Former Navy diver reveals the key to surviving a shark attack
Maintain eye contact with the shark, as they are less likely to attack when they know they are being watched.
Resist the urge to punch the shark unless absolutely necessary; pushing them away is generally more effective, avoiding sensitive areas like the Ampullae of Lorenzini under their snout.
If a shark becomes aggressive, target its eyes and gills, though experts note water resistance can weaken a punch.
Shark attacks are extremely rare, often due to mistaken identity, but swimmers can minimise risk by avoiding areas with many fish, and not swimming alone or at dawn or dusk.
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Sorry America, but it's not Australia's fault that your healthcare system is failing you
If I were president of the United States, I would certainly be concerned about the cost and performance of the country's healthcare system. The grim statistics are well known. As of 2022, the US spent $12,555 per person on healthcare, almost twice as much as other wealthy countries, including Australia. That gap alone cancels out about half of the difference in income per person between the US and Australia, according to World Bank estimates. Higher expenditure on healthcare would not be a problem if it delivered a healthier population. But this is not the case. The US has one of the lowest life expectancies of any rich country. And even though more Americans die young, those who survive have worse health than elsewhere. Americans suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma and depression at around twice the (age-adjusted) rate of other rich countries. This gap is too large to be accounted for by specific causes like gun violence or drug overdoses, or even unequal income distribution. The US has worse health outcomes at every point on the income distribution scale than other rich countries, even though those at the upper end have much higher incomes. Sign up: AU Breaking News email And the problem is getting worse. The US saw declining life expectancy in the years after 2014 and, unlike other countries, saw a late, limited recovery from the increased death rate after the onset of the Covid pandemic. There's not much hope for rapid progress in US health outcomes. The destruction of US public health infrastructure through budget cuts, the gutting of key agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and the appointment of notorious anti-vaxxer RFK Jr as secretary of health and human services will only make matters worse. It's unsurprising then that President Donald Trump is looking at the cost side of the equation. As might be expected he has raised, again, the perennial grievances of US health policy. This is the fact that Americans pay far more for prescription medicines than do citizens of other countries where prices are controlled through mechanisms like Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). And, given his grievance-based approach to the world in general, it is no surprise that his latest statement on the topic describes Australia and other countries as 'freeloaders' on the US. The US government is, of course, entirely within its rights to set its own policy regarding the pricing of prescription drugs. The US Department of Veterans Affairs already has a program similar to the PBS, under which it pays about half as much of the typical US price. There is no reason this couldn't be extended to the entire US Medicare system, except that the result would be to close down 1,000 or more private plans, each with their own lobbyists. And with a bit more effort, the US could establish its own version of the PBS, covering all Americans. Quite possibly, faced with lower prices in the US, pharmaceutical companies might demand higher returns from other countries including Australia. But a systematic reform of this kind is beyond the capacity of the Trump administration. Instead we have seen the typical Trumpian claim that other countries are benefiting unfairly from medical research done in the US. This was arguably true in the second half of the 20th century when the US was the undoubted centre of global medical research, most notably through the National Institutes of Health. But funding for the NIH (adjusted for inflation) peaked in 2004, and has suffered from decades of financial stringency. Meanwhile, the US share of genuine innovations, measured by 'new molecular entities' has declined and is no longer notably larger (relative to GDP) than that of leading European innovators. The development of semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) treatments for obesity and diabetes by Danish firm Novo Nordisk is a notable example of a drug of particular importance to the US being developed in Europe. More generally, if Trump wants to import ideas like the PBS into the US system, Australia has plenty to offer. Australia's Medicare system, combining a single-payer universal scheme for standard healthcare with private insurance and fee-for-service medicine as an upper tier, could provide a politically palatable way of delivering the US demand for 'Medicare for all' without destroying the private sector. But of course, this isn't the Trump way. What we will doubtless see, as in the recent tariff negotiations, is a series of bullying demands, resulting in triumphant announcements of magnificent deals, which turn out, on closer inspection, to be largely illusory. The bigger lesson for Australia in all of this is that, as with China, we need to treat the US not as an ally or friend but as a trading partner which will seek to push us around whenever possible. The correct response, again as with China, is to stand our ground until the other side sees the pointlessness of bullying and the mutual benefits of free exchange. John Quiggin is a professor at the University of Queensland's school of economics
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
The five kinds of rest – and why they matter for new mothers
We live in a society that champions individualism, productivity and professional and financial success. At every turn we're encouraged to do it all, which can make us worry that if we're not being productive, what is our purpose? Across two years of research, including interviews with more than 60 perinatal health specialists and hundreds of mothers on the Australian Birth Stories podcast, we learned that most mothers enter postpartum with unrealistic expectations of themselves and their bodies. Some are left feeling purposeless and questioning their worth when the work of caring for a baby doesn't fit with the narrative of a results-driven society. And so it's helpful to flip the narrative and consider rest as the most productive thing you can do after birth. While pregnancy is the most ordinary of experiences, it is also absolutely extraordinary; it's the longest, highest-energy expenditure task the human body performs. After that you deserve rest, you need rest and it's important to remember that your body heals when it's resting. In fact, making a