Eumundi Voice Magazine

Eumundi Voice

3 hours ago

Why give blood? In 2025 donors gave 1,069,721 litres from more than 1.6M individual donations. This included 355,000 litres of whole blood and 715,000 litres of plasma and platelets. Each standard donation session draws about 470ml of blood, which represents 8% of an average adult's total blood volume. And more is always needed.
"My blood type is O negative. Blood banks love me because my blood can be matched with anyone and only 1 in 14 Australians have this blood type. Hospitals often use O negative blood when a patient's blood type is unknown so in a trauma situation, O negative is very much in demand. The downside for me is that I can only receive O negative blood but luckily, that hasn't been an issue, so far,” said Rhonda, a regular donor.
The Australian Red Cross operates the Lifeblood program, with 2 fixed centres at 19 Nambour-Mapleton Rd, Nambour, and Level 1, 144 Horton Pde Maroochydore.
Perhaps closer to home, there are currently 2 mobile units. Tewantin Mobile Unit near Poinciana Ave and Blakesley St (near Tewantin Central). Book appointments online for selected times 24-29 August and 21-25 September at lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre/qld/tewantin-mobile-donor-centre.
The Coolum Beach Mobile Unit is at 7–13 Elizabeth St, Coolum Beach.
Call 13 14 95 to confirm the location and dates for the mobile units – meet the criteria and book an appointment. ... See MoreSee Less

Eumundi Voice

1 day ago

Stop - don't reach for the tweezers! It's the instinctive first move with a tick bite, and it's actually one of the worst things you can do.
The key message is this: don’t squeeze the tick’s body. Squeezing can push more allergen-loaded saliva into the skin, increasing the risk of a severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. People also often worry that they have removed the tick but left the head behind. In most cases, the head itself is not the main concern. It is usually just a tiny piece of debris in the skin, much like a splinter, and the body will generally work it out naturally.
Tick bite first aid is something every Sunshine Coast resident should know – because ticks are part of life here and knowing how to respond safely can prevent a serious reaction.
The 3 main types found locally are the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus), the bush tick and the brown dog tick. Of these, the paralysis tick is the one we need to take most seriously. It can inject a neurotoxin that may cause muscle weakness or paralysis in people and pets, and it has also been linked to mammalian meat allergy, also known as alpha-gal allergy. Most tick bites only cause mild irritation, but some can trigger serious allergic reactions, and in rare cases paralysis can occur, especially in young children and animals.
The current recommendation is to kill the tick where it is, rather than trying to pull it out. For adult ticks, use an ether-containing spray to freeze the tick. Leave it in place and it will usually drop off on its own within a few days. This is definitely on my own “should probably restock the first aid kit” list. If in a remote location, professional help is unavailable and there is no known history of tick anaphylaxis, removal can be attempted with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible without squeezing the body.
After a tick bite, watch closely for signs of an allergic reaction, including swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, dizziness or vomiting. These symptoms need urgent medical attention – call 000 immediately.
To help prevent tick bites, use a repellent containing picaridin or DEET, especially around the ankles, and wear light-coloured protective clothing. Ticks often climb up from the legs to warm, sheltered areas such as the hairline, ears and groin, so stopping them early is key.
Book into one of your local First Aid courses to learn more lifesaving skills. Free printable first aid resources are available at queenofheartstraining.com.au/resources. ... See MoreSee Less

Eumundi Voice

2 days ago

Project Kemabolo – a Eumundi Rotary Club initiative – continues to make steady progress. Since our last report, Rotary members Rocky and Kilagi have returned to the village to begin work on the new secure workshop, storage and accommodation building. The container of building materials sent through the project has finally arrived, and the villagers have enthusiastically joined in, helping to lay foundations, mix concrete and erect the framework for the new facility. Women carried water to the site, while young men hauled bags of sand up the steep hill.
Kilagi is extremely pleased with the progress reporting, “The start of construction has truly galvanised the village. Everyone is excited about the positive changes this project will bring to their lives.”
Meanwhile back in Eumundi, support for the project has continued to grow. Janet Millington facilitated a workshop to assemble birthing kits for Joanne, the village nurse. The workshop generated strong interest, including from a group of about 20 women who helped on the day and have now become “Friends of Kemabolo”. A Facebook page called Friends of Kemabolo www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592316424135 has been created so supporters can follow the progress of this Eumundi Rotary Club project.
The next step is to raise the funds needed to complete the secure workshop and refurbish the Aid Post, giving Joanne and her patients a better facility for birthing, triage and general medical care.
The club will also be seeking sponsorships and donations to help bring the next stage of Project Kemabolo to life. Interest has already been shown by volunteers keen to travel to the village to assist with dentistry, nursing, health education and trade training for high school students. Before this can happen, suitable accommodation, facilities and security must be in place.
If you are interested in supporting this Eumundi Rotary Club project in any way, please contact Greg Ison on 0408 023 094. For updates on our progress visit: FB Friends of Kemabolo. ... See MoreSee Less