly horrific poaching incident, the idea of the website hit me. At the time, there was little information available on rhino poaching and what was happening in South Africa. What started off as a web-based platform focusing on credible content and awareness, soon turned into
a full-time responsibility of managing donations and supporting rhino reserves,” said Daffue. All the organisation’s projects are focused on rhino protection, starting with the basics and then, helping to build capacity. “As an example, it does not help to buy specialised technology when rangers are not adequately trained or do not have basic equipment with which to work. It also does not help to spread assistance so thinly that it is rendered ineffective, which is why we carefully selected reserves that we support. For the most part, we keep channelling funds to these areas to make them a hard target,” said Daffue. Daffue added that the organisation’s biggest strength lies in the fact that they have strong and trusted relationships with the majority of key rhino reserves
and security initiatives around the country. “This network has meant that we have been able to support strategic requirements in these areas. We have a respected work ethic, an excellent understanding of the evolving poaching threat and we are informed about our selected stakeholder’s requirements. We have the ability to scale projects according to available funding through strategic partnerships and we have a quick turnaround time in putting tangible support on the ground,” said Daffue. The organisation’s approach of asking what is needed, rather than coming in with preconceived ideas of what they think needs to be done, has led to them growing a region-wide footprint spanning national, provincial and private reserves. To date, StopRhinoPoaching. com has sponsored various types of training for over 420 rangers and 50 reserve managers. A total of 29 rhino dogs have been deployed with another four currently being trained. “We also do a lot of networking, relationship building and information sharing. One of the projects close to my heart is Project Embrace, a ranger wellness project that we are funding in the Kruger together with CTM and the International Rhino Foundation. We sponsor specialised psychological support for the rangers and their families, a critical intervention to curb stress levels and help prevent
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Community Company involvement interest
Trained and ready. Some of the rangers who recently received first aid training pictured with ER24 staff.
burn out,” said Daffue. She added that rangers live with incredible stress, endure all kinds of hardships in the bush and sacrifice a great deal. Rangers have had to become soldiers, which is not what they originally signed up for when they chose a career in conservation, as a lot of the poaching groups now carry firearms. “Rangers are the ones who stand between a rhino and a poacher and we need to be doing everything we possibly can to support them. They are doing their level best out there. Poaching, especially the cruelty and senseless killing, congers up all sorts of emotions. Doing this kind of work means that you do get emotionally involved. You give a lot of yourself and you grow close to the people who are out there fighting the fight every day,” said Daffue. Poaching Speaking about the extent of rhino poaching in South Africa, Daffue said that it is not going to be a short-term problem with a quick fix. “It is ruthless and is here to stay. The reality is that our rhinos are being heavily targeted by organised crime
syndicates – well connected criminals with well-developed networks. To them, rhino horn is just another commodity to make a lot of money. Gaining ground is going to take a long-term commitment at every level. I believe that the commitment thus far is paying off,” she said. Daffue said that the escalation of poaching between 2008 to 2014 was alarming. Rhino reserves around the country mobilised and massive investment went into protection strategies. Through lessons learnt and shared, by the end of 2015 the statistics showed, for the first time, a slight decrease in the figures. “While every rhino life lost is one too many, this small victory is testimony to the tremendous efforts being made, especially when one gauges this crisis in the context of the crime threat we are facing and considers the ruthless and flexible nature of the poachers,” said Daffue. Support and funding To date, StopRhinoPoaching. com has channelled over R12million to the rhino cause, all made possible by donors. “StopRhinoPoaching.com has had the pleasure of working
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
with some incredible people and companies, all of them determined to help in some way. People have arranged sporting events and challenges while others have held office collections. Schools have run rhino projects and children have raised funds. “In addition, StopRhinoPoaching.com has been the NGO partner of Jacaranda FM’s Purple Rhino Project since having been established. The station’s rhino champions, Martin Bester and Barney Simon, initiated spectacular fundraising events and have continued to keep the rhino cause alive in the hearts of Jacaranda listeners. Had it not been for the incredible support from companies and the public, a lot more rhinos would have died at the hands of poachers,” said Daffue. She added that funding support from credible organisations can truly make a difference. “There is no greater feeling than shaking the hand of a ranger who has just completed his training – seeing his appreciation, his sense of belonging and achievement, knowing that you played a role in making that happen,
being able to provide the means to teach someone new skills and to know that when he goes out there, he has a better chance of keeping himself, his fellow rangers and the rhinos he protects alive. The motivation created by donor support has been phenomenal. To know that someone cares about their wellbeing, recognises the importance of their work and has invested in them, means the world. There are many ways to get involved and it is deeply rewarding to see the difference you make,” said Daffue. She added that working with the ER24 team has been a rewarding experience. “They took the Tactical First Aid Course project to heart, shared their passion and experience with the rangers and have taught life-saving skills. Peter van der Spuy, Jill and Alastair Lithgow and this project have been a godsend to the rangers. Thanks so much to ER24 and all the sponsors who made this possible. Further courses are on the cards,” said Daffue.
