Southern Anaesthetists celebrating National Anaesthesia Day

Southern Anaesthetists celebrating National Anaesthesia Day with interactive displays

Visitors to Dunedin Hospital will be able to have a go at “ventilating a patient” using an intubation practice dummy for National Anaesthesia day tomorrow (Tuesday 16 October).

An interactive display will be set up in Dunedin Hospital foyer from 10am to 3pm and anaesthetic staff will be on hand spread to the word about this year’s theme, "Anaesthesia isn't sleep. It's so much deeper."

Southern DHB Consultant Anaesthetist, Dr Andrew Smith has organised the celebrations this year and says, “National Anaesthesia Day is a great way to get the message across about this year’s theme, and also to let the public know what we do.

“Being under general anaesthesia is very different from sleeping. For example, no matter how soundly you sleep, if someone tried to take your appendix out, you’d know about it! With general anaesthesia, you’re actually in a carefully monitored state of unconsciousness that is adjusted according to your needs.

“The development of many impressive modern surgical techniques would not be possible without the matching advances in Anaesthesia care.”

As well as the equipment on display and information in the foyer on Thursday, there’s also lots of posters around the hospital about “Anaesthesia isn’t sleep, it’s so much deeper” and “Who is your anaesthetist?”

National Anaesthesia Day is organised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The day marks the anniversary of the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia in the United States in 1846.

More information can be found about National Anaesthesia Day here

ENDS

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