full recovery from childbirth is dependent on rest. When you care for yourself in postpartum, you lay the foundation for your long-term health and wellbeing. When it comes to postpartum, especially if you've got older children, rest is only made possible through intention, preparation and support. There's a lot of privilege associated with the opportunity to rest – access to a support network or the funds to pay for one – but it also requires you to value it and prioritise it. Understanding that there are different ways to rest, even when sleep is not something you can count on, can make that easier. This doesn't mean cancelling all plans but rather considering how you feel in social situations and being aware of the effect people have on you. Social rest is choosing to spend time with people who support your intentions and bolster your energy, who fill your soul and make you feel good. Ultimately, you want your social interactions to be positive and meaningful rather than draining and obligatory. This is particularly pertinent in early postpartum when unwanted guests can become a hindrance, tiring you and your baby by overstaying their welcome, which will make you feel depleted and exhausted at an already overwhelming time. The immediate period after birth is a mentally demanding phase of rapid learning. This focus and subsequent exhaustion is exacerbated by birth recovery, fogginess (often referred to as 'baby brain'), sleep deprivation and learning to breastfeed (if you do so). It's imperative to give your brain space to process what you're learning so the lessons have time to sink in. To create this space be mindful of what else you're consuming, especially advice from social media, as information overload can make it hard to be discerning. If you feel as though there are too many thoughts, ideas and questions in your head, write them down in a dot-point list: it helps you to find clarity and empties your head of distractions. Because you're in a physiologically vulnerable and sensitive state, you want to be gentle with your whole self. Any stress, anxiety or concerns will rattle you more than they usually do. Calming music, warm baths, hot tea, cosy clothes and minimal screen time will help you stay grounded. Think of your postpartum bedroom and house as a cocoon; prepare it while you're pregnant and you'll really benefit from its comfort. You'll also benefit from time alone where no one is touching you. Being 'touched out' is a common experience in early motherhood and is particularly relevant if you have older children who can, understandably, need extra touch and reassurance. This may quickly feel sensorially overwhelming, so prioritising breaks – in the shower or bath, in your bedroom with the door closed – goes a long way to creating the physical space you need to feel settled. Beyond the passive physical rest of sleep, active rest such as lying horizontally as much as possible in the first few weeks after birth is a big step towards recovery. This allows your pelvic floor to heal from pregnancy and birth, which is important for your long-term health. Active rest also involves releasing obvious tension in your body. Moving your hips and legs in a way that feels good – yoga, massage – is recommended in postpartum to improve circulation. Likewise, performing gentle stretches of your upper body, neck and shoulders will release the tension you may experience while learning to breastfeed. If you're breastfeeding, it can be really helpful to feed while lying on your side; this prevents your upper body from getting tense and won't place unnecessary pressure on your pelvic floor and perineum. But if you've had a caesarean birth, lying on your side to feed can be painful for the first few weeks, so you may be more comfortable in a supported seated position. Talking to your partner, birth support person or doula/midwife is important. We often have a lot to unpack after birth and it's common to want to share how you felt in labour, the highs and lows of the experience, and how you feel now. This is really healthy: you're letting go of your thoughts, processing them with empathetic listeners and considering how they make you feel. Emotional rest is the calm you feel when you can share your experience in an honest and authentic way. This is an edited extract from The Complete Guide to Postpartum (Murdoch Books; $39.99)
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie punk rocker almost goes BLIND after contracting meningitis on the first day of his holiday in Greece
A veteran punk rocker almost went blind after he was struck down with a life-threatening illness on the first day of a long-awaited holiday in Greece. Sydney guitarist and singer Dan Batchelor narrowly escaped going blind after he became 'extremely unwell' after contracting meningitis. Meningitis inflames the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by a viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection. Mr Batchelor, who co-founded punk band the Dunhill Blues, contracted the infection just months after he beat cancer and a related auto-immune disease. After making a full recovery, the muso returned to work and started saving up for a trip to Greece to celebrate his wife's birthday in June. But just hours after arriving, Mr Batchelor came down with a severe case of meningitis and had to be rushed to an emergency department in Athens. He flew home to Australia, where he received treatment and returned to work. But weeks later, his vision began to blur and he was rushed to hospital again. Doctors later told Mr Batchelor's wife, Vesna Sulic, that he would have lost his sight completely if they arrived just hours later than they did. One of his eyes suffered permanent damage, as doctors work to prevent total vision impairment as a result of the rare meningitis complication. Ms Sulic said it was 'freaky as hell' watching her husband's eyeballs be injected. 'He is still getting injections every second day,' she wrote on a GoFundMe. 'He is very brave and still has his sense of humour throughout the procedure. 'He is hopeful they can stop the spread of the infection. He is very thankful for all your love and support.' Friends and family have called on the rock and roll community for help. They said Mr Batchelor has exhausted his leave at work and has burnt through his savings paying for medical bills, rent, and other living expenses. 'While this gives Dan time to work on his new blues guitarist name, and rest and recover, of course, the reality is this the latest medical episode has emptied Dan and Ves's emergency fund,' friends wrote on the fundraiser. 'If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting Dan and Ves, or seeing Dan play, or listening to his music: dig deep. 'If "deep" means $5 of your hard-earned coin, we would honestly be so grateful.' Their fundraising efforts have raised $7,556 at the time of writing. The Dunhill Blues have been affectionately described as a 'B-grade garage-punk band'. They have released multiple albums since their debut in the early 2000s.
