You have one life, get tested!

On June 20, Autostrada Eksploatacja is organizing an action of free preventive examinations for drivers. This year it is being held as part of the broad #(S)HeWorks#ICare campaign, taking place on the same day on many European highways. As part of the campaign, highway operators and concessionaires organize meetings between highway operators (patrolmen, maintenance workers) and motorists using the motorway.

Although the campaign You Have One Life, Get Tested! is dedicated mainly to drivers, passengers will also be able to get tested. Last year, more than 150 people benefited from free and anonymous examinations.

We realize that professional drivers spend a significant part of their lives in the car. Being constantly on the road, they don’t have time to take care of their health or are afraid of the results of their examinations. That’s why we decided to organize tests for them where they take a break from work, i.e. at highway parking lots,” says Renata Rychlewska, spokeswoman for Autostrada Eksploatacja.

During the examination, paramedics from Pomogę bo mogę will check, among other things, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. They will also help determine the next steps in case additional tests are necessary.

Each of the drivers tested will also receive a brochure with basic information on healthy lifestyles. There will also be an opportunity to consult the test results on the spot. During the campaign, drivers using alcohol and drug goggles will be able to test how alcohol or drugs slow down our reactions. Thanks to a special device, they will also be able to test their twilight vision.

Being a driver involves the risk of cardiovascular diseases, primarily cardiac ischemia and hypertension, among others. Professional drivers are also exposed to tremendous stress, fatigue and vision disorders,”- enumerates Konrad Pierzchalski, a paramedic from Pomogę bo mogę. “That’s why it’s very important to take care of physical activity and a proper diet in addition to preventive examinations, for which time must be found.

The results of last year’s campaign showed that drivers were willing to take the tests on condition of anonymity. Some of them (foreigners in Poland and Poles abroad) did not have regular access to doctors. Some of those surveyed were unaware of their poor health.
“In the group of drivers surveyed, more than 80 people had definitely worse vision after dark. Only 20 of them were aware of this fact. 8 people were advised by paramedics to contact a doctor immediately,” Renata Rychlewska concluded.

This year, in addition to basic parameter tests, drivers will also be able to learn how to administer pre-medical first aid. At MOP Chociszewo, paramedics will conduct a short course on how to use a defibrillator ( they are located at all MOPs of the
A2 concession freeway Świecko – Konin) and how to professionally convey the most important information to 112 emergency number operators.

According to the data of the study Road Transport in Poland 2021+, there are currently about 550,000 professional drivers working in the Polish market. As the TransJobs.eu report shows, more than 98 percent of them are men. Statistics show that only less than 24% of men in Poland get

examined regularly, 41.5% get examined from time to time, while 14.3% have never taken part in a preventive examination*. These statistics look a little better for women, but they are not satisfactory either.

The action will be conducted: June 20 from: 13:00-20:00 MOP Chociszewo and MOP Rogoziniec.

Its partners are Pomogę bo mogę and the Road Safety Center in Lodz.

*Research on attitudes toward preventive examinations was carried out in December 2021 with a grant from the Union of Employers of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies INFARMA