2014-08-28 Christel Smit-Kroner discusses farmers and sun exposure – ABC Riverina

Christel Smit-Kroner who is currently enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine, and completed core units HMF701 & HMF702 in 2013, speaks to Simon about a research project looking at farmers and sun exposure. Christel is heading up round table discussions with farmers to understand their sun protection habits. If you would like to participate please contact Christel below.

Listen to the interview below:

2014-08-28 Christel Smit-Kroner discusses farmers and sun exposure – ABC Riverina

Contact details:
Dr Christel Smit-Kroner
Phone: 0427 405 255

Download SunSmart UV App
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2014-08-20 Promote farm safety culture – Stock and Land

A LECTURER from the National Centre for Farmer Health at Hamilton has told a farm safety conference that safety issues extend beyond the property gate.

Dr Jacqui Cotton spoke on communities as role models for farm safety in a paper titled “Children See, Children Do”.

“From a young age they mimic adults,” Dr Cotton said.

“In the nought to four age-group is where a lot of injuries occur and it’s where most care needs to be taken.”

Dr Cotton said the greatest issue was encouraging a culture of safety throughout the whole farming community.

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2014-08-20 Promote farm safety culture – Stock and Land

2014-08-18 Canada adopts Australian farmer health program in global collaboration to ‘change the way farmers think’ – ABC Rural

A farmer health program developed by the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) in regional Victoria is being rolled out to farmers in Canada.

The Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) program was designed to empower Australian farmers to change concerning health statistics within their own communities.

Its results on home soil sparked interest from the Canadian Government and three delegates visited the centre in Hamilton, Victoria, last year.

The Alberta Government has now funded the centre to train 12 agri-health professionals, who will roll the program out to about 100 farmers in the coming months.

Project manager Jordan Jensen says the plan is to continue expanding into other regions of Canada.

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2014-08-18 Canada adopts Australian farmer health program in global collaboration to ‘change the way farmers think’ – ABC Rural

Suicide and accidental death in Australia’s rural farming communities: a review of the literature

Australia’s farmers constitute a heterogeneous group within the rural population. This literature review incorporates four broad areas: an understanding of farming communities, families and individuals and the contexts in which they live and work; an exploration of the challenges to morbidity and mortality that these communities face; a description of the patterns of suicide and accidental death in farming communities; and an outline of what is missing from the current body of research. Recommendations will be made on how these gaps may be addressed.

Making Connections: The 2014 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration [Monograph]

This is a story of engagement. Engagement with people who live in areas where access to services is difficult; people who live on farms and who have noise induced hearing loss. As they produce food and fibre for domestic and international consumption they also experience other health, wellbeing and safety challenges.

Cholinesterase Research Outreach Project (CROP) – Measuring Cholinesterase Activity of Australian Farmers

Q-fever and Australian farmers: is the health system paying enough attention? A literature review

Q-fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, a Gram-negative bacterium
and Rickettsia-like organism. Transmitted from wild and domestic animals to humans, the most common route is inhalation of contaminated dust; however the oral route can be considered as a second pathway.

2014-08-15 Exploring the ripple effect of rural suicide – ABC Bush Telegraph

It’s often said that country people are a resilient lot. Alison Kennedy has attempted to test this theory in an area that many people find difficult to discuss.

She’s researching the way that rural communities deal with the aftermath of suicide and other sudden deaths.

Along the way she’s interviewed dozens of people who’ve opened up about the effect of suicide on them and their community.

She says participants in the study were motivated by the desire to get things off their chest.

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2014-08-15 Exploring the ripple effect of rural suicide – ABC The Bush Telegraph

Listen to the audio – Exploring the ripple effect of rural suicide

2014-08-13 Life after suicide in farming communities, shaping targeted health policy for the bereaved – ABC Rural News

It’s now widely known that suicide and accidental deaths are far more common in farming communities than in the general population.

There is much research around the cause of such deaths but very little is known about the effect.

Many of the challenges unique to farmers who suicide – isolation, financial pressure, a macho culture of silence – continue to plague those that are left behind.

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2014-08-13  Life after suicide in farming communities, shaping targeted health policy for the bereaved – ABC Rural News

2014-08-07 Mechanised modern farming puts Australian primary producers at greater risk of high blood pressure and abdominal obesity – ABC Rural News

Australian farmers are at greater risk of high blood pressure and have higher rates of obesity than the general population.

That’s according to Deakin University associate professor Dr Paul Lewandowski who is studying farmer health.

He also found that poor physical health has strong links to poor mental health among farmers.

“The hypothesis that we’re working on was that individuals who were suffering from poor mental health would be having other aspects of their life affected.

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 2014-08-07 Mechanised modern farming puts Australian primary producers at greater risk of high blood pressure and abdominal obesity – ABC Rural News

Tinea

Tinea is a highly contagious fungal skin infection that affects the feet (athlete’s foot/tinea pedis), groin (jock itch/tinea cruris), scalp and skin underneath the breasts, fingernails and toenails.

