April 2022 - Atticus Health

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Posted on April 27, 2022May 12, 2022 by Nathan Onias

Any gas appliance, especially if faulty or used incorrectly, has the potential to leak carbon dioxide. This can cause a health risk, or even death, when used in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas such as inside the home or in a caravan. Gas appliances include gas heaters, wood heaters or fireplaces, and equipment or items powered with a gas or petroleum engine.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are non-specific and can be confused with other more common conditions. This increases the potential that carbon monoxide exposure is not identified by health professionals which may have serious or potentially fatal consequences. Read the full Department of Health advisory: Carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas. It is a combustion product made by burning substances such as petroleum products (eg. gas, oil, kerosene, diesel, petrol), wood and tobacco.
Very high levels of carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness, seizures and death.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are non-specific and can be mistaken for flu-like illness or food poisoning. Symptoms may include headache, nausea and vomiting, skin flushing, muscle pain, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, coordination difficulties, confusion, or chest pain.
Sources of carbon monoxide may include:
- - gas heaters
  - wood fired heaters and decorative gas log fires
  - gas cooking appliances
  - barbeques, heat beads, and patio heaters
  - indoor hot water services
  - portable power generators
  - car exhausts
Any gas appliance can become faulty. Energy Safe Victoria recommends that all gas heaters are serviced and tested at least once every two years by a licensed or registered gasfitter. Refer to the Energy Safe Victoria’s safety alert list for models of open-flued gas heaters that should be checked by a qualified gas fitter immediately.
Medical professionals should be aware of symptoms that could suggest carbon monoxide poisoning and follow the recommendations in this Advisory.

Easter Activities at Atticus Health

Posted on April 27, 2022May 13, 2022 by Nathan Onias

Pictured Above: Dr Karande and Dr Ragunathan with a winner of our Easter colouring-in competition.

A very successful colouring competition and Easter Egg Hunt was held with students from Jindivick Primary School on Friday 8th April. At least 50 students, mums and dads gathered in the garden of the clinic to see what the Easter Bunny had left them with Drs Karande and Ragunathan, Fiona the nurse, our receptionist Helen and clinic manager Toria looking on and helping to find that elusive egg. The clinic staff had a great time as did the students and we are already plotting what Christmas might bring. Thanks to Jindivick Primary for joining us and Michelle for organising the colouring to be completed and dropped to the clinic. Our Hastings clinic hosted an Easter egg guessing contest as well as a colouring competition. Congratulations to Summer who won the jar of chocolates with a winning guess of 76 eggs.

Helen & Fiona share a moment with students from Jindivick Primary

Summer won our Easter egg competition with a guess of 76 eggs

Practical Application of Philosophical Concepts – Part 2

Posted on April 1, 2022April 1, 2022 by James Wagner

And there you have it, last fortnight was the challenge of not becoming too “practical” and veering from ideals, and this week, we’re back on the practicality of life. That’s the in between.

This week – the philosophical ideal is “Unconditional Love”. That we all afford this for each other. The root of this has merit. That it’s not the carrot nor the stick that’s truly effective in relationships. That instead it’s that feeling that as a person, you are “accepted” for what you are. Indeed it was the greatest philosopher of all time, Charlie Brown, who was quoted as saying, “A friend is someone who knows all your faults, but likes you anyway.”

But that’s not easy, after all, the personal development movement will constantly push us all to strive to be “better versions of ourselves”. When we fail along the way – will others reject us? Will we reject ourselves? Feeling that rejection and sense of failure either way is a great weight. And on the contrary, knowing that whether we win, lose or draw, whether our actions are “good or bad”, that we are still accepted. Indeed, that despite all, we are still “loved”. Unconditionally.

My practical application of the above aspiration and ideal is the separation of behaviour from the individual. That we describe someone’s behaviour as needing improvement, yet not cast a generalisation that the person is generally good or bad, nor a success or failure overall as an intrinsic “character” trait. Basically – encourage someone to improve without casting shame. That indeed, the person is still loved since they are separated from the behaviour that needs improvement. Eminent speaker and author Brene’ Brown goes to much extent to describe this in her TED talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C6UELitWkw.

I’m not sure the degree to which this is completely synonymous with “unconditional love”, but it’s certainly along the lines. Fundamentally then, for me, it’s a more positive collective sense that we’re all born intrinsically “good”, magnificent in fact, and yet along the way our thoughts and behaviours can stray and we all may need help to return to that place of magnificence. Yet all the while, we are still unconditionally loved. Just like Snoopy.

Dr Floyd Gomes