In training. Peter van der Spuy, General Manager of Quality Assurance and Support Services at ER24, conducts a demonstration for rangers.
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Community involvement
House for Julia Naila A single mother’s life changed for the better on 18 July. Hot91.9 FM’s charity initiative, ONE Wingz of Change, in partnership with ER24, built Julia Naila a much-needed house in Witpoortjie in recognition of Mandela Day. Nominated by Tanya Landsberg, Naila is a single mum who cares for a very ill teenage child. As a result of his illness, Sihle (14), has to undergo regular dialysis. He and his mother were living in a shack. To help make a positive difference in their lives, Joburg’s Hottest Breakfast show hosts, Darren Scott and Jeremy Mansfield, opened their phone lines for 67 minutes in pursuit of materials, skills and services to build a house. They managed to obtain all
Julia Naila and her son Sihle were thrilled after seeing their new house. The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs & Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile, attended the house handover event.
the building materials, expert skills and related services needed from companies, industry stakeholders and members of the community. On 18 July, the breakfast show held a live broadcast from Naila’s new house in
Witpoortjie. Various sponsors and donors, including ER24, arrived on the day to surprise Naila with her new home. The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs & Human Settlements, Paul
Mashatile, also attended the #MadibaHotHouseHandover. Hot91.9 presenters handed the keys to the new house to an elated Naila. ER24 is proud to have been part of such an amazing project.
Electric wheelchair for Lindiwe Nhlapo
ER24 staff with Lindiwe Nhlapo and her family after she was given a much-needed electric wheelchair.
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On 27 June, ONE Wingz of Change Angel, Natasja Jacobs, hit the road along with ER24 to Soshanguve to lend a helping hand to Lindiwe Nhlapo. ONE Wingz of Change, with the help of ADP Designs, donated a brand new deluxe electric wheelchair, worth R15 000, to Nhlapo. Nhlapo (27), has Muscular Dystrophy. Her muscles are so weak that she struggled to get around in her old, manual wheelchair. She was forced to spend days
alone in the house that she shares with her parents. Her mum works in a tuck shop and her father is a gardener. As a result, there was no money for a motorised wheelchair. Nhlapo also has a son (4), who she could not accompany to and from school due to her old wheelchair. This broke her heart. Now however, through the donation of an electric wheelchair, Nhlapo will be a bit more at ease knowing that she can do more than she could with her old wheelchair.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Supporting by Coleen Daniel, Manager of Corporate Sales: ER24 In addition to providing quality medical emergency service solutions to best suit our client’s needs, ER24 also supports worthy causes by donating its time, skills and resources to improve the lives of those in need. This year, we donated time
Community involvement
worthy causes and medical resources at the Cotlands’ Play Conference. The event was held in July. The aim of the conference was to address the need for play-based learning in early childhood. Cotlands, founded in 1936, is a non-profit early childhood development organisation addressing the education and social crisis by establishing early learning playgroups and toy libraries in under-resourced communities
to serve vulnerable children aged birth to six. Cotlands was originally established as a sanctuary for abandoned babies. It all started when a baby was left on the doorstep of Matron Dorothy Reece’s home in Mayfair, Johannesburg. She decided to take the infant in and care for it. Cotlands was born out of this single act of kindness. ER24 has been involved with Cotlands for the past five
years. The relationship began when I received a call from Cotlands in Turffontein with a request for ER24 to donate a first aid kit and some first aid training to the staff. After visiting the orphanage and considering the work that staff do, donating our time, training or equipment, was the obvious thing to do. For further information on Cotlands, visit http://www.cotlands.org.za
Staff visit schools
ER24 Joburg North and West doing an ambulance demonstration and safety talk at Sparrow School in Auckland Park.
Show and Tell by ER24 Pietermaritzburg at Mkamba Gardens Pre-School.
Ashlea Crous from ER24 Cape Town South Metro doing a demonstration at Fish Hoek Pre-Primary School.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
Tyron Pieterse from ER24 Joburg grabs the attention of a little one at Sparrow School.
