Golfers’ hearing driven to the ‘fore’

GOLFERS who may be losing their hearing from the “sonic boom” of their drives according to Amplifon.

Tests by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital found thin faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound when striking the ball to induce permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals.

Experts have identified at least one golfer who they believe has damaged hearing as a result of using a titanium driver club and doctors are advising golfers to wear earplugs when they tee off.

Some golfers have likened the sound of a titanium driver to a gun being fired.

Enrico Vacca, director at Amplfon, the UKs largest supplier of hearing aids, said:- “The traditional warning cry of ‘fore’ to announce a stray shot won’t be much use if fellow golfers can’t hear it.  We would advise all golfers to go for regular hearing checks and consider what type of clubs they are using and the effect this can have on their hearing.”

If you are a golfer please let us know what you think of this by emailing our newsroom via news24@southportreporter.com.  We would love to hear of anyone who has lost their hearing due to Golf, so please do let us know. 

Diabetes alert – 45 people diagnosed every day in the North West

THE North West, according to new figures from Diabetes UK, has released the shocking statistic to mark its 75th Anniversary.  The report says that the number of people diagnosed with the condition is growing faster than ever.

The majority of people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes which is mostly linked to lifestyle issues such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.  There are currently 295,000 people in the North West with diabetes and it is estimated that 65,000 people have the condition but do not know it.

Julie Byron, Diabetes UK North West Regional Manager, said:- “This week 75 years ago, Diabetes UK was created and although we continue to work tirelessly to improve people’s health, diabetes remains one of the biggest health challenges of our time.  We must protect the health of the nation by taking urgent steps to further raise awareness of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes UK wants the Government to put diabetes at the top of the health agenda in 2009.  People need to be supported to make changes to their lifestyle, such as eating healthily, losing weight if appropriate and being physically active, in order to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  We also need to make sure that anyone diagnosed with the condition has access to the best possible care, information and support in order to reduce their risk of developing the serious complications of the condition.”

Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to long-term complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation.  Short-term complications include hypoglycaemic episodes, known as ‘hypos’, which can lead to unconsciousness and hospitalisation if left untreated, and persistent high blood glucose levels can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which if untreated can be fatal.

2009 is Diabetes UK’s 75th anniversary and the charity wants to use this special year as an opportunity to further raise awareness of diabetes and its complications.  Events to mark this special occasion will be taking place around the country.  Diabetes UK's mission is to improve the lives of people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and work towards a world without diabetes.  This year the charity is committed to spending around £8 million funding a variety of research projects.

Diabetes UK was set up on 10 January 1934 by the novelist HG Wells – Author of The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds - and Dr RD Lawrence, both of whom had diabetes.  The charity’s aim was to ensure that everyone in the UK could gain access to insulin, whatever their financial situation.  This was a ground-breaking initiative prior to the existence of a national health service.  The organisation (previously called the Diabetic Association and then the British Diabetic Association) has always challenged ideas of how people with diabetes should be treated and from the start believed in a partnership working between the people with diabetes and healthcare professionals to support active self-management of the condition.  The organisation actively campaigned for the establishment of the NHS and our underlying principles of proactive control and lobbying continue to this day.  For information, visit www.diabetes.org.uk. 

* Figures based on the findings of a Diabetes UK report, Diabetes in the UK 2008: key statistics, to be published in January 2009.

THE GREAT BRITISH GET-AWAY RECORD ADVANCED HOLIDAY BOOKINGS FOR 2009

A bright future for domestic tourism beckons as 2009 is set to be a bumper year for holidaying in the UK. The Caravan Club reports advanced bookings for 2009 that are up by 40% on 2008. Is Southport well placed this year to cash in on this?  Do we have enough camping sites and attractions to get holiday makers to travel to Southport?  On our door step we do have camping sites like the Riverside Touring & Camping Leisure Centre and also Formby Point Caravan Park, so only time will tell.

2008 was a record year for UK site bookings for The Caravan Club, AND, most importantly, advanced bookings for the 2009 season are up by 40% on the previous year. A massive 50,623 bookings were made in five days alone during December with Club members planning and booking their holidays for 2009.

Nearly 55,000 households joined The Club in 2008 and 1,311 families joined in December alone. The Club represents the interests of one million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters.

For 2009 it looks like the “Great Escape” will become the “Great British staycation” as people rediscover the delights of domestic breaks. The Caravan Club offers a choice of some 3,000 destinations UK-wide and people are making the most of this choice and ensuring their bookings are already made for the 2009 holiday season.

Quarterly travel and tourism figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that the number of visits abroad by UK residents was down by 6% for the three month period between August and October 2008 compared with the previous quarter; and in a recent survey by VisitBritain, the majority said they would consider British holidays.

And the statistics show that although 90% of British people claim to be saving money in this tough economic climate, few plan to cut back on holidays. In light of the decrease in overseas visits, this suggests that Brits are still holidaying, but doing so without leaving the British Isles.

Caravanning is the most popular paid-for holiday option, with a 19% share of the market – second only to staying with friends and family. Although the UK offers many different options for those wishing to holiday here, records show that in the previous 12 months, sales of caravans and camping accessories have reached levels never achieved before. An annual 10% increase in membership applications for The Caravan Club at October’s International Caravan & Motorhome Show 2008 at the NEC is indication that, despite fears of national recession, the UK’s domestic touring and caravanning industry is in great shape.

Nick Lomas, Director of Marketing for The Caravan Club said:- “We confidently predict that 2009 will be the year that welcomes the return of the great British holiday, something Caravan Club members have enjoyed for over a Century.”

So do let us know if you think we should look at getting more campsites on Merseyside via emailing us to news24@southportreporter.com.  Also let us know if you are camping this year, where and in what...

FUNDRAISING MERSEYSIDERS URGED TO GET INTO GEAR IN THE NEW YEAR FOR RNID

RNID is calling on fundraisers from Merseyside to get on their bikes for a London to Paris cycle challenge and raise vital funds for the charity’s research and services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing around the country.

The national charity would like to hear from cyclists who are up for pedalling the 300km between the two capitals on 26 June 2009 to 29 June 2009.

Places in RNID’s team are available to prospective fundraisers on a first come, first served basis by paying a registration fee of £150 and raising a minimum of £1000. People who sign up before 31 January 2009 will receive a 15% discount on their registration fee.  Caroline Jupe, RNID Events & Community Fundraising Manager, says:- “If you’ve looking to lose the excess pounds you’ve accumulated over the festive period, get your fitness in gear in the New Year by signing up for RNID’s London to Paris cycle challenge!”

For more information about the event, contact Caroline Jupe, on telephone / textphone:- 0845 634 0687 (local rate), email or by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/pariscycle.