Breakaway country near Coolgardie, West Australia
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Health and Nutrition
Medical Files: as I travel across Australia, I am forced to use local doctors and services. This can be a problem because a local doctor is behind the eight-ball unless they have access to your recent medical history.
I suggest that you scan and upload your medical files and reports to Internet accessible sites like Photobucket. or Gmail .
By scanning your data into jpeg files and loading them onto a web site, any doctor can access them and proscribe treatment more accuracy. I burn a CD containing all my doctors appointments, reasons for treatment and medications, etc. This is an extra step that covers the remote possibility that the medico you are seeing hasn't Internet access. It gives them a fighting chance to help you.
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NOTE: new UK research has revealed that elderly people have a tendency to suffer from chronic dehydration. My doctor has often told me it was important that I take care to drink sufficient water daily. . . without actually explaining why. A few days after I last saw him, I heard a report on dehydration on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) which explained what my doctor didn't say to me.
It seems that younger people get 'thirsty' signals from their body. They act upon these signals and drink copiously . Older people do not get these signals as clearly and when they do, their desire is satisfied too early. They do not drink enough; and because they 'don't feel thirsty, they become dehydrated without realising it.
It seems that certain medications also increase the need for extra hydration. If the biological signals are not getting through, you can suffer severe complications without being aware of it.
Please discuss this matter with your doctor before heading into the bush; especially if you are on BP (Blood Pressure) and anti-clotting agents while traveling in extremely hot areas such as the outback.
I use a home made brew to maintain hydration in extreme weather. It's easy and fairly flexible in its compositiuon. desert cordial
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* Medical Aid : Some areas of outback Australia can be fairly remote from immediate medical assistance. In most regional centres, there is often a bush nursing post with basic surgical and first-aid equipment and capable staff. Other areas rely heavily on the Flying Doctor for casualty evacuation in extreme circumstances. Remote Stations can assist in emergency circumstances. They have good comms links with the Flying Doctor. I believe they prefer visitors to their areas to be well equipped and independent. Fair enough!
Scripts: For people in need of regular medication, they should discuss a proposed trip well in advance of the departure date with their own doctor. Some medications will require special storage and adequate backup supplies which could include arranging to have stock available at a local source prior to leaving home. Write to the local Australian doctor or to the Hospital in the region you intend to visit if you need special services or storage.
* Water : Most regional centres in Australia have good town water. There are few bugs to worry about away from the cities. Sensible precautions with any natural or dam water supplies are desirable. Running water in the bush is usually OK, as long as there is no mining or similar activities upstream. Nevertheless, standard procedures such as boiling and water treatment tablets are reasonably simple precautions and ensure against common bacteria and bugs.
* Refrigeration : is not readily available for a protracted camp situation unless you have committed to a Solar or Gas solution. The cost can be prohibitive. Small mobile fridge/freezers are becoming more common now. Very good units are available, but care must be exercised in their operation. Draining your vehicle batteries for the sake of a cool drink is risky in my view. Old Style, Coolgardie Coolers work well in a camp situation, but use a fair amount of water during hot periods. Block ice lasts longer than crushed especially if you can keep the melt water drained.
* Food : When preparing for long periods in the bush, you should take into account the lack of fresh produce.
Dehydrated foods require a lot of water to use but offer great value if you are out in the scrub for a long period.
* Dairy products have become a valuable source of nutrition since the UHT process was devised. People can have fresh milk without resorting to the powdered product. Be aware that UHT milk will go off unopened unless you can protect your supply from excessive heat. Check use-by-dates when shopping for the newest product. For this reason, a good supply of powdered milk is a safe bet. I use medium sized, foil-bags which allow fresh product regularly in preference to bulk tins.
* Onions keep well for long periods. * Potato, Garlic and Ginger keep well too. Keep your veggies cool and away from the sun. If you have a pot of fresh parsley growing, it can travel well in a caravan for garnish. * Start a small salad garden in containers with Rocket and similar varieties of fresh greens for longer base-camp periods: just water each day when out in the bush and they will last a long time if you can keep the local critters away (rabbit mesh).
* A small side of smoked, salted bacon will keep in a cool, well aired place for a considerable time: hard to get these days though. Salami sausages too. * Eggs will keep well in a cool tuckerbox. * Pasta and two-minute noodles are a quick feed, Basil Pesto keeps for ages in glass containers without refrigeration and can be used as a spread as well as for flavouring pasta dishes. * Bread mix can be purchased in half-loaf bags ready to add water; you use your camp-oven to ensure you have fresh bread each day. * Packet soups and Cup-O-soups are expensive but very convenient. * Muesli bars with dried fruit and Yogurt icing make good energy bars for trips away from camp: they can be softened by warm UHT milk for a breakfast treat *Canned fish varieties are expensive but the plain-brand of sardine is less that half the price with different flavoured sauces and go well with cracker biscuits.