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Community involvement
School gets a
splash of colour
ER24 added a splash of colour to a local school as part of its contribution to society during National Mandela Month. The ER24 Marketing Department came into contact with Nicole Heimann, the founder of the Community Environmental Education Project (CEEP), a registered Non-Profit Organisation that has been in operation since 2002. Heimann invited ER24 head office staff to paint some classrooms at a school in Melville on 22 July. Several staff members volunteered their time and painting skills to the Sparrow Schools Educational Trust, a school focused on children with special learning needs. The school works with a number of learners who have difficulty reading, writing and
paying attention, among other learning difficulties. Two classrooms were beautifully painted and revamped for the learners. Tiisetso Mashego, Acting Marketing Manager for ER24, said, “Social responsibility is not only the responsibility of
Dieketseng Lengoabala enjoys making a difference.
Mbali Mkhize makes sure she does not miss a spot.
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corporate giants but also the responsibility of individuals. There is an overwhelming feeling you get when doing good for others, no matter how small the gesture may be. It is a feeling that stays with you or a feeling that is reawakened every time you
give back to those who have less than you do. I urge every person to take the time to do good and make a difference in someone’s life, not only on Mandela Day or during Mandela Month but whenever you are able to.” The CEEP Foundation was appreciative of the work done by the ER24 volunteers. “Thanks for your support and helping us to improve the conditions at the Sparrow Foundation School,” Heimann said. Mashego added, “In the words of our former President, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, what counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Sandile Sithole gets to the hard to reach areas.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Community involvement
Mandela Day
2016
ER24 Newcastle visits Home Meah. Children were treated and staff were helped on the day.
Vusi Ronny Mohlakore from ER24 Carletonville educating children at an early learning centre in Kokosi, near Fochville, about health.
ER24 Kimberley along with eight other teams making sandwiches. Just over 4 100 sandwiches were made and distributed to those in need.
Above: Ziyaad Warasally from ER24 Ladysmith with the principal of Ingula High School, Z R Khumalo. The ER24 Ladysmith base sponsored first aid basics to the school. Ingula High School caters for underprivileged children. Left: Lisa Gangabishun from ER24 Westville teaching lifesaving skills to some of the elderly residents at La Domaine, in Hillcrest.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
ER24 JHB North assisting Headway in Hyde Park to pack boerewors rolls for various emergency medical services companies.
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Training
Team Australia EMS “ER24 pulled out all the stops for our paramedic students and we are extremely grateful to all of them. Their openness, friendliness and level of professionalism is unparalleled and the feedback from the students has been positive. It is heart-warming to see the company has developed to be a world leader in emergency medical care and assistance. ER24 is truly a global player in this market.” These were the words of Neil Noble, the Lead Paramedic for Team Australia EMS, following yet another successful tour to South Africa which included time spent with ER24 staff. Team Australia EMS consists of a group of professional paramedics who travel the world and compete in international emergency medical services competitions. The team, which has won competitions in the United
returns
At the back: Emma-Kate Smith, Zoe Farmer, Sam Auhl, Tom Hawkins and Micayla Helson. Middle: Sam Rabone, Emily Leadbeater, Erika Schmidt and Neil Noble (Team Australia EMS). At the front: Brody Mangos, Natalie van der Baan, Jo Cairns, Jessie Dixon, Amy Craike (Team Australia EMS) and Lauren Turnbull.
States of America, Europe and Asia, comprises of Critical and Advanced Care Paramedics. They also provide paramedic students, from Australia and New Zealand, with international professional development tours to South Africa and the United States of America. Team Australia EMS
Students with some ER24 night shift staff.
