by Belinda | Oct 27, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This year you can help fund life-changing research and support programs to provide hope for Australians living with lung cancer. To find out how you can get involved, please visit: https://shinealight.lungfoundation.com.au/
“In Australia, more than 13,810 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year and almost 85% will be diagnosed at a late stage. It is our country’s most devastating cancer. While this is confronting, together we are making an undeniable impact on the future of lung cancer.
Thanks to research, treatment advancements in the last 20 years has seen lung cancer survival rates increase more than any other cancer. Now more than ever, we need to work together and build on the momentum we’ve created to drive real and lasting change. There is still more work ahead, and we can’t win this race without your ongoing support.”
(Source: Fundraise.lungfoundation.com.au/shinealightonlungcancer)
It’s important to know the symptoms of lung cancer as although lung cancer occurs mostly in people aged 60 and over, it can affect people of any age.
The Symptoms
- Coughing up blood
- New or changed cough that doesn’t go away
- Chest pain and/or shoulder pain or discomfort – the pain may be worse with coughing or deep breathing
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Hoarse voice
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Chest infection that doesn’t go away
- Tiredness or weakness
Many conditions can cause these symptoms, not just lung cancer. Anyone can get lung cancer, even if they have never smoked. If you have any of these symptoms and they are persistent, talk to your doctor.
Despite being Australia’s biggest cancer killer, fundraising for life-changing research is devastatingly low. But where there is light there is hope. For more than a decade, Lung Foundation Australia’s Shine a Light on Lung Cancer campaign has raised money to support groundbreaking lung cancer research. To donate go to https://fundraise.lungfoundation.com.au/sponsor
by Belinda | Oct 27, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised
Changing the face of men’s health.
Movember – The origin.
“In 2003, two mates from Melbourne were having a quiet beer when their conversation turned to recurring fashion trends. The moustache, a fixture in past decades, was nowhere to be seen in recent trends. They joked about bringing it back. The two friends decided to talk their mates into growing a Mo. Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make the campaign about men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember (which are still in place today) and agreed to charge ten dollars to grow a Mo. Trav designed the first Movember logo, and they sent around an email titled ‘Are you man enough to be my man?’ They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.”
“With the support of millions of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas from all over the world, Movember is working towards its vision: to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.” (Source:au.movember.com)
Join the challenge this month to raise awareness and funds for men’s health!
“Globally, men die on average 5 years earlier than women, and for reasons that are largely preventable. Which means that it doesn’t have to be that way: we can all take action to live healthier, happier and longer lives.” (Source: Movember.com.)
Movember is raising funds to support, research, fund and transforming the way health services reach and support men in the following areas.
• Prostate cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Movember (2022) top 5 things to know and do:
1. Spend time with people who make you feel good.
2. Talk more – being there for someone and listening can be lifesaving.
3. Know the numbers – at 50, talk to your doctor about screening for prostate cancer. If you have a family history, this conversation should start at 45.
4. ‘Know thy nuts – it’s simple’ – regularly check and see your doctor if something doesn’t feel right.
5. Move more – walk to meetings, ride to work, run in the mornings. It’s good for the body and mind.
How can you participate in Movember this month?
• Grow a Mo – to start the conversation.
• Move for Movember – Run or walk 60km over the month. That’s 60km for 60 men we lose to suicide each hour (globally) – sign up at https://au.movember.com/get-involved/move
• Host a ‘Mo-ment’ – rally a crew and do something fun to raise funds. https://au.movember.com/get-involved/host
• Mo Your Own Way – whether it’s a grueling test of physical endurance or some other wildcard idea. https://au.movember.com/get-involved/mo-your-own-way
• Donate – https://au.movember.com/donate
• Support the men at your workplace and book in health assessments with WHS Vic.
GIVE SUPPORT – GET SUPPORT
by Belinda | Oct 13, 2022 | Uncategorised, Workplace Education
Saturday 14th October is Global Handwashing Day. This year’s theme is “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene”. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of washing hands with soap.
