19 January, 2026
Back to School, Back to Work:
Simple Health Tips to Keep Families Safe in 2026
As the new school year and work routines kick into full swing, families across South Africa are returning to busy schedules, packed roads, shared spaces and increased exposure to everyday health risks. While this season brings excitement and renewed focus, it also presents opportunities to reinforce healthy habits and safety awareness — both at home and on the move.
A few simple precautions can go a long way in protecting children, employees and the broader community.
Healthy Habits Start at Home and School
Returning to classrooms means children are once again sharing close spaces, stationery, sports equipment and transport. This can increase the spread of common illnesses such as flu, colds and stomach bugs.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to:
-
Promote regular handwashing with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the bathroom.
-
Pack nutritious lunches and water bottles to support energy levels and immunity.
-
Ensure children get enough sleep, helping their bodies stay resilient and focused.
-
Teach respiratory hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes.
-
Keep sick children at home to prevent outbreaks and allow proper recovery.
For younger learners, small routines make a big difference. Labelled water bottles, hand sanitiser in school bags, and gentle reminders about hygiene can help build lifelong healthy habits.
Staying Safe on the Roads
The return to school and work also means heavier traffic, earlier mornings and busier pick-up zones. Road safety remains one of the most critical areas of concern.
Key reminders include:
-
Allow extra travel time to reduce speeding and rushing.
-
Always use seatbelts and appropriate child restraints.
-
Stay alert around school zones and pedestrian crossings.
-
Avoid distractions while driving, including mobile phones.
-
Ensure children know basic road safety rules, especially when walking or cycling.
Fatigue, congestion and impatience can quickly lead to accidents. Planning ahead helps protect everyone on the road.
Workplace Wellness Matters Too
Employees returning from holidays may feel pressure to catch up quickly, which can increase stress and fatigue. Employers and staff alike should focus on:
-
Gradual workload adjustment after extended breaks.
-
Regular breaks and hydration throughout the workday.
-
Ergonomic workstation setup to prevent strain injuries.
-
Awareness of emergency procedures and first aid resources.
-
Mental wellbeing support, especially during high-pressure periods.
Healthy employees are more productive, focused and resilient.
How EMPMB Supports Community Health and Safety
At EMPMB, we believe prevention is just as important as emergency response. Our dedicated emergency medical teams operate around the clock, providing rapid response care when it matters most — whether on the road, at school, in the workplace or at home.
Beyond emergency services, EMPMB actively supports communities
through:
-
Medical standby services for schools, events and businesses.
-
First aid training and safety education programmes.
-
Public health awareness campaigns and seasonal safety initiatives.
-
Corporate and institutional emergency preparedness planning.
-
Reliable emergency transport and professional medical care.
Our experienced teams work closely with schools, employers and community organisations to improve readiness, reduce risk and save lives.
A Safer Start for Everyone
The return to school and work is the perfect time to refresh safety habits, update emergency plans and prioritise wellbeing. Small daily actions — from washing hands to driving attentively — create safer environments for everyone.
If your school, business or organisation would like support with medical cover, training or emergency planning, EMPMB is ready to help. Together, we can build healthier, safer communities throughout the year.
Newsroom
Dr Jotika Maharaj Radio Al Ansaar Interview
January 1, 2026
Dr Jo shares essential safety tips for around the home, while travelling, and when you and your family are out and about.
Holiday Health & Safety: EMPMB Urges KZN Travellers to Stay Alert This Festive Season
December 2, 2025
As the year draws to a close and families across KwaZulu-Natal prepare for long-awaited holidays, emergency teams are bracing for the predictable spike in medical emergencies and trauma cases that arrives with the festive season.
Drawing on insights and experiences from frontline clinicians, EMPMB – Specialist Emergency Physician-Led Care – is stepping up its readiness to help communities navigate the most high-risk time of the year. With emergency units typically seeing everything from dehydration and heat-related illness to severe road-traffic injuries, preparation and prevention remain key.
“People tend to relax their guard when the festive mood kicks in, but this is exactly when preventable accidents happen,” says EMPMB’s Dr Steve Feris. “Simple precautions can be lifesaving, whether you’re travelling long distances or celebrating locally.”
