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 refl ected 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 fl aps.

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 0010Mount 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 3566Mount 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

on a pair of sunglasses

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 fi ve 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 defi ned 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 identifi ed 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 traffi c crashes thanks to the lowering of the speed limit to 80 kmph. There have been no hospital admis-sions with signifi cant 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 benefi ts. It is scheduled to open in autumn 2014.

“With two lanes of traffi c 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 messageThe 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 fi gures 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 signifi cant 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 blackspotAgency’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 identifi cation 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 fi rst of its kind. The report into the Bay’s serious crashes and their causes for 2013 will be available in January 2014.

Western Bay EditionJanuary 2014

Keep your food safe this summerIn summer you need to take special care when preparing,

cooking and storing food. Summer brings warm moist conditions - ideal conditions

for germs to multiply fast and cause foodborne illness.

Clean• Wash your hands thoroughly with

soap and warm water and dry them with a clean dry towel or paper towel.

• Wash and dry your hands before and after handling food and after every time you touch raw meat or chicken.

• Before you start handling food, make sure all tools and all sur-faces which you put food on are clean.

Cook• Defrost frozen foods thoroughly

before cooking. • Pre-cook chicken, meat patties

and sausages before barbecuing. Minced meat and sausages should be cooked right through, and pork and poultry juices should run clear - use a meat thermometer to check temperatures.

• Use one set of utensils for raw meat and chicken and another set for cooked food.

• When cooking or eating outdoors ensure that all food remains cov-ered and cool until ready to cook or eat.

• Reheat leftovers until steaming hot throughout and do not reheat more than once.

Chill• Ensure your fridge is operating at

a temperature of between two and four degrees Celsius.

• Keep all perishable foods cold until you are ready to use them - use an icepack or chilly-bin to keep food cold outdoors.

• Ensure raw meat and chicken is properly wrapped to stop drips; also keep raw meat and chicken away from other foods and below ready-to-eat foods in the refrigera-tor.

• Cover and refrigerate food as soon as possible after cooking. Throw out perishable foods that you have left at room temperature for more than two hours.

For more tips, visit the Food Smart website at www.foodsmart.govt.nz

Family violence – it’s not OK

Any behaviour that makes someone feel controlled and fearful is never ok. Everyone in a family should feel

safe and nurtured, says Bay of Plenty District Health Board Family Violence

Coordinator Raewyn Butler.

“A healthy relationship is supportive, trusting and warm,” she says. “But in some relationships one person uses power and fear to control the other. These relationships are emotionally abusive and can become extremely unsafe. People in violent relationships feel frightened. They feel as though they cannot be themselves because their actions, thoughts and choices are determined by the person who is controlling them.”

Raewyn says it’s not ok for children and young people to experience violence whether they are victims or witnesses.

“Witnessing violence at home makes children feel scared and alone. It can affect the way they behave and lead to problems at school or with their friends. Experiencing violence can physically harm children, make them anxious and fearful and affect the way their brain develops.”

In 2010, 70 per cent of child abuse cases attended by the Police were family violence related and half involved children being present.

Family violence is not only physical, like slapping, shaking, or hitting. It is also: • throwing things• constant shouting and swearing• put-downs• involving children in sexual activities• any threatening and controlling behaviours• all the things that make children frightened or

scared.

“Violence makes it harder for children to grow up and lead normal lives - harder for them to make

friends, to learn, stay healthy and be happy,” says Raewyn. “The effects of violence can last a life-time. The physical scars on the outside may heal - the emotional scars on the inside may not. It’s important to remember that children need adults to keep them safe, and we all have a role to play in this.”

If you are worried about a child you know - don’t ignore it. Don’t be afraid to offend an adult if it means helping a child. The sooner you reach out, the sooner people can get the help they need. Visit www.areyouok.org.nz or freephone 0800 456 450.

No one should be frightened or scared by someone in their family. If you are frightened and fear for your safety, call 111 for immediate help.

PLEASE RETURN any loaned hospital equipment to Tauranga Hospital’s main reception.

Thank you.

equipment to Tauranga

The Medical Offi cer of Health says the measles outbreak currently affecting

the Turangi/Taupo area is a strong reminder for people to

get immunised. “With families travelling around New Zealand and

overseas these summer holidays, it’s important to ensure that you and your children are up to date with immunisations in general and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) in particular. Measles immunisation provides effective protection and the vaccine is completely free for children and adults. MMR is given in two doses, normally at 15 months and four years of age,” says Dr Phil Shoemack, Medical Offi cer of Health.

People born before 1969 are likely to be immune because measles used to be quite common. Those

born since 1969, which is when the measles vaccine was introduced in New Zealand, who are unsure of their immunity should check with their doctor.

“Contact your family doctor or practice nurse if you or your child need to be immunised – it’s never too late to catch up,” says Dr Shoemack.

Measles often begins with a runny nose, fever and sore eyes. This is followed by a red, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. “Measles is highly infectious and complications are quite common. These include diarrhoea, ear infections and, more seriously, pneu-monia and brain infl ammation,” says Dr Shoemack.

Knowing what to do if you suspect you or some-one in the family has measles can help limit its spread to others. If you think your child or someone in your family may have measles; stay at home and phone your doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.

Immunisation is the best measles protection

For more information:• Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service website: www.ttophs.govt.nz/measles • Immunisation Advisory Centre - www.immune.org.nz or call

0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863).