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paramedics accompanied 13 students, who are studying for a Bachelor of Health Science paramedic degree in Australia and New Zealand, to South Africa in July. While in South Africa, the students were booked on various emergency vehicles as observers. They visited ER24 Pietermaritzburg as well as ER24 branches in Cape Town. Paramedics also took the students to the Metro Rescue Base, Red Cross Air Mercy Services and a few government and private hospitals in and around Cape Town. When asked why the team chose to tour South Africa and partner with ER24 specifically, Noble said, “Three members of Team Australia EMS previously lived and worked in South Africa. With this in mind, and knowing the excellent standard of emergency medical care provided by
ER24 paramedics, we chose to come to Cape Town and partner with the company. The aim of the tour was to provide a safe environment for the student paramedics to learn from experienced paramedics in a high acuity environment. Paramedics in South Africa are recognised as some of the most experienced in the world when it comes to dealing with trauma and emergency cases.” Noble, who works as a Critical Care Paramedic for the Queensland Ambulance Service in Cairns, added that the students do not get to see in their home countries the level and/or volume of trauma seen in South Africa. “We wanted the students to experience a new level of emergency care in a fastpaced setting. “Our aim was to expose them not only to different cases than what they are used to, but also experienced and
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Training passionate mentors,” said Noble. During the tour, students not only saw a variety of trauma situations they would not normally see, but also learnt how to manage an entire scene rather than individual patients. They also learnt how to manage scenarios with far less equipment than would normally be available to them back home. Speaking about their experiences, students said they were astounded by the number and severity of roadrelated incidents that occur on a daily basis in South Africa. They also attended a number of medical cases, crimerelated incidents as well as a shack fire that sadly claimed lives. Students were impressed with paramedics’ response times to scenes and stated that it was great to see the great scene management, camaraderie between all the emergency services and how well police, fire and rescue services and paramedics work together in Cape Town. They were also impressed by the positive attitudes of the ER24 staff, who “all seemed to really love their chosen careers” and were “always ready, happy and so incredibly welcoming and friendly”. The tour not only benefitted the students, but ER24 staff as well. Craig Wylie, who facilitated Team Australia’s visit to South Africa, said, “Emergency medical services is an industry that reaches further than just the borders of South Africa. We feel it important to engage with role players from different countries to understand challenges and solutions that might be similar to the ones we face here. For our staff, it provides an opportunity
to network with their international counterparts, understanding the training and circumstances under which the Australians work.” He added that ER24 is continuously looking for ways to appropriately benchmark its service to that of international best practice. “The interaction with Team Australia allows us to spend time with international students and their mentors to better understand what is done in the international market and what could possibly work in South African context,” he said. Speaking about the students, Wylie said that the most striking aspect for him was how keen they were to learn. Considering that South Africa is a developing country, an assumption is that South Africans can be taught but not teach. It is quite the opposite in various fields including emergency medical services. Wylie said, “South Africa is unique in many ways. Although we are a developing country, we have a lot to offer the developed world. “Emergency medicine in South Africa has grown in the last decade. “Our global footprint has increased. Just this year South Africa hosted the International Conference in Emergency Medicine. The leaders in South African emergency medicine are now also the leaders within the International Federation of Emergency Medicine as well as the African Federation of Emergency Medicine. So, I have no doubt that we as South Africans have a lot to offer our counterparts in the developed world.” Team Australia EMS has been invited back next year. The team has accepted the invitation.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
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Training
First aid training
saves lives
The benefit of having staff trained to perform CPR and other life-saving interventions was highlighted recently at a company in Bloemfontein. Had it not been for the training received by staff at Kloppers, a department store based at Loch Logan Waterfront, they would not have been able to assist in trying to save a colleague’s life. The quick reaction and training received made it possible for staff to initiate treatment and do the basic, but vital, steps of CPR. The patient was successfully resuscitated on the scene with CPR and early defibrillation. Kloppers, an ER24 client, requested training earlier this year. Petro Jonker, Training Coordinator for the Central, Northern Cape and KwaZuluNatal regions, provided First Aid Level 1 training to nine Klopper staff members in June. Regulations With employers being required, as per South African health and safety regulations, to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work, companies need to invest in proper training and the correct service provider. ER24 can tailor your first aid training according to your requirements. Be it on-site, at our Training Academy, during or after business hours... ER24 can assist based on your needs. 3 35 | |
ER24’s Petro Jonker with staff and management of Kloppers. At the back: Johan Kotze, Herman Smith (Manager), Dr Anton Klopper (Director), Cobus van Heerden (Manager) and Ruan Smith. At the front: Johannes Letlele, Franco Jacobs, René Dorfling, Petro Jonker, Yolandi Smith and Riaan Lindeboom.
First aid courses equip people with the skills needed to provide help during any emergency situation. A person knowledgeable in first aid is invaluable. Make the right choice and get your staff trained today. PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
memory Training
Refresh your Crossword Crossword 1
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by Yvonne Dalgety, Training Supervisor: ER24
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9 10 11 12
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15 16 17
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How much do you remember? Test your memory the fun way.
21 22
23 24
Word search 25
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Answer the questions and then find the answer in the grid. The words may be forward, backward or at a slant.
