Health - this is an important issue for travellers.

Be sure you get checked out medically before you set off, and during the journey to be sure you are in the best possible shape for the trip you are doing.

The following is advice before you go, and where to find help if you need it along the way.

Getting ready
ICE your mobile phone
General_health_issues
Medicare_Offices_Nationally
Make a Will (for your own health reasons - called A living Will)
Helpful_sites_to_keep_you_moving
First_Aid_Hints
Assessing_for_life_threatening_injuries
First_Aid_Kits
Your_response_to_an_emergency:

Health: Stay young of mind, and stay healthy, is good advice, but failing that, have a full health check before embarking on a trip like this. Take advice from your Doctor/health professional, and be sure to have prescriptions of the medications you need, plus a letter from your Doctor outlining your health issues, if there are any. If you are going to remote areas, you may need to have sufficient medication for the length of your stay. Local chemists may struggle to supply unusual medications. They might not used in that region, so are perceived as unusual, and may not be available. For a better understanding of the issues, this article about resources and Health in the Kimberly's pdf spells out the problem.

For more information on health and travel go to our Safety page. It is important to eat health meals see our Food Preparation and Recipes pages

Getting ready: How about join a fitness class if you are out of practice with physical activities, to be sure you are at your peak when you leave. Also give consideration to walking on a regular basis during the preparation stage, to help build up your fitness level. Check these or any options with your Doctor or health professional before changing your routine. They know your health history, and can advice you on the best course of action.

So you have passed the health criteria and are going, the first thing to do is is ICE your mobile phone. This means In Case of Emergency and it requires a "Group" set up in your Mobile called ICE. To this "Group" you add the name and contact details of those people you want contacted in an Emergency. Also make a “Contact list” with the names, and contact details, plus the relationships to you. It may be your relatives, friends or health professional/s. Be sure to have all the information required e.g. if it is a Doctor, then be sure to add surgery times, or after hours contact number if appropriate. Keep the list with you at all times if possible, and another copy in the Van. If you fall ill, or are injured, then authorities can easily contact your relatives, friends or medical professional if required. These simple steps will save valuable time if you need help quickly.

For general health issues the following sites may be useful: – in an Emergency always Call: 000 or if your mobile phone is out of range, dial 112.
For resuscitation technique: Click here for the latest CPR Chart there have been changes recently, so be sure to check this out, before you need to use it rather than after it becomes an issue.

The following are Helpful sites to keep you moving:
Health service Map of Australia or for helpful hints on safe travel from the Royal Flying Doctor Service click here

Medicare Offices Nationally click here for a full list of addresses around Australia Centrelink Offices: click here and for more information about Seniors cards click here

St John Organisation – First Aid courses: this is the Parent site for all States of Australia click here.

The following site has courses, but it is in Western Australia, so you may wish to find an office closer to where you live. You can find one by using the Parent Site link above and clicking on the map for your State.

At St John's Ambulance site there is an on-line First Aid Course if you wish to do it that way. You will need to register on-line to complete the course. There are also many different options for First Aid courses and CPR courses.

Hospitals: This is a list of Hospitals, like the following this link which is a Doctors’ reference site Hospitals or Pharmacies .
It may be easier to use the phone directory, White or Yellow pages just click on the following: Local Pages, White pages or Yellow Pages

Emergency Contacts
Always try to call dial 000 first. This will connect you to an operator, if you are within range of your normal GSM mobile phone network.

If your mobile phone is out of range, dial 112. This will connect you directly to emergency services - if you are within the range of another GSM operator.

Dialling 112 will connect you to emergency services even if the phone keypad is locked. 112 cannot be dialled from the fixed phone network, and may not be available for CDMA phones - you should check with your phone provider before you have an emergency, to find out what you can or cannot dial.

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Make a Will:(including a Living Will) Although this sounds morbid, but you may wish to set one up, or change your Will before you leave on the trip. There could be a number of reasons to make an ordinary Will, but also make what is known as a Living Will.

If you are on the move, and happen to fall ill while you are away from your family and friends, it could be a good idea to have the Living Will document with you, and filled in. Also leave a completed copy with someone you trust, and/or at your Solicitor’s for safe keeping. A Living Will sets out your wishes in regard to how your health issues are managed. Anybody can make one, but if you have health issues, it is really good idea to spell out your wishes. While you in your usual surroundings, there may be someone you trust to help make decisions, but away from home you might need to write it all down. Ask for help from your Health Professional, who can advise you on an issues which may be of concern to you.

This article from the ABC should help give you a clearer picture of the problems faced travelling in the Outback it is a must read for anyone contemplating this type of travel, about information supplied by the Royal Flying Doctor Service Health Travel Tips

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First Aid Hints: These first aid hints are meant as a general guide only. It is recommended that you complete a first aid course or at least learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The Ambulance Service offers a variety of classes at various locations throughout Australia. Completing a first aid course means that you not only learn the skills and techniques, but it also gives you a chance to practice them.

What is First Aid: First aid is the initial care for a person in distress. In extreme cases, it could mean the difference between life and death. The aim of first aid is to:
1) preserve life protect the unconscious
2) prevent a casualty’s condition from becoming worse
3) promote the recovery of a casualty.

Emergency Action Plan: In any emergency situation, it is important to initially confirm it is safe to approach a casualty, and assess the casualty’s condition for any life threatening conditions. This is called the emergency action plan. This requires the first aid provider to check each of the following:
1) surveying the scene
2) determining whether the scene is safe
3) phoning for help assessing for life threatening injuries
4) conducting a secondary survey.

Surveying the scene: A scene survey: is an overall evaluation of the situation that is made by a first aid provider, before any action is taken to help a casualty. `It is important to determine what has happened, how many casualties are involved and the nature of their injuries.

Determining whether the scene is safe: After identifying an emergency situation, prior to making direct contact with the casualty, it is important to assess the scene for danger to yourself, bystanders and the casualty. If it is safe to do so, remove the danger. If not, remove the casualty and bystanders away from the danger.

Phoning for help: The third step in the emergency action plan is phoning for help. In any emergency situation involving sudden illness or injury, it is essential that emergency service organisations be contacted as soon as possible. Call triple zero (000) immediately to activate the emergency services.

When a call is made to the Ambulance Service for ambulance assistance, a trained Emergency Medical Dispatcher will ask the caller a number of questions. The questions are likely to include the following:

What is the exact location of the incident/accident?
What is the phone number from which you are calling?
What has happened?
How many people are sick/hurt?
What is the nature of the casualty’s injuries?
Are you with the casualty now?
How old is the casualty?
Is the casualty conscious?
Is the casualty breathing?

Remain calm while answering these questions and ensure that your responses are clear and concise. The Emergency Medical Dispatcher will provide you with first aid instructions and dispatch the paramedics. Do not end the call until you are told to do so by the Emergency Medical Dispatcher.

Assessing for life threatening injuries: The fourth step in the emergency action plan involves the assessment of life threatening conditions. This part of the emergency action plan requires the first aid provider to check the casualty’s:
Response - Determine the casualty’s level of consciousness. Do not shake casualties, particularly if they are children or infants. The talk and touch process of checking for a response should incorporate gentle touching and loud talking.

The acronym COWS is used to remind first aid providers of some simple steps that will help to determine a casualty’s ability to respond. It is designed to prompt the following specific questions and directives:
C-can you hear me?
O-open your eyes.
W-what’s your name?
S-squeeze my hands.

Where there is more than one casualty, always give priority to the unconscious casualty.

Airways Check the casualty’s airway by carefully tilting their head backward and looking in the mouth for foreign bodies such as food, toys, loose dentures or fluid. Dentures should only be removed if loose or if they could possibly cause an airway obstruction. If secure, leave in place as it will help to ensure a good seal if rescue breathing is necessary.

Unless a casualty’s airway is obstructed by water, vomit, blood or other fluid, checking the airway should be conducted while the casualty is on their back. If a casualty’s airway is obstructed by water, vomit, blood or other fluid, place the casualty in the lateral (side) position.

Breathing once the casualty’s airway is open and clear, check if they are breathing. This is done using the look, listen and feel technique:

look - for the rise and fall of the chest
listen - for the movement of air by placing your ear near the casualty’s mouth and nose
feel - for the movement of air from the nose and mouth against your cheek, and place your hand on the casualty’s chest to feel for the rise and fall.
If the casualty is breathing (and if they are not already on their side), place them in the lateral (side) position and maintain neck stability. The first aid provider should recheck the casualty’s airway and breathing regularly then look for other injuries while waiting for the ambulance paramedics to arrive.
For any severe bleeding - identify and immediately control any severe bleeding. This simply requires the casualty to be scanned from head to toe to detect signs of external bleeding. Bleeding is considered severe when it is spurting or cannot be controlled. Such severe bleeding is a life-threatening condition that must be addressed as quickly as possible.

Secondary survey: Once a casualty has been assessed and managed for any conditions that immediately threaten their life, a first aid provider can begin a secondary survey. The process of a secondary survey involves three steps:

questioning the casualty and witnesses to the incident
continuing to check the casualty’s vital signs
conducting a head-to-toe examination.

First Aid Kits: One way of being better prepared for responding to accidents and emergency situations is to keep an appropriate first aid kit on hand. First aid can be performed using whatever equipment is available, but using proper, sterile supplies is recommended wherever possible. A first aid kit should be airtight and contain a variety of dressings and bandages depending upon the environment in which they are to be used.

