HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE

App or map – How to Not Get Lost in the Bush

Jo Cordell-Cooper

HOW do you know where to go in the bush?

Are you using maps, or apps or books or blogs?

I’ve always preferred using paper maps when I’m out hiking.

I grew up using little more than ‘orienting the map’, meaning you line up your map with the terrain and obvious landmarks.

This doesn’t work at all at night or when the fog rolls in.

Also, when you’re in unfamiliar territory with a plethora of tracks, you can think you are on one particular track and instead find you are on a different track close by.

I’ve been interested in testing various apps that are essentially a digital form of a map with pinpoint accuracy as to where you are.

There are advantages and disadvantages of using maps as well as apps.

Assuming you know how to ‘orient your map’, there is a great social connection that comes with chatting with hiking buddies over where you are, how far there is to go or how steep it is going to be.

The disadvantage is that the map might be old and the track has shifted, or the weather might roll in and obscure your landmarks.

Those experienced in using a compass have an additional set of skills to navigate to the desired destination.

Most of us don’t have this level of skill.

Paper maps are best in fair weather or on clearly marked paths.

In comparison, apps precisely pinpoint your location, but if you are in new terrain or on a mountain bike trail, the trail might not be uploaded into the app.

However, you will know where you are, and you will not need to move far to establish whether you are moving in the right direction.

The disadvantage is obvious – mobile phones can go flat, so if you are using apps be sure to carry an additional battery for your device and turn it off when your direction is clear to save energy.

Three apps I regularly use are MapMy Run, Gaia GPS, and Trailforks.

Whenever heading out, it’s a good idea to do a little research on the trail.

Blogs and books are often excellent sources of information, but it’s important to check the date of publication to avoid getting outdated information.

There are plenty of Facebook groups such as Bushwalking Tasmania Social Group that have enthusiastic recreational hikers willing to share their expertise and opinions on every track imaginable in Tasmania.

Just be sure to mention what level of fitness and experience you have when taking advice, as not all hikers have the same opinion on what is hard and what is easy. *Jo Cordell-Cooper owns and operates award-winning Jo CC Holistic PT. To download free hiking fitness resources, go to www.jocc.com.au/ hiking or make contact jo@jocc.com.au.

Jo Cordell-Cooper.

WHEN founder and head of health education Peta Titter

The time is now for women aged over 65

WOMEN aged 65 and over can help put a brake on aging, thanks to a new, free program aimed at providing practical help to this at-risk group.

The Women’s Health and Education Network (WHEN) launched its new Over 65s Project last month, in conjunction with Seniors Week (11 – 17 October).

A not-for-profit organisation founded in Hobart in 2017, WHEN’s mission is to help women of all ages improve their health so they can have the best possible quality of life.

WHEN provides easy-to-access, evidencebased information about women’s health, at all stages of life – including youth, pregnancy, postnatal, pre-menopause and menopause, and over 65.

Based on feedback from focus groups of women aged over 65 all around Tasmania, WHEN’s Over 65s Project aims to help women thrive as they age, giving them the power and confidence to make informed decisions about how they move and use their bodies.

The chances of a woman aged 65 or over being rushed to hospital after a fall are higher than those of any other gender or age group. Additionally, one in three women suffer from incontinence.

But WHEN founder Peta Titter said women can help reduce their risk.

“Hormonal and other physiological changes as we age are inevitable – every woman knows that,” she said.

“But many women don’t know they can manage these changes and can lessen the downsides of aging such as the risk of incontinence and falling.

“The key is information, and that’s where WHEN can help.’’

For more details about the Women’s Health and Education Network and its Over 65 Project, go to www.when.org.au

MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE

Participating community pharmacies are offering the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

FIND A PHARMACY

The Moderna vaccine is available to all Tasmanians aged 12 years and over — including people aged over 60. The vaccine is free and requires two doses, spaced four weeks apart. Getting your vaccination provides you with the best defence against COVID-19.

Book your Moderna vaccination here: www.findapharmacy.com.au Monitoring signs of hearing difficulty

NOISE-INDUCED hearing loss can happen so slowly you might not even notice it.

Here are some of the signs to look, or rather, hear out for: • Struggling to hear family or friends around the table • Ending phone calls early or handing the phone to someone else when it was hard to hear • Mishearing words or needing to ask for repeats • Others complaining about the volume of the TV/phone/radio • Needing to concentrate more with unfamiliar voices • Noticing family/ friends becoming frustrated when repeating themselves • Avoiding noisy places because it is difficult to have a conversation • Struggling to follow conversations in films and TV shows • Feeling tired after talking with others

or in a group • Increased difficulties following someone who isn’t looking at you • Noticing that sounds are less clear than you’d like

Everybody occasionally misses something said in conversation.

And almost everyone, even those with no hearing loss, struggle to understand every bit of a conversation when there’s a lot of background noise.

However, this difficulty is greater for people with hearing loss.

The challenge comes with trying to focus on the person talking while attempting to ignore the noises around them.

The following strategies will help you communicate better with background noise and hear your friends and family more easily:

Make sure you can clearly see the person speaking.

Sun and bright lights behind someone casts shadows over their face, making it harder to see their lip patterns.

Reduce background noise.

If there is competing sound, look for ways to turn this down, turn it off, or move away from it.

Put your back to the noise.

Our ears are designed to favour sounds arriving from in front of us and pay less attention to sounds from behind.

Try to position yourself to be in front of the person you’re speaking to as this will help you to follow the conversation better.

Check for understanding.

When someone shares key information, repeat it back to them.

This way you can confirm with the other if you’ve missed or misheard anything.

If you’re having difficulty understanding someone, ask if they could repeat themselves using different words and perhaps more slowly.

Encourage friends and family to gain your attention before speaking to you

Before someone talks to you, get them into the habit of saying your name first, then let them know to wait until you’re directly facing them, and ask them to speak clearly.

A little helpful direction with others can mean a big difference in hearing what’s being said.

Take ‘listening breaks’

If you feel overwhelmed and tired after continuous listening, especially in noise, take a break from listening and then join back in the conversation.

For more information, phone Hearing Australia on 131 797 or visit www.hearing.com.au.