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North West Air Ambulance
THE
North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) was called out on Sunday 29
October 2006, to an incident on Southport Beach at 13.57.
A man in his 40s had fallen off his motorcross bike and sustained a
suspected fracture to his leg. Because the tide was rapidly coming
in, the NWAA landed on the beach and then quickly air lifted the man
further in land to administer pain relief and assess his injuries.
He was then flown to Southport Hospital.
The North West Air Ambulance is a registered charity, receiving no
mainstream funding yet it costs £1.3 million a year to maintain this
vital life saving service. For the patient, the NWAA is the fastest
emergency service.
Donations can be made by ringing 0800 587 4570.
PSORIASIS IN TEENAGERS
THE teenage
years can be an emotional roller coaster with the pressures of
school, exams, friendships and growing up. And for the 2%1 of the
UK’s population who develop psoriasis this only adds to the stresses
and strains of adolescence. Psoriasis is a relapsing skin condition
where skin cells renew every 2-3 days, compared to normal skin cells
which mature every 21-28 days, resulting in raised itchy red patches
of skin covered with silvery scales.
Being a Teen….
Appearances can be important to teenagers as they begin to express
their individuality, personality and tastes. For some teenagers,
wearing the latest trendy clothes and having the most up to date
hair style can be an important part of fitting in with their
friends. People with psoriasis may feel that they are constantly
being stared at in public and resort to covering up their skin by
wearing long sleeves and trousers. Everyday activities such as going
to school, swimming or trying on new clothes, can become
embarrassing.
Being Confident….
If your teenager has psoriasis it is vital that they understand that
this does not have to prevent them from enjoying their teenage
years. Encourage them to talk openly about their condition.
Be Healthy…
Encourage a healthy balanced diet rich in vitamin B (eg diary
products, green vegetables, fish, wholegrains, beans and peas),
drinking plenty of water to hydrate the skin and getting plenty of
sleep. A good skin care regime should also be followed to wash,
treat and moisturise the skin.
Relax… Stress and anxiety can trigger Psoriasis2 and if not dealt with this
can lead to a vicious cycle of outbreaks and increased anxiety.
Below are some simple tips to help plan ahead and avoid stress:-
* Put together a study timetable which allows a good balance of
study, social and relaxation time
* Try to make doctor or dermatologist appointments around lunch time
or after school to avoid missing lessons
* Talk to the teachers and make sure they are aware of the condition
so that they can offer extra support
* Talk to your child regularly to find out what difficulties they
are facing and work to overcome them together.
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BRITAIN’S DRIVING COSTS ACCELERATE
HIGH fuel
costs and taxes have put pressure on the wallets of UK motorists.
However, other Europeans are not feeling the pinch quite as much and
in many cases spend hundreds of pounds less than their British
neighbours to own and run their cars, according to research.
Prudential Car Insurance found that the average running cost of a
car in the UK was £485 more per year or up to 15% higher than in
Spain, Italy, France and Germany. The annual cost of running a
car in the UK came to £4,997 – £642 more than in Spain, £513 more
than in France, £465 more than in Italy and £320 more than in
Germany. Researchers looked at every aspect of car ownership and
expenditure and found that in almost all areas, British drivers
fared the worst.
It all begins from the moment British motorists leave the dealer’s
forecourt. It can cost up to £2,000 more to buy a car in the UK than
in other European countries and up to £2,000 a year is lost in
depreciation. British drivers are also hit with significantly
higher annual road tax than in some European countries. In Italy,
drivers don’t pay road tax at all and at £175 per year, the average
Brit pays double than that of the Germans and Spanish and around 25%
more than the French. Fuel and annual service costs are also higher
in the UK.
It isn’t all bad news though, as car insurance in the UK costs less
than in many parts of Europe. A motorist in Italy can expect to pay
£558 a year – more than twice that of the UK, where the average
premium costs £250. The French also have a reasonably low rate of
insurance at £340 although, unlike the UK, this includes accidental
breakdown cover. However, the UK is still one of the most
expensive countries in Europe to run a car at 40p per mile with the
average British driver covering almost 12,500 miles in a year.
Prudential Car Insurance’s research also reveals that many British
drivers are unaware of the high cost of motoring in the UK. 56% of
drivers severely underestimate the average £416 per month running
costs, reporting spend to be under £100. This means that Brits are
actually spending more than 4 times what they think on driving. 77%
of drivers did, however, recognise that driving in the UK is more
expensive than in other European countries.
Tiff Needell, motoring correspondent comments:- “Wherever you
live, driving is expensive; but the difference in costs between the
UK and the rest of Europe are considerable. Not only do we pay more
to buy a vehicle, day-to-day running costs are markedly higher than
across France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The research even takes
into account costs for car parking, car washes and tyre
replacements.”
Philip Southgate, Prudential Car Insurance spokesman comments:-
“There are a number of hidden costs incurred when running a car.
You know how much your insurance is every month but that knocked
wing mirror, tyre change or parking charge all add up. We Brits love
our cars and every time we make a journey, we unknowingly add a
little more to the monthly cost: fuel, parking, mileage and even
penalties. Our research aims to make people more aware of the full
cost associated with running a vehicle in the UK.”
Prudential’s 5 point plan to save money on driving costs:-
1. Shop around for car insurance to get the best deal and take
advantage of online discounts.
2. Haggle with dealers to get the best trade-in and new or used car
price and go armed with a car price guide.
3. Save fuel by reducing your speed, cutting down on use of the
air-conditioning, minimising use of your heater and by removing any
unnecessary weight from your vehicle.
4. By carrying out a quick 10-20 minute check-up on your car each
week you would save money that would otherwise be spent on expensive
repairs. Get to know your owners manual and check tyres, lights,
battery and breaks regularly.
5. If you're buying a new car, a smaller one will save you money on
fuel and cost you less in tax as well as causing less pollution.
Cars with the lowest levels of emissions qualify for reduced tax
(Vehicle Excise Duty) and if you live in London you may be exempt
from the congestion charge (worth up to £2,000 a year)
The full version of Prudential Research is available to download
from
www.pru.co.uk..
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