Latest news with #SengkangGeneralHospital
CNA
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
Behind the wheel too long? How to stay healthy and beat fatigue if you drive all day for work
It doesn't take a road trip overseas to experience driver's fatigue. If you're a private-hire driver, taxi driver or delivery rider, the regular nine-to-five routine is definitely out of the window for you. In fact, platform workers typically work about 59 hours per week, according to a 2022 study on nearly 1,000 workers by the National University of Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies. While there aren't any official statistics on the daily hours, it is not unusual to find, for instance, delivery riders spending 10 to 12 hours on the road. And with about 70,000 platform workers in the ride-hail and delivery service sectors as of 2023, they make up 3 per cent of Singapore's workforce. That could be a lot of tired drivers and riders out there hustling to make ends meet. Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel will know that driver's fatigue is a very real thing. 'Drivers experiencing fatigue may show signs such as frequent yawning and blinking, difficulty keeping their eyes open, and decreased concentration and vigilance,' said Dr Licia Tan, an associate consultant with Sengkang General Hospital's Department of Occupational Medicine. 'Passengers might also notice the driver becoming fidgety, veering off the lane or driving erratically,' she added. When does driver's fatigue set in? How can you combat it and get home safe? Let's put the gear into drive. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR DRIVER'S FATIGUE TO SET IN? One to two hours of continuous driving, according to Dr Tan. 'Driving is a cognitively demanding task that relies on sustained attention, quick reflexes and decision making – all of which would decline when a driver is tired.' Of course, the rate of deterioration depends on many factors, she said, citing 'individual differences in sustained attention, fatigue, sleep sufficiency, psychological state, mental sharpness and environmental conditions'. And on those especially hot days, the brain drain is even more pronounced. 'Intense weather conditions, such as a high environmental temperature, show a positive association with fatigue symptoms and have been linked to poorer decision making and road traffic accidents,' said Dr Tan. Now, not many people drive for 18 hours straight (and you shouldn't). But if you do, know that the prolonged wakefulness that impairs your brain function, is comparable to alcohol intoxication. 'Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent,' said Dr Tan. WHAT KINDS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS TEND TO SAP YOUR ABILITY TO FOCUS? There are two types of fatigue, explained Dr Tan. 'In active fatigue, there is high mental effort required to navigate harsh external conditions such as poor weather, hazardous road conditions and heavy traffic. 'On the other hand,' she continued, 'passive fatigue results when there are prolonged periods where drivers have little to do. This can occur when driving on the expressway on cruise control, for example. Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent. Both will drain you mentally but in different ways. In active fatigue, a high mental effort is required to maintain attention and that will lead to an eventual decline in vigilance, she said. Meanwhile, 'the monotony of driving may uncover underlying sleepiness and drowsiness with consequent negative effects on performance'. WHAT ELSE CAN IMPAIR YOUR REACTION AND FOCUS WHILE DRIVING? You only need to scroll through a couple of road-rage videos online to know that your psychological status such as stress, anxiety and anger, said Dr Tan, can impair your judgement from behind the wheel. Of course, the classic disruptors include alcohol and using the mobile phone. 'Alcohol is certainly a major contributor to road accidents as it reduces alertness, impairs judgement, impacts motor coordination and slows reaction time,' said Dr Tan. 'Distractions such as using the mobile phone increase the risk of accidents by consuming your visual and mental attention.' WHAT IMPACT DOES DRIVING HAVE ON HEALTH IN THE LONG RUN? Despite the high mental load, driving is, after all, a sedentary activity. It 'involves long hours of sitting, irregular meals and breaks, and limited access to physical activity – all of which increase the risks of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity', said Dr Tan. 'There is also strong evidence on the contribution of risk factors such as poor ergonomics and prolonged hours in a seated position with the development of musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain,' she said. Whole-body vibration (WVB), experienced by heavy-vehicle drivers, is another concern, said Dr Tan. Some studies have linked repeated or long-term exposure to such vibrations to negative health effects such as nerve damage, spinal degeneration, loss of balance, and vascular damage in the arms and hands. And that's not even including the job stress and abuse from demanding passengers and customers, said Dr Tan. SO, WHAT CAN DRIVERS DO? Dr Tan has four tips for better health: Maintain a balanced diet and keep to regular meal-times Pack nutritious snacks like fruits and unsalted nuts for when food access is difficult. Drink at least two litres of water daily. Keeping a water bottle filled with cool water in the vehicle will help ensure you are adequately hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration. Take regular breaks Got for a five-to-10-minute break every hour, if possible. For example, you can do it after dropping off a passenger or package. Do body stretches, clock some steps or do some light stretches to improve blood circulation. Driving more than 12 hours increases the risk of fatigue-related errors and long-term cardiovascular harm. WHAT IF YOU CAN'T STOP AND TAKE A BREAK? Try simple seated exercises like neck rolls, shoulder shrugs and upper limb stretches while waiting in traffic, suggested Dr Tan.