28 29 30
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Across 1. Sac surrounding the heart 7. 9. & 14 dn nerves descending from the AV node 8. Pertaining to the work of the ventricles 11. Layers of the blood vessels 15. Inside layer of the heart 16. Type of vessel returning blood to the heart 17. Receiving chambers of the heart 18. Largest artery in the body 19. Pacemaker of the heart (abbrev) 22. & 22 dn blood vessels of the blood vessels 23. Type of vessel removing blood from the heart 25. Atrioventricular valve on the right side of the heart 28. Muscular layer of the heart 29. Inside lining of the blood vessels 30. Veins have ...... arteries do not 31. Arteries supplying the myocardium with blood
Down 1. Heartbeat 2. Node receiving impulse from the atria (abbrev) 3. Atrioventricular valve on the left side of the heart 4. & 27. Nerve tissue supplying the myocardium 5. Lower chambers of the heart 6. Pertaining to the rest period of the heart 9. See 7 across 10. Circulation to the lungs 12. Chordae ...... – heartstrings 13. Muscles inside the heart attached to the strings 14. See 7 across 20. Outer lining of the blood vessels 21. Middle lining of the blood vessels 22. See 22 across 24. Pertaining to the heart 26. The sole function of the heart is to ...... 27. See 4 down
Answers in the next issue of Priority One.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
C O R O N A R Y P A P I L L A E
H Q G H E T Y C O R H T Y R E W
O W F P E R I C A R D I U M S L
R H D J M I T R A L Z Q E X Z A
D I S K Y A T D F C X D B N H I
A T R I O V E N T R I C U L A R
E E A L C R E S G A V E Y A E T
T S P Z A E Y N S X B T P D M A
1. Heart strings (2) 2. Arteries exiting at the root of the aorta 3. Muscle layer of the heart 4. Atrioventricular valve between right and atrium and ventricle 5. The ...... node receives the impulse from the ...... node (the natural pacemaker (2) 6. Dorsalis pedis pulse is also known as ...... pulse 7. The atrioventricular valve on the left side of the heart is also known as the ...... and/or ...... valve 8. One of the lower chambers of the heart 9. Endo- means ...... 10. The two upper chambers of the heart 11. The outer layer of the pericardium is also known
E R E X R W U T T B J A L E O U
N W I M D Q I A I R K L A P G N
D E O C I N I C H A I U T S L I
I S I C U L U P J N W C E Q O S
N L U M M S U O K C A R L K B V
A L Y V I M P N L H S I E E I W
E E E D I S N I A Z Y C T J N X
R C T B N M U I D R A C I P E Z
as the ...... 12. Thick fibrous sac around the heart is called the ...... 13. The oxygen transporters in the red blood cell 14. Blood cells ...... around the body that is why it is known as a circulation 15. The heart is situated in a potential space between the lungs called the ...... 16. A thrombocyte is also called a ...... 17. Leukocytes are known as ...... (2) 18. The bundle of His divides into a right and left bundle ...... 19. The red blood cell 20. The ...... attach the heart strings to the endocardium 21. The pulmonary and aortic valves are ...... valves | 36
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For more information, call ER24 on 0861 084124 or email corporate.sales@er24.co.za Visit www.sweatsafe.co.za
Health and awareness
Alcoholwhilepregnant? With September 9 being International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, ER24 is urging pregnant women to refrain from drinking alcohol. Explaining the syndrome, Willem Stassen, ER24 Critical Care Paramedic, said that Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. “It is a clinical syndrome that occurs when the unborn baby is exposed to alcohol
through maternal alcohol consumption. This syndrome is characterised by distinct facial abnormalities and other defects in the heart, muscles, kidneys and eyes. One study reports that the incidence of FAS in some South African populations may be as high as 12.2%. “By far, the most devastating of these defects is the brain damage that is associated with FAS which may present as irritability, reduced brain development, difficulty
learning, weak and floppy muscles and problems with hearing and sight. Unfortunately, the damage done in FAS is permanent and cannot be undone,” he said. Stassen said that there is no safe level or period of alcohol intake during pregnancy as this is affected by the alcohol clearance rates, foetal sensitivity to alcohol, drinking patterns of the mother-to-be as well as genetics. “For this reason, all international guidelines
Illness identity versus As a medic, I have been called out to many emergencies where patients have attempted to take their own lives. A lot of these patients were either young men, women, boys or girls who discovered that they are HIV positive. They could not handle the pressure of having to take pills every day for the rest of their lives. For them, discovering that they were HIV positive was a death sentence. They could no longer see a bright future for themselves. Finding out that they were HIV positive was almost as though someone had said to them, “Sit here and cry. Feel sorry for yourself. Wait for death to take you. Your life is over.” A friend of mine once came to me crying and said that she got a new job. She was excited and said that she ran home to share the good news with her family. However, her joy was short-lived. She
said that her mother told her that she was happy and that she was doing well however, the only problem was that she (my friend) was HIV positive. My friend said that she knew her mother’s intentions were not to hurt her however, HIV had snuffed the joy out of that moment. I took the time to study this virus. I found out where its power is hidden. I discovered where the sting of this virus is. You want to know? Please read on… HIV, like many chronic illnesses, derives its significance and power by diminishing the significance of its victims. This virus gains so much destructive power by somehow managing to take over the identities of those who have been diagnosed. Upon receiving the report from the medical practitioner confirming a positive diagnosis, people say that
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
by Marvin Mukwevho, Quality Assessor: ILS at ER24 they are HIV positive. My question is, is that who you are? No, by no means are you the virus. You have the virus but you are not the virus. This is who you are: • You are intelligent • You are beautiful • You are handsome • You are powerful • You are who your creator says you are. If you have the virus, you get to decide how to manage it. You still get to decide how to live the rest of your life. It desires to control you. It desires to destroy you. But it cannot because you have power over it.
