Health & Safety Monthly Tip
By Norm Spalding ASM
Dear friends and fellow “golf tragics”, following on from our recent emergency care training conducted for staff members, my aim is to increase the safety and welfare of my golf family here at North Ryde. In line with this aim a monthly tip will be included in your golf news.
January Tip
TIME IS CRITICAL! (Time is Muscle)
Thousands of Australians each year succumb to heart disease not uncommonly playing sport including golf. The risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is very real and ever present. Here at North Ryde Golf Club, we have had our share of cardiac emergencies. To enhance our safety, the club has as mentioned, upgraded the training of many staff members to respond to incidents. We currently have two defibrillators, one in the Proshop and one behind the main bar. Other strategies will be introduced in the near future.
The training and defibrillators are only beneficial if members heed the ‘Call to Arms’. No incident is too small – if in doubt, call for assistance – PLEASE!
By way of example, there have been several incidents where people have notified the proshop of sudden illness including chest pains. Thankfully on two occasions that I know of, Alex has insisted and called an Ambulance. The feedback I received from Paramedics was that these people had major episodes in the Ambulance and only survived because the Ambulance was called, Alex the lifesaver!!
When Paramedics arrive at the club and determine the situation is heart related, they have the technology to diagnose a heart attack and transmit the ECG to the Royal North Shore Hospital. This allows the hospital to be fully ready and prepared as in some cases the patient goes direct into a Cardiac Catheter lab for an urgent stent saving the heart muscle and patient.
Time is critical which is why we say TIME IS MUSCLE.
Don’t delay and do seek assistance and quickly – we want you to enjoy all the benefits of our excellent health care system!