She is extremely passionate about what she does and wants to make a difference in the world of health care, especially burn and wound care.<\/p>\n
This is Albemarle resident Dr Ethel Andrews who has made history by being the first non-surgeon to be elected to the position of president of the South African Burn Society.<\/p>
Ethel grew up in Geluksdal and after she left school she didn\u2019t have too many choices regarding what to study.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty much either nursing or teaching and so I chose nursing,\u201d she said.<\/p>
She definitely made the right choice because she was the first nurse to be chosen to serve on international burn platforms and holds the highest position in South Africa in her field as president of the South African Burn Society.<\/p>\n
Ethel holds a PhD in burns, the treatment of which is her passion, but also treats other wounds.<\/p>\n
She specialises in wound care and has two private practices – one in Mulbarton and one at the Brenthurst Hospital in Parktown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWound care is my bread-and-butter profession and I see all types of wounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing in private practice gives me a bit of leeway to be able to go out and do the work I need to for the SA Burn Society,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ethel also works as a visiting lecturer for Wits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I do this is because historically wound care was not taught and people should treat wounds with evidence-based care as a lot of the information out there is outdated,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ethel left nursing in 2004 after her marriage to Enver.<\/p>\n
She said shift work made it extremely difficult for the couple to make a go of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cI then entered the corporate world and worked as a rep for a wound care company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would travel to different hospitals where I would see different standards of wound care and this is where my desire to make a difference started.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone follows best practice; however, wound care is always changing and people should change with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cA standard should also be set at every medical institution so that no matter where you go, you will receive the same high standard of treatment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n The doctor is in<\/a><\/p>\n All you need to know about snake bites<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ethel sits on the research and nursing committees for the International Society for Burn Injuries and has delivered research papers throughout the world on various topics.<\/p>\n As the president of the SA Burn Society she has two wishes – the first is to make the use of hot water bottles illegal, as these cause many burns and the second is to ban the use of silver sulphur diazine (an ointment used on burns) as it is not safe for patients, among other things.<\/p>\n She added that an important thing for people to remember when they are treating burns is to run them under cold water for 20 minutes.<\/p>\n After that they should cover them in cling wrap and get the person to a medical facility as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you do not have water or cling wrap available, transport them as quickly as possible to a hospital,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Ethel will hold the position of president for four years.<\/p>\n A big project of the SA Burn Society is the promotion of the skin and tissue bank which is situated at the University of Pretoria.<\/p>\n A person can donate skin upon his or her death (skin can be harvested within 24 hours of a person\u2019s death) and one person\u2019s skin is able to save the lives of up to 60 burnt children.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a huge need for skin donations as so many children get burnt every month in South Africa,\u201d Ethel said.<\/p>\n To find out more about becoming a donor, visit www.recycleme.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n To do her job effectively Ethel needs to travel to burn units throughout the country to present training.<\/p>\n If you would like assist her to do this, you can visit www.saburnsociety.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n The busy mom of Teneale (13) and Taylan (6) told the GCN that her biggest accomplishment was not getting a PhD or becoming the president of the SA Burn Society, it is in fact her children.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I raise my children to treat people with respect and care, I will be leaving the world a better place,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to be the change you want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n The family has lived in Albemarle for 13 years and Ethel said, \u201cWe have grown roots in Germiston.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are involved in activities in the community and I also teach junior worship at our church St Mary and at the St John Anglican Church in Lambton.<\/p>\n \u201cWe remember where we came from and Sundays will often see us visiting family in Geluksdal.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>, Leigh Hodgson (journalist)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or Puleng Sekabate (journalist) pulengs@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n