recommend that pregnant women completely abstain from all alcoholic beverages during the entire duration of pregnancy. “Pregnant women should always attend prenatal checkups at a registered healthcare provider,” he said. Should you require any assistance with alcohol abuse, contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0861 HELP AA (435-722). For more information on FAS, visit http://www.fasfacts.org.za
Your significance is not dependent on an illness. Never let HIV or any other illness take over your identity. You are not the virus. You are living with the virus. As much as living in a garage will never make you a car, living with HIV will never make you the virus. Refuse to get lost in it. Refuse to base your identity around it. Identity is inextricably interwoven onto the fabric of purpose. Anything that can alter your identity will alter your purpose and thus, change your destiny. You have it. Control it. Reclaim your identity and your purpose in life. It cannot kill your dreams so, pursue those dreams. It cannot rob you of love so, love with all your heart. As for my friend who got the job, I said to her, “Let us change the sentences. You have HIV, but you are doing so well for yourself.” Sounds like the same thing. But it is not. HIV will not have the final word. You have HIV. But you are amazing. | 38
Health and awareness
Hand injuries safeguard yourself by Dr Vernon Wessels, Site Based Medical Services: ER24 The hand is the most useful appendage and its versatility allows us to manipulate the environment to our benefit. It is used in almost all daily tasks. It therefore makes sense that we take good care of our hands and avoid exposing them to unnecessary damage. Within the work environment, hand injuries are probably the most common injury found and can vary from a simple paper cut to traumatic amputation. Often, the injury could have been prevented had simple rules been complied with. Below are some tips: • Although the hand is a versatile tool, do not use it in place of a tool designed for a specific purpose. • When using knives or potentially sharp instruments like screwdrivers, be alert to where this instrument could go if it slips. Avoid cutting towards your hands (or any other body part for that matter). Avoid handling the blade edge with unprotected fingers. • Do not stick your hand 3 39 | |
into an area if you cannot determine if there are possible dangers that await you. Dangers could include injury due to sharp objects, animal bites, insect stings or hot or very cold items. • Use heat insulating gloves to protect your hands when handling potentially hot or cold items, especially during welding and cooking. • Wear the relevant work gloves to protect your hands during manual tasks to protect your hands against chaffing, abrasions and minor cuts. • Keep hands clear of the danger area around fast moving machinery, especially drive belts and moving blades. • Keep hands as clean as reasonably possible. This will prevent slippages and assist in limiting contamination and infection risk in the event of accidental injury. • Keep your nails short and neatly trimmed if you do a lot of manual work as this limits the risk of nail avulsions. • Treat any cuts or puncture wounds immediately and seek medical assistance if these wounds are deeper than just the superficial skin layer (gaping wounds or deep penetrations). Underlying tendons can be partially damaged or completely severed which can lead to loss of function and may require surgical repair. Infection of the hand is a serious condition and can lead to permanent disability. Even a small wound or insect bite can lead to a devastating infection. Any swelling, redness and warmer skin in the area of a wound or
insect bite must be seen to by a healthcare worker in order to identify and treat infection early. • Nail and nail fold infections due to regular exposure to water (especially warm, dirty water) are common. These infections are caused by a fungus and may require a long course (months) of treatment to cure. Wear waterproof gloves to prevent it from developing. Emergency services In emergency services, examination gloves are used to protect the healthcare worker from possible infectious agents and also to protect the patient from unnecessary contamination
that may be present on the healthcare workers hands (especially when managing wounds) and therefore, patients should never feel offended if the healthcare worker fits his/her gloves before managing them. It is ultimately in everybody’s interest to protect and be protected. Rescue gloves Rescue gloves are used to protect against broken glass and other sharp items and to handle tools during rescue situations as well as to protect against chaffing in rope rescue situations. Look after your hands and they will provide you with a lifetime of use.