Independent Singapore
15-07-2025
- Independent Singapore
Elderly car driver runs over PAB rider and flees scene at Hougang
Photo: SGRV FB SINGAPORE: A hit-and-run accident took place on Sunday evening at the junction of Hougang Avenue 3 and Upper Serangoon Road, involving an elderly car driver and a power-assisted bicycle (PAB) rider. The police have since confirmed that they were alerted to the accident at around 6:40 p.m. on Sunday (Jul 13). The 23-year-old male rider of the PAB was struck while crossing at a safety island near the junction. Dashcam footage shared on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page showed a silver sedan speeding and attempting to make a left turn when it collided with the rider. Footage shows the car mounting the safety island, knocking down the rider, and running over him with both front and rear wheels before continuing forward. The vehicle also struck a road sign displaying 'Upper Serangoon' and finally came to a stop after hitting the traffic lights on the safety island. The car then reversed and sped off. Police later identified the driver as a 70-year-old man, who is currently assisting with the investigation. After being caught under the car, the rider struggled to stand up. After two attempts, he managed to stagger away from the vehicle. A passerby in white quickly came to his aid, helping him rest against a nearby traffic light pole. The injured PAB rider was taken conscious to Sengkang General Hospital for treatment. Investigations are ongoing. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Dogs pulling on leads cause large number of hand and wrist injuries in UK, study shows
Walking your dog may be good for you and your canine companion, but research shows it can also be dangerous. While the health benefits are numerous – encouraging increased activity levels and physical exercise, improving cardiovascular health and weight – researchers found that being pulled on the lead increases the risk of falls and injuries. The research published in BMJ Injury Prevention estimates that there are so many hand and wrist injuries among the walkers of the UK's 13 million pet dogs that it could be costing the NHS in excess of £23m a year. Hand and wrist injuries account for up to 30% of all cases treated in accident and emergency departments and 20% of acute fractures. The British Society for the Surgery of the Hand says hooking fingers under a dog's collar can cause finger fractures, while wrapping the lead around the wrist, hand or fingers can cause serious injury if the dog pulls suddenly. Experts from Raigmore hospital in Inverness and Sengkang general hospital in Singapore reviewed five US studies involving almost 500,000 injuries from dog walking. Of these, more than a fifth were specific fractures or soft tissue injuries to the hand and wrist. Finger and wrist fractures were the most common, accounting for just under 62,000 injuries. And more than two-thirds of injuries were caused by the dog pulling its lead, with the remainder attributed to tripping over the lead or dog and falling, and getting tangled up in the lead. While dog walking is not any riskier than other activities for injuring hands or wrists, the study found that women and older adults were disproportionately affected by dog walking injuries. Almost three-quarters of the injuries were among women and just under a third among those over the age of 65. The authors then modelled the potential costs of treating fractures and casts for broken wrist bones and calculated that treating distal radius fractures caused by dog walking-related injury could cost the NHS in England more than £23m a year alone. The figure does not include the wider economic impact of patients being unable to work and potentially higher care needs, the authors added. 'Preventive measures, including safer leash practices and public safety guidance, should be implemented to reduce injury risk,' the authors said. 'Policies should teach dog owners optimal dog walking practices to minimise injuries and enforce adequate dog training to reduce the risk of dogs injuring the person walking them.' Responding to the findings, Mark Bowditch, the president of the British Orthopaedic Association, said: 'Dog ownership is often promoted and encouraged for the multiple health benefits described. Nevertheless this data demonstrates that injuries may occur during the day-to-day activities of living with dogs. 'Hand, wrist and arm or shoulder injuries are very common and increasing. They can cause considerable functional disruption and interference. Owners needed to be informed and educated about how best to prevent these injuries, he added. 'This may be the breed suitability and exercise needs, simple available training, leash design, usage and handling.' Ryan Trickett, the communications chair of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, said: 'Anecdotally we have known there are some risks to dog walking for many years, and this review enables a better understanding of the burden of this problem. 'Sudden pulls from the lead or the collar can easily cause walkers to fall and fracture their wrist. However, other injuries are also common in this scenario. Twisting injuries to the finger can be particularly damaging as they cause tears in the skin and often underlying finger fractures. These injuries can be troublesome to treat and the finger rarely returns to complete normality.' A spokesperson for the Kennel Club said: 'All owners should recognise how important it is to train their dog to walk on a lead without pulling or straining, to avoid injury for both dogs and people, and as part of making sure their four-legged friend is a good canine citizen.' This would help ensure owners could remain in control of their dog while walking among people, other dogs and distractions, and without pulling. He added: 'Choosing the right collar, lead and equipment from the offset is also important – they need to be comfortable, well-fitted and secure.'
Business Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
A startup, a scale-up and a hospital bag top accolades at maiden Design AI and Tech Awards
[SINGAPORE] Home-grown semiconductor optics startup MetaOptics Technologies, local autonomous cleaning robot firm LionsBot and Sengkang General Hospital clinched top honours at the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards (Daita) on Monday (May 19). Jointly organised by The Business Times (BT) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the competition aims to spur innovators from startups and companies to harness design and technology to develop groundbreaking solutions that tackle real-life business challenges. Daita was launched in October 2024 with multi-asset investment firm Granite Asia as a supporting partner. MetaOptics swept the judges with its advanced colour metalens imaging system that features a single-glass layer alternative to traditional multi-layer curved plastic lenses. Its deputy chief executive officer Aloysius Chua said in his presentation: 'The challenge today with traditional three-dimensional optics is the bulkiness, complexity and high costs.' He explained that metalenses, also known as flat optics or 2D lenses, are single layers of glass made up of millions of circular pillars of varying diameters – each as thin as one-thousandth of a human hair – at the same height.
Malay Mail
17-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Singapore hospitals face longer emergency wait times as Covid-19 cases rise post-holiday
SINGAPORE, May 17 — Several hospitals in Singapore are experiencing longer waiting times at their emergency departments (EDs) this week due to a post-public holiday surge in demand, according to The Straits Times (ST). In response to media queries, Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday that acute hospitals often see higher attendance at their EDs during specific times of the year, with the current rise consistent with the usual post-holiday trend, ST reported. Changi General Hospital (CGH) and Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) confirmed the increase in separate Facebook posts on May 14, attributing it to the post-holiday period. The Ministry assured that triage procedures remain in place to prioritise patients with critical conditions, ensuring urgent cases receive prompt attention. MOH added that inpatient teams have been activated to start treatment for patients awaiting admission at the ED to prevent delays in care. In some cases, patients may be transferred to other hospitals for further treatment. According to ST, hospitals also cited a rise in Covid-19 cases as contributing to the congestion. Between April 27 and May 3, Singapore recorded 14,200 Covid-19 cases, up from 11,100 the previous week. CGH highlighted that some seniors admitted for other medical conditions were later found to be Covid-19 positive. SKH noted that while the increase aligns with typical post-holiday trends, most cases were unrelated to Covid-19. The National University Health System (NUHS), which oversees several hospitals, told ST that the current surge is consistent with past post-holiday periods. It also said there were no unusual patterns of illnesses. To address the high patient load, hospitals are triaging patients based on acuity and priority, with senior emergency physicians reviewing cases to ensure appropriate admissions. NUHS has redeployed and increased its manpower to support ED operations, according to ST. MOH and hospitals have urged the public to visit the ED only for serious or life-threatening emergencies. Patients with mild to moderate symptoms, such as a cough or sore throat, are encouraged to seek care from general practitioners or polyclinics instead. The ministry also noted the availability of the Mobile Inpatient Care at Home (MIC@Home) programme, where teams of medical professionals provide care at patients' homes via teleconsultations and home visits. Medically stable patients may also be transferred to community hospitals or transitional care facilities to alleviate bed shortages, ST reported. In Malaysia on May 1, the government officially revoked the declaration that classified all states and federal territories as infected local areas — a move marking the country's shift away from emergency pandemic measures — more than five years after it was put in place. However, Covid-19 has not been entirely eradicated, data in Malaysia showed a slight uptick in active cases, rising from 8,488 on April 30 to 8,609 by May 3. For comparison, during a similar period last year — May 12 to 18, 2024 — Malaysia recorded 1,230 Covid-19 infections. Experts attributed this year's rise to waning immunity, increased travel, and reduced testing, but say the situation in Malaysia remains under control and is not a cause for alarm.
