Gosford and Wyong hospitals have received $25,000 to buy equipment to treat burns and trauma patients, raised by local emergency services workers.
The money was raised by holding the Triple Zero (000) Cup, an annual event, where Central Coast Local Health District emergency, intensive care and cardiac care staff compete against Fire & Rescue firefighters, paramedics and police in a touch football competition.
Money was also raised thanks to individual weekly donations from emergency services workers and donations from Fire & Rescue Wyong Station and Lake Munmorah Rural Fire Service.
This year, funds have been used to support Gosford and Wyong emergency departments and, for the first time, the Wyong Paediatric Unit.
Wyong Paediatric Unit Nurse Unit Manager Frances Brogan said the money had been used to enhance the treatment provided to young patients receiving treatment for burns.
“Wyong Paediatric Assessment Unit is part of the Joint Outreach Burns Service (JOBS) run by The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Burns Unit – a service providing local burns care for children on the Central Coast and other regional and rural locations, so they can recover closer to home,” she said.
“Some of the money donated has been used to purchase a Smileyscope, a virtual reality headset that patients can wear to help take their minds off pain while having their bandages changed.
“The donated money will also be used to fund specialist burns training for our nurses as well as artwork for the corridor leading to our treatment and procedure room, created by local Aboriginal artist Garry Purchase.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated for their generosity.
“Our emergency services workers serve our community every day and we thank them for giving up their time to raise money to support our patients.”
NSW Fire & Rescue Central Coast Duty Commander Inspector Jarrod King and other emergency services workers recently visited the Wyong Paediatric Unit to see firsthand how the funds were being used to benefit patients.
“It has been wonderful visiting Wyong Hospital to talk to staff about how equipment purchased is benefiting burns and trauma patients and making it easier for hospital staff to provide them with the best possible treatment,” King said.
“Over the past 20 years more than $295,000 has been raised thanks to the Triple Zero Cup.
“It isn’t just a fundraiser but an event that brings our local emergency services workers together for some fun and friendly rivalry.”
The visit coincided with National Burns Awareness Month, held annually to raise awareness about burns injury prevention and burns first aid, with a goal to reduce the incidence of burns injuries.
“The most common causes of injuries to children are accidental spills from hot drinks like tea and coffee, hot liquids from items like saucepans and kettles, and hot food like instant noodles,” he said.
“We also see children who have sustained contact burns after touching a hot stove, cooktop or barbecue.
“The best way to prevent burns from hot food and drink in children is with close adult supervision.”
Simple measures, like ensuring hot drinks and food are out of reach of children, setting household hot water to 50°C, draining hot liquid from food prior to consumption, and ensuring children eat at a table rather than eat in their laps can help reduce the risk of a burn injury.
If a child suffers a burn, immediate and correct first aid can reduce its severity:
Cool the burn: Run cool water over the burn for 20 minutes. This is the only proven effective treatment;
Remove: Take off any clothing or jewellery near the burn if possible;
Don’t use home remedies, do not use ice, creams, gels, toothpaste, butter, or other substances;
Seek medical help – in an emergency, call 000, for non-urgent medical assistance, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 when a registered nurse will help connect you to the right place so your child can receive the care they need.
For more information on burns prevention and first aid, visit the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Kids Health Promotion website or Kidsafe NSW.
so who won the touch footy competition?