INDEPENDENT NEWS

Intensive Care Glitters This Winter – 1-14 July

Published: Fri 27 Jun 2003 12:20 AM
Intensive Care Glitters This Winter – Appeal 1-14 July
MEDIA RELEASE
23 June 2003
INTENSIVE CARE GLITTERS THIS WINTER
New Zealanders can add some glitz to their lives this winter and make a worthwhile contribution to Intensive Care research, by wrapping an Intensive Care "Life Supporter" wristband around their arms during the nationwide annual Appeal taking place 1-14 July.
Conventional hospital wristbands have been given a glittering make-over and together with "heartbeat" bookmarks, are available through the 31 Intensive Care Units across New Zealand, branches of the ANZ Bank and retail partners, Unichem and Dispensary First Pharmacies. Donations can also be made at ANZ branches or by calling 0900 707 707.
"They might not be Cartier, but they certainly brighten up winter and make a worthwhile contribution to Intensive Care at the same time," says NZ Appeal Chair, Fran Wilde. "Not only do they look great, they're ideal luggage labels as well!"
The Intensive Care Appeal is run by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Foundation (ANZICF). The New Zealand Appeal Board headed by Fran Wilde includes representatives from Intensive Care, sponsoring partner the ANZ Banking Group (New Zealand) and a former Intensive Care patient and businessman.
Theatrical gown
In a fashionable twist to help promote this year's Appeal, 500 of the glittering wristbands have been used in the creation of an exclusive, "theatrical" gown courtesy of fashion label, Annah S.. The Morrinsville-based designer's flair has inspired a wearable art-type gown that resounds with the Appeal. The two-piece features hospital scrubs fabric, rubber surgical gloves, glittering wristband rosettes and a heart echoing the Appeal's heart-beat logo. The result is a vibrant and eye-catching gown, especially when modeled by Intensive Care Nurse, Sarah Skinner, who discarded her everyday scrubs for the theatrical, designer scrubs.
"It's great to have fashion and charity working together," says Fran Wilde, NZ Appeal Chair. "We wanted to bring a positive and imaginative approach to an appeal that has very serious intent and can affect any one of us."
Scrubs Up!
In another fashionable move, this year's Appeal sees six centres holding street day collections during the fortnight, for the first time. Collectors from ANZ Bank, PMI Mortgage Insurance and Intensive Care Units will be on the streets dressed in disposable hospital scrubs and rattle pails selling the "Life-supporter" wristbands. Nelson (3 July); Whangarei, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Christchurch (Friday 4 July) and central Auckland (Wednesday 9 July) can look forward to a "glittering" occasion, if not a fashion-conscious one!
"Become a Life Supporter" Brochure
Another new aspect of the Appeal is the development of the "Become a Life-supporter" brochure which will be launched on the eve of this year's Appeal. The brochure will be available at all Intensive Care Units nationwide and offers a convenient method for people to donate.
"Intensive care has the potential to touch the lives of all New Zealanders with over 20,000 of us admitted to an ICU each year," says Fran Wilde. "These are lives of people many of whom started their day feeling well and finished the day on life support - whether through a car crash, an accident around the home, or an accelerated infection."
"The dedication, specialized skills and round the clock one-on-one care provided by Intensive Care teams nationwide, goes into saving many lives - 85% of patients survive. But the experts believe they can better this with funds that go towards specific Intensive Care research. Donating to this Appeal is in every New Zealander's interest - you never know when it might be you, or a loved one, who could rely on research findings to save your life."
Research
New Zealand and Australia are already world leaders in establishing a bi-national strategy for Intensive Care which promotes a centrally coordinated approach to research, guidelines, outcomes strategy and shared findings. As recently as fifty years ago there was no concept of intensive care.
Today as many as 85% of intensive care patients survive, saved both by advanced technology and
improved standards of the practice in intensive care medicine made possible by dedicated intensive care research. Professionals believe that the results could be further improved with additional research and practice guidelines and working with existing resources.
The trans-Tasman cooperation aims to raise $10 million towards research programmes targeted in four areas: lung and brain injury, infection and prevention. Working with existing resources, the programme aims to improve survival outcomes. Dedicated funding is required for each specific area of research.
"If intensive care survival could be increased by as little as two percent, hundreds more lives could be saved each year," said Ms Wilde. "This 2% target would save 3,000 lives in NZ and Australia each year - more than the combined road toll of both countries."
Funds raised
All funds raised by the Appeal in New Zealand remain in this country and are allocated to New Zealand Intensive Care participation in research projects. The 2002 New Zealand Appeal raised over $53,000 with some of this already going towards New Zealand's involvement in a bi-national nutritional project to begin in late 2003.
All New Zealanders can be a Life-supporter when the nationwide Intensive Care Appeal runs from Tuesday 1 July to Monday 14 July.
Ends.

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