Want to know what a Skin Patrol appointment involves - Watch our new videos below
<Skin Patrol Full Body Skin Check from Skin Patrol on Vimeo.
Please note, whilst recommended it is not compulsory that you remove clothing down to your underwear. Our nurse will ask you what you are OK with and suggest options to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
Skin Patrol Full Body Skin Check from Skin Patrol on Vimeo.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the term used for heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases. It is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 34% of all deaths in Australia in 2006. Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian nearly every 10 minutes. Cardiovascular disease is one of Australias largest health problems. Despite improvements over the last few decades, it remains one of the biggest burdens on our economy.
Cardiovascular disease:
Is heart, stroke and blood vessel disease
Kills one Australian nearly every 10 minutes
Affects more than 3.5 million Australians
Prevents 1.4 million people from living a full life because of disability caused by the disease
Affects one in five Australians, and affects two out of three families
claimed the lives of almost 46,000 Australians (34% of all deaths) in 2006 - deaths that are largely preventable.
Statistics from the Heart Foundation 09
Skin Patrol has developed a program that aims to identify and minimise the risk of CVD via the Heart Patrol program. The Heart Patrol program consists of an on site medical consultation consisting of the following tests:
Hospital grade Electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements
Total Cholesterol
Blood sugar
Blood pressure
Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements
On the spot consultation with a general practitioner that has an interest and experience in cardiovascular health
This will be followed by patient reporting and high risk patient follow up for management/care/treatment
The Heart Patrol program to date has been a very powerful tool to engage and encourage employees to monitor and manage their health. Our recent results showed that about 5% of individuals out of group 150 patients required immediate medical attention and further testing to avoid the incidence of cardiac event. These on site discoveries if not made via the Heart Patrol clinic could have proven dire for these patients, as many did not consider going for a heart check up previously, CVD is a silent killer and can strike at anytime.
If you have a family history of heart disease, are overweight, have diabetes, a hitory of high blood pressure or high blood sugar the Heart Check clinic can help you minimise your risks.
As with all of our programs it's a great experience in the convenience and familiarity of your workplace.
Even if you work indoors and have a history of high sun exposure a skin check is advisable every 12 months. In Australia we have the world
highest rate of skin cancer and every year nearly 500,000 Australians are treated for the diseases. If you have a spot thats been worrying you then this is a great opportunity to finally do something about it in the convenience and familiarity of your work place (in a private setting of course!)
High levels of sun exposure when young and any family incidence of the disease also increases your risk profile. Skin cancer is preventable and can be cured quite easily when detected early. You might think that your risk of skin cancer is quite low but you may be surprised.
A workplace skin check is a great way to learn about skin cancer and the condition of your skin. Our friendly team of doctors and technicians give you the opportunity to ask questions and will ensure that its a great experience.
What does a skin check involve?
A Skin Patrol isnt like a normal doctors appointment. Your skin check will be performed by a doctor but you will also meet our great technician
who will help you to better understand your own risks and educate you about what to look for when it comes to skin cancer. A skin check is painless and will take about 15 minutes out of your day. Early detection saves lives and Skin Patrol has help tens of thousands of people just like to gain a better understanding of your skin, how to protect it and how to look for changes in spots, moles and freckles that could potentially be life threatening.
At your Skin Patrol skin check you will:
Complete a brief patient history form that tells us about your sun exposure and any history of skin cancer to help us better gauge your risk
Get a full body examination from our very experienced doctor in a private room
Understand from the doctor and the technician about the condition of your skin and your personal risk factor
May have digital photos taken of any spots we like to have our Dermatologist look at
Be shown what to look for and how to self check
Receive a pack that you can take home with information and sunscreen samples
Our skin checks are simple, painless and we make sure that you are relaxed and have a great experience. We encourage you to come along and learn more about skin cancer and your risks.
Who knows, what you learn may save your life, or that of someone you love. If you have any specific questions about our skin checks or if youve attended a skin check before with Skin Patrol and need to speak with someone call 1800 103 074 during office hours.
Why Self check?
Self checking for skin cancer is the best way to detect the disease early but you need to know how to do it. Keeping an eye on new and changing moles on your body and your family can save lives. Its easy to do, costs nothing and only takes a few minutes every few months.
When to do it
Getting into a regular routine is important and everyone should be able to manage to do a thorough check of their skin every three months. Get your partner to help you, two sets of eyes are better than one!
An ideal time to do it is after a shower.
What you need
Good lighting is essential
A full length mirror and a smaller hand held mirror
A chair or a stool
How to do it
You need to have a good system so that you dont miss any part of your skin
Start with your face, work down the body to your toes and then turn around, dont forget to look at the back half of your body.
In the mirror, thoroughly examine your face and neck and upper torso. Women need also to look under the breasts.
Next move to your arms. Make sure you look at the front, the back and underneath your arm and in your armpit. Then move down to your elbow and forearm and dont forget to look at your hands and under your nails.
Next examine the lower half of your torso including around the genital region
It is often easiest to examine your legs when you are sitting on a chair. Look at as much of your legs including the toenails and soles of the feet.
Finally, examine the back half of your body. This is the bit that many people forget. The easiest way to do it is standing with your back to a full length mirror and use a small handheld mirror to examine the back of your thighs, your buttocks, your back and the back of your neck. Alternatively, use a friend of partner to check these areas for you.
Remember when it comes to skin cancer prevention and early detection are the key. Make sure you always cover up and check your skin at least four times a year!
Take digital images of suspicious spots so you can compare size, shape and colour when you next check. Small changes over time can be difficult to detect without something to compare against. Make sure you refer to our Spots to Watch brochure before starting your skin check so that you refresh your memory on what to look for.
You can download our spots to watch guide here
The possible health hazards of exposure to UVR range from short term effects such as sunburn and eye damage to chronic effects such as skin cancer and melanoma or cataracts.
It is also interesting to note that UVR has also been shown to suppress the immune response in humans and may increase the risk of infection and decrease the effectiveness of the body's defence mechanisms.
It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the Solar UV-Index. The Bureau of Meteorology issues a UV Index forecast every day to help people to avoid overexposure to high levels of UV radiation. In order to flag the time during the day when the levels of UV radiation can damage your skin, the Bureau, The Cancer Council Australia and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, have adopted the UV Alert based on the World Health Organisation's Global Solar UV Index.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the invisible killer that you cannot see and you cannot feel. Heat or high temperatures are not an indication of UV radiation.
A guide to the UV Index (taken from ARPANSA website) :
|
UV-Index Level |
Exposure Category |
Precautions |
|
2 or less |
Low |
You can safely stay outdoors with minimal protection. |
|
3 to 5 |
Moderate |
Wear sun protective clothing, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and seek shady areas. |
|
6 to 7 |
High |
As above. |
|
8 to 10 |
Very High |
As above. |
|
11 or higher |
Extreme |
As above. |
To educate yourself more about the UV index, click on the flowing link;
http://www.bom.gov.au/info/about_uv.shtml
To see what the UV level is in your city or town today click on the following:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/uvindex_national.shtml
Look at every spot on your body and use the widget below. If you see any spots that look suspicious, make an appointment with your doctor immediately. Request copies of our posters for your workplace.
Request a copy of our brochure Skin Spots to watch. click here
Request a copy of our poster Skin cancer: know the skin you're in. click here