PriorityPriority One | Issue One |3,Issue September 2, June 2016
Health and awareness
Hepatitis What you should know While hepatitis affects millions of people worldwide, majority of those affected do not know they have the disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral hepatitis affects 400-million people worldwide. 95% of people however, do not know that they are infected. The theme this year is ‘Elimination’ with specific reference to viral hepatitis. The goal is to eradicate viral hepatitis worldwide by 2030. ER24 urges the public to educate themselves about the disease. Hepatitis is a disease that results in the inflammation of the liver. Causes include
viruses, bacteria, parasites as well as toxins and autoimmune diseases (the person’s immune system attacks its own body). “Viral hepatitis is however, the most common cause by far. Viral hepatitis is caused by a number of different viruses - Hepatitis A, B, C as well as D and E,” said Dr Vernon Wessels, from ER24. Hepatitis infection may present with little or no symptoms or the person may suffer from nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, jaundice (yellow tinge of the skin) and dark urine. In severe cases, this can progress to coma and death. Dr Wessels provided the following details to help
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
people better understand the disease, risk factors and possible effects: • Hepatitis B, C and D is commonly transmitted through contaminated needles and instruments, sexual contact, blood and body fluids as well as from mother to baby. Blood products can also transmit the disease if it has not been tested for the viruses. In South Africa, blood products are tested for these infections and therefore, transmission through this route is unlikely. Healthcare workers however, do get exposed to the blood and body fluids of patients and therefore, are at risk of developing hepatitis if not immunised. Hepatitis B,
C, D can cause acute (short duration) hepatitis. The person may recover from the initial infection and become a chronic carrier of the infection. These viruses can also result in chronic (longterm) hepatitis. Risks include permanent damage to the liver such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. Hepatitis B, C and D can be avoided by ensuring safe sexual practices (as for HIV), immunisation and safe handling of contaminated medical instruments, needles and waste. • Hepatitis A and E are usually acquired through consumption of contaminated food or water and is prevalent in areas where poor sanitation exists. These infections tend to only cause acute infection and after recovery, the person is immune to further infection however, some individuals may develop a serious life-threatening infection. Hepatitis A and E can be prevented by ensuring good hygiene practices like proper hand washing and washing and cooking of food. Avoid food and water sources contaminated by faeces. Also ensure you are immunised against the disease. Treatment is available for viral hepatitis to limit the impact of infection and manage the long-term complications. Visit your medical practitioner if you have concerns. For further information on hepatitis and this year’s campaign, visit http://www. who.int/campaigns/hepatitisday/2016/en/ | 40
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Health and awareness
Blood donations are needed ER24 urges everyone eligible to donate blood. As an emergency medical service provider, ER24 paramedics see first hand the effect severe blood loss has on patients in both trauma and medical-related cases. Speaking about some of the incidents he has attended, Derrick Banks, ER24 Hillcrest Branch Manager, said, “Each situation and patient is different. We attend to patients injured in collisions, people injured
after falling from a height and patients who are shot or stabbed for example. “When paramedics arrive on the scene of any situation, they assess and conduct a primary overview of the patient. If the patient has any signs of severe bleeding, paramedics try to stop or limit the bleeding. The patient is treated and transported to hospital for further medical care,” he said. Banks stressed it is vital that a patient with severe blood loss
Derrick Banks, ER24 Hillcrest Branch Manager, donates blood.
Priority One | Issue 3, September 2016
receive immediate emergency care. “Blood carries oxygen and other essential substances to organs and tissues. Hypovolemic shock, also known as hemorrhagic shock, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a person loses more than 20 percent of their blood or fluid supply. This makes it impossible for the heart to pump sufficient blood to the body and as a result, a patient risks organ failure or death. Just recently we had a patient who suffered
traumatic injuries to an arm and leg following a vehicle collision. She needed blood due to the severity of the injuries she sustained. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she underwent surgery. The surgery went well and she is recovering. This is just one example highlighting the positive impact a person can make by donating blood,” he said. Banks himself is a blood donor. He recently donated his 50th unit of blood. “I come from a family of blood donors. I started donating blood when I was 16 years of age while still in high school. At the time, I did not even think I was going to be a medic but things have a funny way of turning out. I feel its very important for people to donate blood. Speaking from experience, my daughter was two days old when she had to undergo surgery and needed blood during the operation. I know giving blood is not for everybody but taking not even 30 minutes out of your day could help those in need,” said Banks. By donating just one unit of blood, which is 480ml, you can help save up to three lives. There are certain requirements for those wanting to donate blood. Donors must be between the ages of 16 and 65, be a minimum weight of 50kg, be in good health and live a sexually safe lifestyle. A health questionnaire will be given to you and blood bank personnel will guide you through the process. It is vital to be completely honest when answering the questionnaire. | 42
Health and awareness
Visiting an
unfamiliar area?