What are the benefits of hand hygiene?
- Prevents the illnesses and the spread of infections
- Handwashing can reduce diarrheal diseases by 30%
- Handwashing can reduce acute respiratory infections by up to 20%.
- Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in school children by 29-57%
- Handwashing with soap plays an important role in reducing the transmission of outbreak-related pathogens such as cholera, Ebola, shigellosis, SARS, hepatitis E, and COVID-19.
- Hand hygiene is protective against healthcare-associated infections and reduces the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
- Hand hygiene may contribute to the reduction of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
(Source: Global Handwashing.org and CDC.gov.)
When should you wash your hands?
You should wash your hands before touching anything that needs to stay clean, and after touching anything that might contaminate your hands. It’s easy to remember. Just think, “when am I likely to get and spread germs?”
How do I wash my hands the correct way?
Is there a proper way to wash your hands or is just rinsing them under water enough? Any washing is better than none however it’s best to follow the five steps below to ensure you are washing your hands the correct way. Remember, you want to prevent the spread of germs.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
(Source: www.CDC.gov.)
by Belinda | Oct 13, 2022 | Drug & Alcohol Testing, Health Assessments, Mental Health, Workplace Education
Know safety, work safely – encouraging everyone to make health and safety a priority in the workplace.
October is National Safe Work Month. The time of the year to commit to creating and managing safe and healthy workplace for all your employees.
Individuals, their families and the broader community are all impacted by work-related injury and illness. WorkSafe Victoria reported that 66 lives were lost in 2021 due to workplace injuries with an additional 23,000 workers being injured seriously enough to have a claim for compensation accepted.
This is why October is dedicated to being National Safe Work Month. During the month of October, businesses, employers and workers across Australia are asked to join National Safe Work Month and commit to building safe and healthy workplaces for all Australians. There is more that we can do to improve workplace health and safety, and together we can make a difference. Every workplace needs to take the time to properly assess their health and safety risks and plan how to eliminate or manage them.
So, what does having a healthy and safe workplace mean? It means that your workplace is free from physical and psychological harm. It is a positive, safe environment that benefits everyone.
Ideas for National Safe Work Month you can implement in your workplace
- Encourage staff wellbeing – implement wellbeing programs
- Organise health talks & health eating programs
- Encourage physical activity
- Conduct a safety training workshop
- Implement a stretching & warm-up session prior to starting a shift
- Host a session with a guest speaker on safety
- Launching a new health and wellbeing initiative
- Host a morning tea focused on wellbeing
- Make mental health a priority in your workplace
- Reward safety awareness
To find out more, visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
To find out more about Work Safe Victoria’s WorkWell program visit www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/workwell
by Belinda | Aug 30, 2022 | Health Assessments, Uncategorised, Workplace Education
We are wishing to advise that effective as of August 01st 2022, the Geelong Medical Health Group (GMHG) has acquired the Occupational Health Screenings (Medicals) part of Mentor OHS Geelong.
This is a great opportunity for the GMHG as it complements and extends on the services we already have on offer at our Medical Centres and on-site through Workplace Health & Safety Vic.
Mentor Occupational Health Screening is now conveniently located at Myers Street Family Medical Practice, (148 Myers Street Geelong) and provides a range of services for pre-employment and railway medicals.
Services offered:
- Pre-Employment Medicals
- CAT 1/2/3 Rail Medicals
- Physio-Musculoskeletal Assessment
- Instant Drug & Alcohol Screen
- Audiology
- Spirometry
- ECG
- Immunisations
We also offer the below mobile service. These can be conducted at your workplace.
- Audiometry Testing
- Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Spirometry
Call us to find out more or to book an appointment. We can tailor a package to suit your needs.
Contact: Nikita – Mentor Occupational Health Screening
Mobile: 0476 500 654
Email: [email protected]