HEALTH & WELLBEING
Introducing Tina - the
Welcome to the friendliest dental practice in the Hills District . heart and soul behind Round Corner Dental
Experience , efficiency and a gentle hand .
Come and meet Dr . Olivia and her team today .
Cosmetic Dentistry
Family & Children ’ s Dentistry
Mouthguards Teeth Whitening Cosmetic Injectables And more !
Open Monday to Friday
Dr . Olivia Ignatiou
Suite 1 , 524 Old Northern Road DURAL ( 02 ) 9651 1806 www . roundcornerdental . com . au with Dr Olivia Ignatiou Round Corner Dental
With heavy heart we said farewell to Miranda last month , however , rest assured , the baton has been passed into the capable hands of Tina , our new practice manager . Tina is already a familiar face to many , having been part of the Round Corner Dental Team for the past three years . If you haven ’ t yet seen her at reception , she was no doubt behind the scenes helping Dr Rina and I .
Tina brings a world of expertise to Round Corner Dental , with a background and the credentials to match . She has been working in dentistry for over twelve years and has qualifications in dental technology and information technology .
Beyond work , Tina is an unabashed foodie , and has quite an adventurous palate . Nothing is too spicy or too hot for our Tina . She also has a fondness for redecorating – be it at home , or even here at the dental practice ! Have you noticed any new touches she has made ?
At Round Corner Dental we couldn ’ t be happier to welcome Tina as our new practice manager . She is full of fun and laughter and has an unwavering commitment to patient care .
We are confident that in Tina ’ s hands , our practice will continue to provide the highest level of care and service to our valued patients . So , drop in and say Hi to Tina and the Round Corner Dental Team .
Tina Dhankhar , new Practice Manager .
Get ‘ Heat Smart ’ - Eight tips to beat the summer sizzle !
|
The peak body representing councils in Western Sydney , the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils ( WSROC ), is urging Western Sydney residents to plan ahead for extreme heat and heatwaves in the lead up to this year ’ s summer .
“ Heat kills more Australians than floods , fires and storms combined ,” said WSROC President , Councillor Barry Calvert . “ And indications are that this summer may be hotter than most .”
“ Don ’ t kid yourself that being young and fit means you are safe from extreme heat events .
“ Elderly people and very young people are especially at risk from heat stress — however everyone is susceptible to extreme temperatures .
“ It ’ s important to plan for extreme heat and heatwaves — and prepare our homes and those we love for summer weather .
“ For at-risk groups such as the elderly , people with chronic health conditions or very young children , talk to your doctor about what extra precautions you should take .”
Councillor Calvert especially urges residents to follow WSROC ’ s eight-step ‘ Start of Summer Checklist ’:
• Talk to your doctor : Ask your doctor about how heat may affect your risk . Heat can worsen existing health conditions , while some medicines can affect our ability to cope with heat .
• Check cooling works : This includes fridges , fans and air-conditioners .
|
|
|
|
Don ’ t wait until the middle of summer . Getting your air-conditioner serviced at the start of summer will ensure it is working efficiently when you need it most .
• Shade windows and walls : One of the most effective ways to prevent the home heating up is shading walls from the hot sun . For those who rent , this can be as simple as hanging shade cloth . Internal window coverings like curtains also make a big difference .
• Plan your cool spots : Decide whether you will stay home or go to a cool place such as a library , shopping centre , or friend ’ s home during a heat event . If travelling , consider how you will get there and back safely .
• Plan for others : Think about how you will assist those that require support to stay safe . This could include children , family or pets .
• Talk to others : Know who you can call if help is needed . The start of summer is a great time to get to know your neighbours , check their plans for the holiday period .
• Prepare a blackout kit : Power outages are common during heatwaves and can affect key services like public transport , water and phone services . Your kit could include a torch and batteries , first aid kit and mobile power pack .
• Prepare cool packs and water : It ’ s always handy to keep cool packs in the fridge or freezer for a hot day .
“ From seeking medical advice , to preparing the home , or making plans with friends , family and neighbours we all have a role to play in getting prepared for heatwaves ,” said Councillor Calvert .
“ WSROC has been working with local health districts and councils across Greater Western Sydney to people prepare for heatwave events , including developing a range of easy-to-read ‘ Heat Smart ’ brochures and engaging videos in English and nine other languages to step households through heatwave planning .”
To download a brochure , go to https :// wsroc . com . au / heat-smart-western-sydneycommunity Why Western Sydney ? Western Sydney is particularly exposed to extreme heat due to local geography and weather patterns , including the prevalence of hot westerly winds and lack of cooling sea breezes .
The region experiences increasingly warm weather , and it is predicted that the number of hot days ( 30 ° C or higher ) in Western Sydney will increase significantly . Extreme Heat Facts “ Except for disease epidemics , extreme heat events are Australia ’ s worst natural hazard for human deaths ,” said
Councillor Calvert .
“ Between 2001 to 2018 in Australia , at least 473 heat-related deaths were reported to a coroner , of which 354 occurred during heatwave conditions , according to a 2022 study reported in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction .”
“ During severe heatwaves , people in Greater Sydney have experienced as much as a 13 % increase in mortality ( excess deaths ) overall .
“ Older people are at especially high-risk for heat-related deaths and several independent studies reveal that older women are even more impacted by extreme heat .
“ Studies at Western Sydney hospitals found that even fit , healthy people were more likely to present at emergency departments during heatwaves – due to circumstances such as exercising in the heat .
“ More than half of workers who die of heat stress do so during the first week of starting a new job , according to three recent studies of work-related heat illness .
“ Heat is also placing significant strain on household budgets , community services , and essential infrastructure — including energy grids , hospitals and transport networks .”
20 ISSUE 100 // OCTOBER 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT