Six out of ten people CapRescue assists are men.
During Men’s Health Week, CapRescue is encouraging men across Central Queensland to prioritise their health and wellbeing, whether they’re at work, on the road, on the farm or spending time with family and friends.
Every week, Rescue300 is tasked by Queensland Health to respond to people facing some of the toughest moments of their lives. Many of those patients are men, with incidents ranging from workplace accidents and vehicle crashes to medical emergencies and recreational injuries.
Behind every task is a person, a family and a community affected by what happened.
The May Day long weekend provided a snapshot of the type of incidents crews regularly attend, with three of the four patients assisted by Rescue300 being men.
On Saturday, 2 May, Rescue300 was tasked to Stanage Bay for a man in his 60s experiencing a medical condition before later flying to Blackwater to assist a man in his 20s following a rodeo accident.
The following evening, the crew responded to the Sapphire area, transporting a man in his 30s to Rockhampton Hospital following a quad bike accident.
While the circumstances of each task were different, they reflect the wide range of situations where men can find themselves requiring urgent medical care.
While not every emergency can be prevented, many of the situations CapRescue crews attend serve as a reminder of the importance of looking after both physical health and personal safety.
While Rescue300 provides emergency care when it’s needed most, CapRescue’s WorkReady program focuses on supporting healthier and safer workplaces across the region.
Many workplace hazards don’t result in an immediate emergency but can have lasting impacts on a person’s health over time. Exposure to excessive noise, dust and other airborne contaminants can affect workers long after they leave the job site.
Through services including respirator fit testing and hearing protection fit testing, WorkReady helps businesses ensure workers have the right protection for the environments they work in. Workplace drug and alcohol testing also supports safer and more accountable workplaces for everyone.
CapRescue WorkReady Coordinator Annette Thomson said Men’s Health Week was a timely reminder that health is about more than responding to emergencies.
“Health isn’t just about what happens in an emergency,” Ms Thomson said.
“It’s also about the steps people take every day to protect themselves, whether that’s wearing the right hearing protection, making sure a respirator fits correctly, managing fatigue or checking in on their overall wellbeing.
“Looking after your health now can make a real difference later in life, both at work and at home.”
This Men’s Health Week, CapRescue is encouraging men to take a moment to think about their health, not just for themselves, but for the people who rely on them at home, at work and in the community.
Because staying healthy and safe is something that matters every day, not just when an emergency happens.
To find out more about WorkReady contact Annette on 49229093 – or https://caprescue.org.au/support/workready/