Dubbo residents are urged to buy a wristband for the Intensive Care Appeal throughout October because "you might need it".
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Career medical officer (CMO) in intensive care at Dubbo Base Hospital Dr Peter Rigg-Smith said funds from the appeal could buy lifesaving equipment for the hospital and residents never knew when they might find themselves in intensive care.
"We are looking to source funds for another BiPAP Vision ventilator which is used to support breathing without having to put a tube into the patient's lungs," Dr Rigg-Smith said.
"It is a lifesaving machine and it can turn an acute condition from crisis point without the need for invasive procedures."
The base hospital currently has one machine but is calling for another in the ICU and according to Dr Rigg-Smith there have been situations where two machines could have been used at the same time.
"Emergency needs one of the ventilators too because currently we have to share the one machine," Dr Rigg-Smith said.
The Intensive Care Appeal has strong support from a long list of Australian celebrities including film director Baz Luhrmann, cricket stars David Boon and Mark Taylor and swimmer Tammy Van Wisse.
"Any effort that raises awareness for the ICU is positive because it's a facility that often doesn't get a lot of publicity," Dr Rigg-Smith said.
The appeal aims to save an extra 2000 lives per year and bring an appreciation of the vital role played by intensive care units.
"The ICU refers to the sophisticated treatment patients receive and the sophisticated level of training staff have.
"The ICU like other specialised units in the hospital requires extremely skilled nursing personnel, and someone on a ventilator requires one on one care," said Dr Rigg-Smith.
Wristbands are available from ANZ, Coles or Bi-Lo for $2 each and bookmarks for $4 will also help raise funds for intensive care units.