Beat the Heat, Stay Sharp on the Road
KZN’s summer heat is unforgiving, especially for travellers. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are common triggers for emergency visits. Drivers are urged to stay hydrated, take regular breaks, and never leave children, older people or pets inside parked vehicles — interior temperatures climb dangerously within minutes.
Individuals with chronic conditions should travel with sufficient medication and stick to their medical routines, even when holiday temptations make it difficult. Delays in managing common conditions like hypertension, asthma or diabetes can quickly escalate into emergencies far from home.
Food Safety Matters — Even at a Roadside Stop
Holiday trips often include quick meals on the go, but not all food stops adhere to strict hygiene standards. Gastrointestinal infections peak during the festive travel period, with some cases requiring intravenous fluids or hospital care. Light snacks and foods less prone to contamination are a safer bet while travelling.
Road Safety Essentials
Before hitting the road, ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, equipped with a warning triangle, a torch, and a stocked first aid kit. Fatigue, speeding, and alcohol remain major contributors to festive-season collisions in KZN.
Seatbelts and age-appropriate car seats are non-negotiable. Avoid using mobile phones while driving, and always remain alert to changing road conditions and other road users.
This Festive Season, EMPMB Is Here to Support KZN
With KwaZulu-Natal’s emergency medical services under pressure — as reported by The Citizen and seen firsthand across the province — having rapid access to experienced emergency physicians is more important than ever.
EMPMB is expanding its capacity across the Midlands and greater KZN region this festive season, ensuring communities have timely access to:
-
Emergency and injury care
-
Specialist physician-led assessment
-
Virtual urgent-care guidance,
-
Coordinated referrals when advanced intervention is needed.
“Our focus is simple: shorten the time to treatment. Whether you’re facing a medical emergency, an injury on holiday, or need urgent advice, EMPMB is ready to respond,” Dr Feris notes.
As thousands take to the roads, EMPMB encourages families to stay cautious, stay prepared, and seek help early if something feels wrong. With a combination of basic safety habits and professional emergency support, many holiday tragedies can be prevented.
Holiday Health & Safety Tips
December 1, 2025
Dr Steve Feris shares his health and safety tips for this holiday season in this interview with Good News Community Radio.
Every November, men across the world grow their moustaches with purpose — to spark conversations, raise awareness, and take action for better men’s health. While the facial hair may draw attention, the real focus is on tackling serious issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and encouraging men to seek medical help early.
🧔 Quick Facts
-
In South Africa, 1 in 16 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
-
The mortality rate from prostate cancer in Southern Africa is 3.5 times the global average.
-
Men account for around 75 % of all suicide deaths, highlighting the urgent need for open conversations and support.
-
Movember isn’t just about growing hair — it’s also about moving for men’s health: walking, cycling, or getting active to symbolise change.
Why It Matters
Too often, men delay seeking help, brushing off warning signs or “toughing it out”. These delays can turn easily treatable conditions into emergencies. From early screening for testicular and prostate cancers to recognising symptoms of depression or anxiety, prevention and early care make all the difference.
How EMPMB Can Help
At EMPMB we’re championing Movember by encouraging men to take charge of their health through accessible, expert-led services:
-
Emergency & Injury Care: 24/7 support for chest pain, stroke, trauma, or any urgent condition.
-
Virtual & On-Site Consultations: Speak to a doctor about concerning symptoms — quickly and confidentially.
-
Health Screening & Preventive Care: Use this month as your reminder to book a prostate or general health check.
-
First Aid & CPR Training: Empower yourself and others — knowing what to do in an emergency saves lives.
Your Movember Challenge
Grow a moustache, get moving, book a check-up, and talk openly about health — yours and your mates’. This Movember, let’s turn awareness into action. Your health is worth the check-up, the conversation—and yes, the moustache.
Movember 2025: Men’s Health in the Spotlight
November 1, 2025
October 18, 2025
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in emergency medicine? Catch Dr Steve Feris in conversation as he talks about EMPMB’s mission to deliver faster, smarter emergency care across KwaZulu-Natal.