Ambulance service recommends the following items for a first aid kit in the home:
1 packet of plaster strips
1 roll of non-allergenic tape
2 sterile eye pads
4 triangular bandages
1 conforming gauze bandage (10 cm)
1 conforming gauze bandage (7.5 cm)
1 conforming gauze bandage (5 cm)
1 hospital crepe bandage (10 cm)
1 sterile combine dressing (9 x 10 cm)
1 sterile combine dressing (20 x 20 cm)
1 medium wound dressing (#14)
2 non-adhesive dressings (5 x 7.5 cm)
1 non-adhesive dressing (10 x 7.5 cm)
1 pair stainless steel scissors (sharp/blunt)
2 square gauze swabs
1 pair forceps
1 pack (10) latex gloves
1 resuscitation mask
2 bottles eye irrigation (15 mL)
1 antiseptic cream (50 g)
1 pack wound closure steri-strips
1 stainless steel splinter remover
1 bottle antiseptic solution (30 mL)
5 alcohol swabs
1 first aid hints booklet.

First Aid Hints booklet: from Queensland Ambulance Service

Getting help - In Australia dial ‘000’ for emergency assistance such as ambulance, fire or police services. You can dial ‘000’ from any phone, fixed or mobile.

Alternative ways to call for help '112' is the GSM international standard emergency number, which can only be dialled on digital mobile phones. 112 cannot be dialled from the fixed network or from technology such as CDMA, you should use ‘000’ for these telephones.

Another feature of the 112 system is that it can be dialled from anywhere in the world with GSM coverage and is then automatically translated to that country’s emergency number.

112 can also be dialled in any network coverage area (for example, in Australia, it could be dialled on an Optus mobile that is out of coverage and be connected to the emergency number by Vodafone where there is coverage) and this is even without the presence of a SIM card or having the PIN number for the phone.

People with a hearing or speech impairment can call ambulance, fire or police services by dialling ‘106’ from a phone line connected to a Teletypewriter (TTY) or from a computer with a modem (but not mobile text messaging).

In a workplace there may be an internal number to call in an emergency which should be clearly displayed on or around the telephone.

Freeways and major roads have emergency phones that are marked by blue signs and with an arrow to point you in the direction of the nearest phone. These are linked to control centres, allowing them to pinpoint your position and get help to you quickly.

There are many other methods of calling for help that can be considered when a telephone is not available. These include:
satellite phones, HF/VHF radio, two way radio, e-mail, flags, flares, Personal Locator Beacons (EPIRBS)

If you are attending to a casualty, have a bystander telephone for help. If you are on your own you may have to leave the casualty for a short time to make a call. The specific circumstance surrounding the incident will dictate whether you call for help, or whether you send a bystander.

Medical identification tags: As a form of assistance and notification, people with medical conditions may wear or carry a form of medical identification, usually a bracelet, necklace or a card in their wallet.

These medical-alert devices are imprinted with the person’s identity, the relevant medical condition, allergies, drugs required and specialised medical contact information. Medical conditions that may be shown vary from specific heart diseases, to diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, and serious allergies.

Reassurance -The psychological value of reassurance is as important in first aid as the treatment that you give. Comfort and reassure the casualty, as in some cases all the casualty needs is emotional support and reassurance. A calm approach by the first aider, and keeping the casualty informed of what is happening will also assist in the reassurance process.

Remember that many people who have assisted you in delivering care to an injured or ill casualty may need reassurance themselves. Relatives of the casualty may be concerned that they let the casualty down or that they made a mistake in not getting help earlier; workmates may feel that they contributed little to helping the casualty; onlookers may feel guilty that they provided only a little practical assistance.

Take some time out at the end of the incident to tell people how important their contribution was. Let them know that effectively caring for a casualty is a team effort and that every little job counts. This is especially true if the outcome of the emergency was unsuccessful.

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Your response to an emergency: An emergency of any size can cause unusual stress in people who have been directly and indirectly affected by it. Every person will react differently and a range of responses to an emergency is normal, and to be expected. Emotional responses to disasters can appear immediately or sometimes months later. Understanding what you’re feeling and taking positive steps can help you cope with this disaster.

Some common responses to emergencies and disasters are:

Crying for “no apparent reason”
Difficulty making decisions
Difficulty sleeping
Disbelief, shock, irritability, anger, disorientation, apathy, emotional numbing, sadness and depression
Excessive drinking or drug use
Extreme hunger or lack of appetite
Fear and anxiety about the future
Feeling powerless
Flashbacks
Headaches and stomach problems

If you have strong feelings that won’t go away or if you are troubled for longer than four to six weeks, you may want to seek professional help.

The clean up after an incident: it is important to put some time aside for yourself. Very often first aiders become concerned that they did not do a good enough job, and that they were not effective in their role.

When you think about how you handled the incident, the first thing you should keep in mind is that by stepping forward and doing first aid you have done more for the casualty than anyone else could ever do. As the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others.”

In dealing with this, go and get a cup of tea and talk to a family member, friend or colleague. When you go over how you handled the incident be realistic about your expectations. Time must also be allocated to the clean up of the scene and equipment, and to restock your first aid kit. You should:

Take a break
Talk about the incident with peers
Try to relax as much as possible
Clean up the scene
Clean up any equipment used
Restock your first aid kit:
Replace all items used
Look for any soiled unopened items that will need to be replaced
Complete any documentation
Securely file documentation (this may be important if there is any possibility of an enquiry into the incident e.g. Police, post-mortem etc)

NO RESPONSIBILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE.

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