FRIDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2017

EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER, 2017. PHOTOGRAPHS ATTACHED – 1.

L-R SPECIALIST PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SARAH THOMSON, ANTIMICROBIAL PHARMACIST KIRSTEEN HILL AND ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP LEAD FOR TAYSIDE DR BUSI MOOKA, 2 AND 3. EXAMPLES OF ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS WEEK ROCKS

NHS Tayside Rocks! – Raising antibiotic awareness in Tayside

NHS Tayside’s Antimicrobial Management Team (AMT) has teamed up with a ‘rocking’ community project to raise antibiotic awareness in Tayside.

The team is working with @CarnoustieRocks, a community project which involves hiding specially painted rocks in and around the town for others to find. The project aims to promote a fun and healthy activity which the whole family can enjoy.

To support the World Health Organisation’s Antibiotic Awareness Week (13 -19 November) and European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November, members of the AMT and @CarnoustieRocks have created some bright and colourful ‘antibiotic resistant bug’ themed painted rocks.

The special rocks, which also have antibiotic awareness messages painted on them, will be hidden throughout Tayside during Antibiotic Awareness Week. The ‘bugs’ could be hidden anywhere but people should check parks, hospital grounds and areas close to community pharmacies and schools.

If you are lucky enough to find one of the special ‘bugs,’ please take a photograph and share it to the @CarnoustieRocks Facebook, Twitter or Instagram page. Your photos will also be shared on the NHS Tayside Facebook page. @CarnoustieRocks will also post photo clues on the locations of the rocks during the week.

Once you find one, you can keep the rock, or re-hide it in a safe place for someone else to find. Please make sure they are clearly visible so others can join in the fun. People can also paint their own rocks if they feel inspired. Visit @CarnoustieRocks or other rock painting pages for more tips.

Antimicrobial pharmacy technician Sarah Thomson encouraged people to get involved in the campaign.

She said, “We hope as many people as possible take part in searching for our rock bugs to help us raise awareness of appropriate antibiotic use across Tayside. This is a fun way of getting local families involved and helps us spread the antibiotic awareness message.

“Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats facing us today as without effective antibiotics, many infections will become increasingly difficult to treat. Overuse of antibiotics causes bacteria to change and develop resistance, making infections harder to treat.”

There are simple things we can all do to reduce the risk of untreatable infections affecting ourselves, our families and our friends:

Hand washing – Wash our hands regularly with soap and water. Washing hands properly (at least 30 seconds) especially after using the bathroom, before and after preparing food and before eating, is the single best way to prevent the spread of infections and keep your family healthy.

Vaccinations – If the NHS offers you or your family vaccinations, accepting them will reduce the risk of serious infections.

Feeling unwell? Ask for advice to help you feel better – Our bodies are good at fighting off many infections on their own, including coughs, colds and sore throats. Symptoms can be very unpleasant but are often not helped or shortened by antibiotics. Visit your local pharmacy for advice on managing your symptoms while you are feeling unwell.

Prescriptions for antibiotics – If you are prescribed antibiotics, carefully follow the directions given on the label. They will work best if you take them regularly and don’t miss any doses.

Antibiotics can only safely be prescribed by a health professional (e.g. doctor, dentist or nurse) who has examined you.

• Do not try to buy antibiotics without a prescription

• Do not save antibiotics for later use

• Do not use leftover antibiotics from previous treatments

• Do not share antibiotics with other people

Contact your pharmacist, GP or NHS 24 if you need further advice about your illness.

Contact:

Debbie Huband

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740134