EMPMB Live on Radio
EMPMB Fills the Gap Amid KZN EMS Shortages
October 7, 2025
Recent reports from The Citizen have highlighted a growing crisis in KwaZulu-Natal’s emergency medical services (EMS), with staff shortages, outdated systems, and broken ambulances leaving communities vulnerable and lives at risk.
According to The Citizen’s coverage, the Umzinyathi District is among the hardest hit. Residents have reported alarming delays, with some emergency calls going unanswered or responders unable to dispatch vehicles due to limited availability. In one tragic case, a patient lost their life after an ambulance failed to arrive in time.
Dr Imran Keeka, DA spokesperson on health in KZN, was quoted describing the situation as “a service at breaking point,” citing that only about one-third of the provincial ambulance fleet is operational, and many vehicles have clocked over 500,000 kilometres. He also noted shortages of trained personnel, outdated paper-based dispatch systems, and infrastructure in disrepair.
These challenges mean that national response standards—15 minutes in urban areas and 40 minutes in rural zones—are rarely met across the province.
A Growing Need for Specialist-Led Emergency Care
At EMPMB, we recognise the strain on the public emergency system and the impact it has on both patients and healthcare professionals. Founded in 2025, our mission is to strengthen emergency and urgent care capacity across KwaZulu-Natal through a model that is physician-led, technology-enabled, and community-focused.
By combining specialist emergency medicine expertise, on-site and virtual consultations, and rapid access to trauma and injury care, EMPMB offers a private, reliable alternative that complements and supports the broader healthcare system.
Our team operates from Netcare St Anne’s Hospital, KwaZulu-Natal’s only private accredited Level 1 Trauma Centre, and provides services to surrounding communities—including workplace injury management, emergency response support, and first responder training for schools and industry.
A Collaborative Path Forward
The issues raised in The Citizen’s report underscore the urgent need for collaboration between public and private healthcare providers to close critical response gaps. EMPMB is committed to being part of that solution—offering accessible, high-quality emergency care to individuals, families, and organisations across the province.
As Dr Steve Feris, Emergency Medicine Specialist and EMPMB co-founder, explains:
“Timely access to skilled emergency care can mean the difference between life and loss. By combining clinical expertise with system improvement and digital solutions, we’re helping ensure that no patient in KwaZulu-Natal is left waiting for care that should be immediate.”
When every minute counts, EMPMB is ready to respond.
EMPMB and Netcare St Anne’s Join Forces to Enhance Emergency Care
February 19, 2025
Emergency Medicine Practitioners Midlands (EMPMB) has partnered with Netcare St Anne’s Hospital to enhance emergency and trauma care services at KwaZulu-Natal’s only private, accredited Level 1 trauma centre. The collaboration marks a major step forward in delivering round-the-clock, specialist-led care for both medical and injury-related emergencies.
The addition of emergency medicine specialists complements the hospital’s well-established trauma service, providing a seamless, multidisciplinary approach to urgent care — from road accidents and workplace injuries to chest pain, stroke, and acute medical conditions.
“Having both trauma and emergency medicine specialists available at all times is tremendously beneficial,” says Professor Damian Clarke, Director of the Trauma Programme at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital. “Earlier access to specialist treatment allows us to make a real difference in patient outcomes.”
Leading the EMPMB team, Dr Steve Feris, an Emergency Medicine Specialist with over a decade of experience in critical care and toxicology, highlights the importance of timely intervention.
“Emergencies don’t wait. Whether it’s chest pain, stroke, or severe trauma, immediate specialist assessment and treatment can save lives,” says Dr Feris. “This partnership ensures our community receives that level of care — any time, day or night.”
Patients arriving at the emergency department are assessed and prioritised according to the urgency of their condition. For serious or time-sensitive cases, the department provides intensive care–level management supported by multidisciplinary specialists.
The EMPMB team also offers virtual medical consultations, improving access to professional healthcare advice for non-critical cases and reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
As one of only four private Level 1 trauma centres accredited by the Trauma Society of South Africa (TSSA), Netcare St Anne’s Hospital continues to serve as a vital referral hub for critical patients across KwaZulu-Natal.
Sharon Singh, Hospital General Manager, says:
“Our collaboration with EMPMB strengthens the hospital’s capacity to provide immediate, specialist-led emergency care for the Midlands and beyond.”