The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments and it can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or indirectly via clothing, towels, linens and floors.

Symptoms

Infection is not usually serious but can be uncomfortable and have the following symptoms: 

• Itching and stinging in the affected area. 
• A red scaly patch that sometimes looks like a ring – this is often called ringworm (tinea corporis), however there is no worm involved. 
• Blistering, cracking, splitting and peeling skin, particularly between the toes.  
• Nails may develop a yellow or white discolouration (onychomycosis).  
• Bald spots can appear on the scalp (tinea capitis).  

Treatment

Treatment with antifungal medicines and good hygiene will help clear the infection.  

• Anti-fungal creams and ointments can be purchased across the counter in a pharmacy, however speak to your pharmacist first. 
• Use creams as directed – it can take weeks or months for the infection to clear and remember to continue the treatment even after the tinea appears to have gone.
• Some infections may not clear or keep coming back – this may require antifungal medication in tablet form from a doctor. 
• Wash your hands after applying treatments.
• Keep the infected area dry and clean. 
• Change your clothing such as socks, stockings and bra each day. 

Prevention

Good hygiene can prevent tinea from recurring, such as drying skin thoroughly, particularly between toes, the groin and under breasts. You should never share bathmats, towels, shoes etc. when you have tinea because it is highly contagious. It will also help to: 

• Wear thongs in public areas to prevent infection from floor surfaces such as wet areas in public showers, gyms and pools. 
• Expose skin to as much air as possible. 
• Wear cotton socks and using antiperspirants to control excessive sweating.  

Find out more about this topic on Better Health Channel.

Fast facts:

• Tinea is a highly contagious fungal skin infection that thrives in warm, moist environments.
• A red patch can appear, and the skin can become uncomfortable and itchy.
• Anti-fungal creams and tablets typically heal the infection.

Farmers footwear

As farmers you spend a majority of your life on your feet so it’s important that we do what we can to look after them.

The best way that you can take care of your feet is to find the most comfortable work boot, that’s appropriate for your terrain and farm work.

You can apply a few general rules for footwear and adapt them to your work requirements.

Qualities to look for in a farm boot:

• Firm heel counter to support your heel and ankle. You should not be able to bend the back of the shoe down.
• Heel pitch: Boot’s should have a minimum of a 10mm heel pitch.
• Lace up with zip side: Lace up ensures a secure fit around ankle, and ability to loosen around forefoot for wider/narrower feet. The zip is purely for convenience. Significant movement of your foot in the boot means you haven’t got enough support.
• Toe cap: For protection of the forefoot, boot’s now have lighter toe cap options that won’t squash toes.
• Padded/cushioned sole: Greatly filters the shock and impact of walking, reducing the strain on your feet and legs.
• Width and depth: Make sure the shoe is wide enough so that your toe’s are not squashed, and likewise with the depth under the toe cap.

Shoe life:
Everyone wears through their shoes at different rates, so it’s important to consider how often you are wearing them, and what conditions you are wearing them in (rain, mud, water, chemicals). Both these factors will determine the life of your shoe. If you find after a period of time your feet are starting to ache and feel very sore at the end of the day it may be time to replace your work boots.

Safety boot suppliers have moved away from an elastic-sided boot to a lace-up boot, in favour of function, comfort, support and general foot health. The traditional elastic-sided boot provides little ankle support, and tends to get sloppy and loosen with time. There are many different brands and styles to choose from so it’s important you find the boot with all the above qualities and durability guarantee.

Socks:
Socks can also increase the comfort and health of your feet. Materials that are breathable are recommended as they help regulate the temperature of the foot better, and can reduce moisture on the skin if you’re prone to sweating. Try and find a good quality sock that is mostly made from wool and cotton (60%-70%) as they will be warmer, more breathable, more cushioned and durable. Try to avoid synthetic fabrics as they will encourage moisture and can leave your shoes feeling damp.

• If you need any further footwear advice or are suffering with foot, ankle, knee, or leg pain then seek advice from a podiatrist.
• You can find your local podiatrist in the yellow pages, or ask your preferred health professional or GP.
• Find a podiatrist.
• For specific brands and where to buy footwear consult your local podiatrist.
• If you have diabetes, have regular checks with your podiatrist and always check your shoes for foreign matter before putting them on.

Things to remember

• Shoes are for protecting the feet.
• A good shoe should feel comfortable straight away.
• If you spend most of your time in your work boots it’s important to replace them once they have worn out (anywhere between 12-24months).

Feet – problems and treatments
Foot and leg pain or injury can be caused by many things, including the pattern in which the feet and legs move during walking and other activities. Corns, calluses, bunions, tinea and papillomas are other foot problems that can be treated, usually with the help of a podiatrist. Correctly fitted shoes are also important.

Find out more about this topic at Better Health Channel

Fast facts:

• There is a strong correlation between ‘sore feet’ and poor footwear.
• As farmers you spend most of your day on your feet, so it’s very important that they are well looked after.
• The best way that can be achieved is through wearing the best work boot possible for you.