WellSouth helps drivers keep on truckin'

WellSouth nurse Monique Lammers takes a blood sample from Southern Transport driver Jason Nimo at...
WellSouth nurse Monique Lammers takes a blood sample from Southern Transport driver Jason Nimo at the Saddle Hill weigh bridge on Friday. Photos by Gerard O'Brien.
Trucks stopped at the Saddle Hill weigh bridge on Friday  to give drivers health tests.
Trucks stopped at the Saddle Hill weigh bridge on Friday to give drivers health tests.

Truckies were stopped at the Saddle Hill weigh bridge on Friday for a health check and a chat about healthy living.

WellSouth Primary Health Services manager Kaylene Holland said WellSouth staff, with the help of police, offered a free health check to truck drivers.

On the side of the Southern Motorway, truckies had their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked.

The WellSouth staff talked to drivers about the test results and potential risk factors, and gave those needing a full check-up a free voucher to visit a doctor.

''In the first two and a-half hours, 20 truckers were checked and 12 needed a follow-up - two quite urgently; their results were quite high.''

For their trouble, truckies got fruit, healthy snack bars and water.

The checks identified potential health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but also educated people on healthy lifestyle options.

''This is helping those in the transport industry to think about what they need to change, if necessary, to keep themselves well into the future - it's the fence at the top of the cliff.''

Health checks in the South in the past year included checking builders, farmers and people attending the Brass Monkey Rally.

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