Sunburn and skin damage is caused by the sun and it can lead to skin cancer. This is especially important if you are swimming or near water as the sun’s rays are reflected onto you. So everyone needs to cover-up, especially children. SLIP into a long-sleeved shirt and into the shade. SLOP on plenty of broad- spectrum SPF30+ sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outdoors. SLAP on a hat with a wide- brim or a cap with flaps. WRAP on a pair of sunglasses – UV radiation is just as dangerous to eyesight. Take these precautions especially between 10am and 4pm (September to April). For more information about being SunSmart for you and your family visit www.sunsmart.org.nz In an Emergency Department every second counts. We have to be prepared to treat serious life-threatening conditions immediately. These life and death situations cannot wait, which means you might have to. But you have other options: For life threatening conditions, severe or rapidly worsening symptoms or major injuries: Call 111 or go to your nearest ED / Emergency Department: Tauranga Hospital, Cameron Road, Tauranga For minor illnesses or injuries: Visit a walk-in medical clinic: Tauranga: Accident & HealthCare Crn 2nd Ave & Devonport Rd (07) 577 0010 Mount Maunganui: Bayfair Doctors Crn Girven Rd & Grenada St (07) 572 6800 Visit your family doctor or health clinic: Visit www.bopdhb.govt.nz to view a full list of local GP practices if you don’t already have a family doctor. Other health practioners: Te Manu Toroa Kaupapa Maori Health Services (07) 571 2026 Visit your local chemist. After hours chemists: Tauranga: Johns Photo Pharmacy (07) 578 3566 Mount Maunganui: Amcal Mount Pharmacy (07) 574 8645 For infections or persistent symptoms: For everyday ailments or symptoms: You might not have to come to ED at all. But we’re here if you need us. SCAN YOUR SMARTPHONE OVER THIS CODE FOR MORE INFO: Be safe – be SunSmart Collaborative efforts between the Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB), Police and NZ Transport Agency have seen a renowned accident blackspot record no serious crashes in 2013. A BOPDHB Trauma Service report into the region’s serious crashes of 2012 highlighted a hotspot at the intersection of State Highways 2 and 33, at Paengaroa. Of the five crashes at this site in 2012, four were head on collisions, resulting in multiple victims from each crash being hospitalised. Following the report’s publica- tion in January 2013, and as part of the ongoing Tauranga Eastern Link construction, the intersec- tion speed limit was reduced to 80kmph. This, allied to other minor safety improvements, has contributed to zero serious crashes being recorded at the intersection in 2013. Serious crashes were defined as those which resulted in a hospital stay of greater than 24 hours for the injured. Author of the report, BOPDHB Trauma Nurse Specialist Katrina O’Leary, said the result showed what organisational cooperation and information sharing could achieve. “The BOPDHB and the Police have a successful partnership in aiming to drive down trauma- related injuries,” she said. “An example of which is the lowered crash rate seen at the crash hotspot identified in last year’s report at the intersection at Rangiuru on SH2 and the turn off to Whakatane.” “This has seen a drastic reduction in road traffic crashes thanks to the lowering of the speed limit to 80 kmph. There have been no hospital admis- sions with significant injury from road crashes from this site for 2013.” The SH2/SH33 intersection was a renowned crash spot, said the NZ Transport Agency’s Highways Manager Brett Gliddon, whose organisation is responsi- ble for setting speed limits. As part of the Tauranga Eastern Link project a new roundabout is being constructed not far from the current intersection, which it is hoped will provide long-term safety benefits. It is scheduled to open in autumn 2014. “With two lanes of traffic in all directions and a proposed per- manent speed limit of 80 kmph, the new Paengaroa roundabout adheres strongly to the Transport New Year’s day ED presentations down as public heed healthcare message The head of Tauranga Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) has praised the public for helping make his staff’s busiest day of the year run smoothly. New Year’s Day is routinely the ED’s busiest 24 hours but this year’s total of 175 patients was 12.5 per cent down on last year’s January 1 total of 200 presentations. ED Clinical Lead Dr Derek Sage said the figures had come as a pleasant surprise. “We were still busy of course but the ingredients were there for it to be an incred- ibly busy New Year; Mount Maunganui was packed with holidaymakers, the weather was good, there were a number of big events, but it actually turned out to be quieter than last year. “It seems as though the public heeded our calls for only emergency presentations at ED.” That had not looked likely following the lead-up to Christmas when Dr Sage said many people continued to attend with minor ailments. “We had many patients attending with minor injuries, insect bites and rashes that could be easily self-managed with or without the assistance of the local pharmacist.” That pattern was broken over New Year, although there were still a significant number of alcohol-related presentations. “The pattern was familiar. Before mid- night it was mostly intoxicated teenagers, those who had simply consumed too much alcohol, and then by the early hours of the morning we began getting people presenting with alcohol-related injuries, those who had suffered falls, minor assaults and the like. “I would say that of everyone we had through ED’s doors overnight, around 85 per cent were alcohol-related, be that intoxica- tion or injuries related to alcohol. “A striking feature of the night was the proportion of younger people treated for intoxication, the vast majority were 18 years or younger.” Dr Sage thanked the public for heeding the call to keep ED for emergencies on New Year’s Day but reiterated that this was a message for 365 days of the year. “There are a number of locations and ser- vices the public can access medical advice and treatment rather than coming to ED. “People should visit their chemists for everyday ailments and symptoms; their GP or health clinic for infections or persistent symptoms; a walk-in medical clinic for minor illnesses and injuries; and the ED for severe, rapidly worsening conditions and major or life-threatening injuries.” Inter-agency collaboration following trauma report alleviates accident blackspot Agency’s commitment to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads,” said Mr Gliddon. The Trauma Service report investi- gated a total of 64 separate accidents during an 11 month period from 1 January 2012 to 30 November 2012. Medical lead for the BOPDHB Trauma Service, General Surgeon Barnaby Smith, said sharing infor- mation and close partnership with other government departments could make a difference because the same data could be viewed from different perspectives. “This identification of motor vehicle accident ‘hotspots’ shows the strong drive the BOPDHB has for primary prevention in the community. The BOPDHB has a commitment to audit and research and this research has made a difference for the local com- munity.” The 2012 Trauma Service report was the first of its kind. The report into the Bay’s serious crashes and their causes for 2013 will be available in January 2014. Western Bay Edition January 2014