by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Donate Life Week is dedicated to promoting organ and tissue donation.
According to the Australian Government (2021), organ and tissue donation can save and transform the lives of those Australians who receive a transplant.
Organ and tissue donation involves removing organs and tissue from someone who has died (a donor) and transplanting them into someone who, in many cases, is very ill or dying (a recipient).
The decision to donate organs and tissue is an act of extraordinary generosity.
What can be donated?
- Heart;
- Lungs;
- Liver;
- Kidney;
- Pancreas;
- Tissue including heart valves, veins, tendons, bone, ligaments, skin and parts of the eye;
According to the Australian Government (2021), right now there are around 1600 Australians waitlisted for a life-changing organ transplant.
To find out more, visit https://www.donatelife.gov.au/
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
‘Research shows that 90% of Australians feel stressed – with 74% of people reporting being stressed from work.’ – Lifeline (2021).
What is stress?
According to helpguide.org (2021), stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. The stress response is your body’s way of protecting you.
What are the chronic effects of stress?
According to lifeline (2021), feeling stressed is perfectly normal for a short period of time and is actually a good thing which helps motivate you to focus on work, or meet deadlines. However, other times it can be overwhelming making it difficult to concentrate on anything. Chronic stress is detrimental to your health and may lead to the following:
- Depression & anxiety;
- Pain;
- Sleep problems;
- Autoimmune disease;
- Digestive problems;
- Skin conditions, such as eczema;
- Heart disease;
- Weight problems;
- Reproductive issues;
- Thinking and memory problems;
- Exhaustion;
- Headaches and dizziness;
- Acne;
- Frequent sickness;
- Decreased energy;
Stress at work:
Helpguide.org (2021) explains that while some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and performance, impact your physical and emotional health and affect your relationships and home life.
How do we know when the stress we are experiencing is too much?
Stress threshold differs form person to person. When you are experiencing multiple of the list above, you should be shifting your focus to look after yourself to help you destress.
How can you destress at work?
- Talk about your feelings with friends and family, otherwise with a professional;
- Maintain a positive outlook which will make a difference in your ability to handle stress;
- Practice mindfulness at work, even for 5 minutes (WHS Vic love the app ‘Insight Timer’;
- Read a book or magazine for a few minutes;
- Walk around the block;
- Make yourself a cup of tea;
- Focus on slower, deeper breaths;
- Doodle for a few minutes;
- Try to incorporate a fitness class before or after work;
- Listen to music;
- Book a massage or spa treatment;
(Source: thisiscalmer.com, 2021).
Stress Down Day chalenges you to set a task for yourself for 30 minutes, recognising the importance of taking some time out to relax your mind and body and give yourself a break. Ideas may include:
- 30 minutes of yoga;
- A walk around the block or along the beach;
- Swim;
- Ride;
- Dance
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Workplace Education
According to birthtrauma.org.au (2021), for some birth can be a mixed experience or even very negative, resulting in physical and/or psychological injuries (trauma) with lasting negative impacts on their lives. Help is available for women and their partners who are struggling with ongoing problems related to the birthing experience.
Birth trauma can be physical or psychological (deeply upsetting and distressing) or a combination of both. Both mother and the father/partner can be affected by birth trauma.
How do affected parents get help?
Talk about your feelings.
Birth Trauma (2021) suggests initially talking about your feelings to your partner, friends, family, mother’s group, a mento, facebook support group or any close networks you feel comfortable with.
If you need health professional support, the sooner you do so the sooner you can start your recovery and find coping tools for both at home and at work. Chat to your obstetrician or GP if you need to speak with somebody and they may then refer you onto an expert in the field.
Retrieve information that may help you understand what has happened. If you are feeling confused about your experience in hospital, it may help to obtain details of what actually happened. This may provide insight into what interventions were used and why. Whilst this may be painful to relive, you may feel a sense of relief or closure. You could do this by discussing your notes with your midwife or obstetrician – Birth Trauma (2021).
Find time for you.
Take it day by day and be gentle to yourself. Try a gentle walk, reading a book, meditating or listen to a helpful podcast (such as Beyond the Bump, The Parenthood or any others you enjoy).
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
Get your eye’s tested this julEYE. 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable if detected early enough, yet every 65 minutes an Australian loses part or all their vision.
julEYE is The Eye Foundation’s eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year. julEYE has three core aims:
- To raise community awareness of eye health issues;
- To raise funding for research projects into the causes and cures of vision impairment and blindness;
- To support international development projects whose goals are aligned with those of The Foundation:
(Source: Your Health Link, 2021).
How often should you get your eyes checked?
According to Better Health (2021) dependent on age, ophthalmologists generally recommend getting your eyes tested every 2 years and should be an essential part of your healthcare routine. You may need to get your eyes tested more regularly if you have a health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, history of a stroke, neurological conditions or if you have been diagnosed with an eye condition.
How do I protect my eyes in the workplace setting?
According to AOA (2021), the type of safety eye protection you should wear depends on the hazards in your workplace:
- If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection;
- If you are working with chemicals, you must wear goggles;
- If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers or fibre optics), you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets designed for the task.
In addition, employers need to take steps to make the work environment as safe as possible. This includes:
- Conducting an eye hazard assessment of the workplace;
- Removing or reducing eye hazards where possible;
- Providing appropriate safety eyewear and requiring employees to wear it;
Four things you can do to protect your eyes from injury:
- Know the eye safety dangers at your work;
- Eliminate hazards before starting work by using machine guards, work screens or other engineering controls;
- Use proper eye protection;
- Keep your safety eyewear in good condition and have it replaced if it becomes damaged;
by Grace | Jun 28, 2021 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education
“1.9M Australians are drinking more than 6 standard drinks per day” – Dry July, 2021.
Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer. This is the perfect opportunity to sign up your workplace team and quit the drink for a month to raise funds for a worthy cause!
Where do the raised funds go towards?
The funds raised through Dry July will provide invaluable services to cancer patients, their families and carers – whether it’s a lift to a life-saving appointment, guidance from a specialist nurse, connection to an informative voice, access to therapy programs or a bed close to treatment. (Dry July, 2021).
What are the risks of too much drinking?
Short term risks: reduced concentration, poor sleep quality, blackouts, intense moods (aggression, elation, depression), slower reflexes.
Long term risks: Irreversible liver, brain or nervous system damage, heart disease, high blood pressure, increased chance of a number of cancers, alcohol-related disease, illness and injuries.
How much alcohol is too much?
Men and women should have no more than 2 standard drinks per day (Dry July, 2021).
What are the benefits of Dry July?
According to Dry July (2021):
- Improved sleep quality;
- Increase in wakefulness;
- Enhanced work performance;
- Improved concentration;
- Lose weight;
- Decrease cholesterol;
- Lower blood glucose;
- Decrease in liver fat;
- Save money – the average household spends $34.20 on alcohol per week;
- Improve mental health – alcohol can trigger or worsen existing symptoms of anxiety;
- Cut calories – you can cut out an average of 433 calories (men) or 300 calories (women) per day;
- Healthier skin – alcohol causes dehydration, so abstaining will leave you with hydrated, healthier-looking skin;
What if I have a special event on in July?
A Golden Ticket gives a Dry July participant a night off their challenge. For a minimum cost of $25, their night off will still make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.
Sign up with your workplace and promote health and wellness, team connection and support people affected by cancer – https://www.dryjuly.com/2021/sign-up-workplace-team