* Pot sized Tea-bags are handy and can be disposed of in the fire. Lemon flavours are a good anti-congestant prior to sleep. The used bags can also be saved and used, with a small amount of vinegar, to create a tannin rich and cooling solution for skin that is mildly sunburnt.
Severe sunburn should be dealt with as a medical emergency. I'm not talking about a little pink around the gills. That is painful, but fairly common on hot, windy days. Someone who has been exposed for several hours such as, falling asleep in the direct sun or while fishing in a tinny will get fried! A person with large blisters and in extreme pain should be delivered to the nearest nursing station for treatment. Don't wait for the situation to become even more dangerous. Keep these cases well hydrated with plain water and perhaps a small amount of salt in it. Seek proper medical help. Serious sunburn is no joking matter. (Please read. . . link to heatstroke text)
Do use a normal multi-vitamin supplement. Do take a small, additional (non-ultra) amount of Vitamin C. Do flavour your cool drinking water with a plain-brand of simple Raspberry cordial: which has an antibiotic affect on your gut. I always add salt to my desert cordial . . . see link above.
Do wash your hands before eating and don't rub your eyes. If you have itchy eyes, bathe them in a weak salt and water solution with a separate clean cotton swab for each eye: you must always be careful to prevent cross-infection between your eyes. Use water that has been boiled and allowed to cool. Wear sunglasses to minimise glare.
Do bury deeply your body wastes and sprinkle some ash from the fire on them before and after filling the hole. You don't want anyone to redig them.
Do not spray or rub insect repellent directly on your skin: it will block you pores in hot weather and could irritate sensitive skin. Always place it on your clothing, hair,collar and hat rather than on the skin. Do not spray anywhere near your face: place it on your hand and distribute as 'dabs' if you must put it directly on your skin. Always wash your hands and finger tips thoroughly afterwards to prevent getting traces in your eyes.
* Wash-up your cooking gear and plates as soon as you finish using them. No excuses!
Try to avoid activities during the hottest part of the day. Better an early start and a slow siesta during the heat of the midday to reduce the chance of cooking your brain. Use cool wet cloths to keep your skin moist on hot days: drape them over your head and face don't continually wipe with them or you will end up with a heat rash and sore skin: instead bath your head and leave it to dry by evaporation. Use a bowl of water to soak your feet in while you rest in the shade. Another cooling tip is to use a spray bottle to mist yourself which can help keep you cool. Drink plenty of clean water.
In desert conditions during the summer, water is a precious resource. Bush wasps and hornets will sense it at long distances and visit you for their nest building supplies. Don't swipe at them or threaten them in any way. Over many years I have never been hurt by these incredible and interesting critters. Instead, I make them a puddle, a muddy puddle and I am prepared to keep it wet for them each hot day. They will get the water they need there and generally, leave you alone. These creatures are not a swarming variety as you will find amongst European species. Be careful that you are not dealing with European Honey Bees or Wasps. These are swarming species and if they are present and aggressive, you may need to abandon that camp and move elsewhere. Bees will come for any water left exposed around the camp too. It is best practice to kill the bees when there are no controlled or commercial hives in your area. They are wild Bees in desert country and will become a nuicence if allowed to gather water. I have had them swarm to my camp after a few of the workers have reported home. Once the Queen gets the message, a new queen will arrive and bring a swarm with it. So, if you notice them around the camp, kill the first arrivals and they will slow down and probably stop after a while.
Sun Screen: I do not use sun screen much because it blocks the skins pores. This is my choice. I prefer to avoid direct sunlight by covering-up. Skin cancer is a known risk factor for all Australian areas. Keep your skin protected by avoiding sunlight and wear 'sunnies' to protect your eyes from reflected glare. If you are comfortable using 'sun-block', use it. Particularly on the backs of your hands, which is where I tend to use it most.
Flies: These pesky critters are everywhere. The worst place to find them, in my book, is cattle country. Flies love cattle. One good thing about them is their union. Flies all belong to the Australian Bush Fly Union and their work practices demand a normal day-shift. So, they start work around 7:am local time, and generally knock off just before evening. I think they have a demarcation agreement with the Mossie Union so they don't generally work cross shifts. Best bet is: get used to them. Eat breakfast early and your evening meal late.
Mossies: Mosquitoes can carry very dangerous disease. Australia is host to Dengue Fever and Ross River Fever which are transmitted by the common mossie. These buzzing bugs can become mind-alteringly-aggressive and drive you to distraction most times. Consider cutting them off at the pass by using repellent at early dawn and dusk. You can be driven mad by their persistent attack so, don't waste your energy, cover-up and use a good repellent. DEET rules! You can save your daily tub for the evening and wash it off prior to hitting the swag. Coastal areas and wetlands have different infestation values. You will find out in quick time. Coils are good.
Go here for a general list of useful First Aid items and other tips.
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This is not intended to be a complete list of things to do with health and eating. It is just to give you my perspective about some of the issues you should consider when planning a trip.