Travelling to a holiday destination or going on a business trip to a place you have never been to? Do you know what to expect and are you planning accordingly? ER24 is urging travellers to research areas they plan on visiting well in advance to ensure safety and health. Dr Rolf Verster, a General and Occupational Health Practitioner in private practice who also operates a Travel Clinic and Travel Health Consultancy at Mediclinic Sandton, said travel, whether international or local, is not without risks. “The principle causes are due to travellers moving outside their comfort zones – exploring regions with unfamiliar and different environmental conditions. This often leads to a change in risk behaviour or may involve failure to take necessary action to respond to these factors, sometimes resulting in injury or disease whilst abroad or on return,” he said. According to Dr Verster, an easy way to remember the types of risks you as a traveller could be exposed to, is the rule of ‘Six I’s’ which is as follows: Insects – Often, travel to unfamiliar surroundings involves exposure to insects that can cause or carry disease. Mosquitos transmit malaria, zika, dengue and chikungunya fever. Ticks carry a host of spotted and haemorrhagic fevers as well as encephalitis. Flies transmit disease via
food but can also bite and on occasion, lay eggs under the skin. Certain bugs bite and others cause toxic or allergic reactions. Ingestions – Food and water are essential, but are a source of waterborne diseases often via the faecal-oral route. Unsanitary conditions and poor hygiene practices predispose to travellers’ diarrhoea, Hepatitis A, typhoid fever and cholera. Numerous developing countries harbour so called “superbugs” with limited antibiotic sensitivity. Drink
Priority 43 | One | Issue 3, September 2016
alcohol in moderation. Alcohol dulls the senses and disinhibits, leading to risky acts. Injuries – Injuries abroad frequently occur when travellers throw caution to the wind whilst engaging in adventure sports or unusual activities. A typical example is when an inexperienced biker/scooter rider explores unfamiliar roads without crash helmets. 18-24% of deaths among travellers to foreign countries are caused by injury. Avoid animals that bite or carry disease.
Irresponsibility – Travellers engage in a variety of risky behaviours. Risky behaviour includes adventure activities, decreased use of a seatbelt, illegal drug use and sexual indiscretion. More often than not, these activities would never even be considered within the safety of the home environment. Think twice before doing something that can change your life forever. Immersion – Drowning cases feature far too often whilst abroad. Swimming in unfamiliar waters, associated alcohol use and adventure activities are the main contributors. Children left unattended are sadly part of this group. It is estimated that over 300 000 people die from drowning every year. Remember to assess the cleanliness and state of the water before taking a dip. Numerous creatures, germs and parasites lurk within. Insurance – The cost of medical services abroad, especially hospitalisation, can run into millions of rands. Do not assume that your travel insurance which is included in your credit card payment will be sufficient for your travel needs. Analyse your family’s needs critically and purchase top up insurance as deemed necessary. “Before you travel, consider and assess the risks one may encounter. “Whilst away, be responsible, aware and take logical precautions in order to make your trip a pleasure and not a disaster,” said Dr Verster.
Priority One | Issue 3, September |2016 42
Events
Event compliance Compliance regarding the supply of services as well as safety and security is vital when planning any local or international event in South Africa. In many instances, the event organiser is unfamiliar with the rules and regulations. This is where ER24’s Specialised Medical Services Department (SMSD) is able to help. ER24’s events department consistently monitors international and local legislation thereby ensuring world class service delivery, compliance and safety and
security at events. At ER24, we ensure that adequate analysis and preparation takes place prior to any client’s event. A full risk assessment is conducted and an operations plan unique to the event being held is drafted. All our risk assessments and operational plans follow processes and standards as set out in the Mass Gatherings Act SANS10366 as well as the Emergency Medical Services Act. Our clients can therefore be assured of efficient medical care and standby.
is vital
Some of our recent and key events include: • Discovery Duathlon and Triathlon held in Cape Town. Mediclinic’s corporate events division and the ER24 SMSD provided the required services. • Craven Rugby Week held in the Western Cape, KwaZuluNatal and Pretoria. • Annual 702 Walk the Talk held in Johannesburg. • Annual CEO Sleep Out held in Johannesburg. • Various water and cycling events in South Africa as well as neighbouring countries such as Namibia.
by Alan Winstanley, Manager of Specialised Medical Services: ER24
ER24 Specialised Medical Services at the CEO Sleepout 2016 held on the Nelson Mandela bridge in Johannesburg
ER24 Specialised Medical Services provided medical standby at a Craven Week event in Paarl.
Alan Winstanley (Manager of Specialised Medical Services at ER24), Pippa Rowe (Sharks Medical), Daniel Holtzhausen (ER24 KZN), Dr Glen Hagemann (tournament doctor) and Clint Readhead (SA Rugby Medical Manager) working together to make the U/18 Craven Week a success.
ER24 Specialised Medical Services standing by at the Gugu Zulu Memorial Race at Northern Farms.
One | Issue 3, September 2016 3Priority |
| 44 Priority One | Issue 2, June 2016
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