The Water Storage Reservoirs Environmental Sciences Essay

The Water Storage Reservoirs Environmental Sciences Essay This report primarily focuses on two main reservoirs in Melbourne Sugarloaf and Cardinia Reservoir. It also describes the general problem of distribution of potable water to Melbourne and the measures proposed to overcome this problem. There are ten main reservoirs which distributes water to the Melbourne city and other surrounding areas. These ten reservoirs have a combined capacity of 1,812,175 million litres of water. The sediments in the catchment water stored in the storage reservoirs settle down to the bottom of the reservoir. The impact of natural sunlight will help to disinfect the settled water. Melbournes largest reservoir is the Thomson Reservoir. It contributes to 60% of Melbournes total reservoir storage capacity. Cardinia, Sugarloaf, Yan Yean and Greenvale are the only reservoirs with no catchment. They get water from other sources. Whereas the other reservoirs like Thomson, Upper Yarra, Silvan, Tarago, Maroondah and OShannassy receives water from the catchment areas. All these reservoirs are interconnected like a web link network. In case of any emergencies like bush fire, water from one reservoir can be transferred to another. Thus, protecting and saving the water from debris and other contaminants. Table 1: Water Storage level (Source ) Figure 1: Water storage graph (Source ) The above graph shows the water level of the reservoirs from 2009 to 2012. Compared to the previous years, it can be clearly seen that the water level in 2012 has increased to 70%. During the first half of the year, the water storage level has decreased drastically. On the other hand, the water level storage for the second half of the year has increased as compared to the first half. 1.1 Cardinia Reservoir Cardinia is the second largest reservoir in Melbourne with a total water storage capacity of 286,911 mega litres and is situated in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The construction of the reservoir commenced in May 1970 and completed in 1973 with a cost of more than AUD11.4 million dollars. Cardinia receives water through the pipeline from Silvan Reservoir, which is the fifth largest. It was constructed as rolled earth fill and rock fill embankment. Maximum height of the main dam from the river to crest is 85 metres. Length measured along the top of the dam is 1,542 metres. This includes main bank only. The saddle dams have an additional crest length of 2,841 metres. The Surface area of top water level is 1,295 hectares. The current water holding of this reservoir as of 3rd July 2012 is 219,724 mega litres, which is 76.6% full. Cardinia supplies water to Melbournes southern and south-eastern suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula. 1.2 Sugarloaf Reservoir Sugarloaf Reservoir is the fourth largest of all among the ten, located in northeast of Melbourne. It was completed in 1981 and constructed as rolled rock fill embankment with upstream concrete face. Its total capacity is 96,253 mega litres. Area of the catchment is 915 hectares off stream storage. Maximum height of the main dam from the river to crest is 89 metres. The length measured along the top of the dam is 1,050 metres. This includes main bank only. The saddle dams have an extra length of 690 metres. The Surface area of top water level is 440 hectares. The current water holding of this reservoir is 94,514 mega litres as of 3rd July 2012, which is 98.2% full. The water feeds the northern, western and central suburbs. In February 2010, the North South Pipeline from the Goulburn River was connected to the main reservoir. 2.0 SOURCE OF WATER Cardinia and Sugarloaf reservoir, both has no catchment, but the water is transferred to it by other sources. A catchment is an area that catches the rainfall water and directs to a river, creek, reservoir or gutter. The water catchments are sent to the reservoirs that provide drinking water. There are two types of catchments closed or forested catchment and open catchment. Around 80% of the drinking water comes from the closed water catchments in the Yarra Ranges. About 20% of Melbournes water comes from open catchments. The water from open catchment is pumped to the water treatment system, and the filtered water is distributed to the household. Melbourne has protected water catchments i.e. public are not allowed to enter inside the protected area. The Sugarloaf reservoir receives water from Yering Gorge pumping station which can extract water from the Yarra River, including water released from Maroondah and OShannassy. It also receives water from Goulburn River via North- South pipeline. This is operated only in critical times. Water leaving from Sugarloaf Reservoir is treated and purified at Winneke Treatment Plant. The water will leave from this plant only if it meets the required standard for drinking. The Cardinia Reservoir receives water from the Silvan Reservoir and nearby Wonthaggi Desalination Plant. It is used to stockpile water for Melbourne. The recent bush fire contaminated over 30% of water in Melbourne. At this time, most of the water was transferred to Cardinia Reservoir. The water from Cardinia flows out to other service reservoirs for household distribution. 3.0 WINNEKE TREATMENT PLANT The Winneke treatment plant plays a prominent role in Melbournes water supply system. It was commissioned in November 1980, and it was the first time that fully treated water was introduced into the water supply system. More than 50% of Melbournes water is treated and purified at Winneke Treatment Plant. The plant is located 32 kilometres northeast of Melbourne at Sugarloaf Reservoir in Christmas Hills. The Sugarloaf Reservoir is one in ten reservoirs in Melbourne and is the fourth largest. The water requires full treatment process as it is not received from the protected catchment areas. The water comes into the plant from three main different sources- the Maroondah Reservoir by the Maroondah aqueduct and Yering Gorge pumping station, Yarra River by Yering Gorge pumping station and Goulburn River by the North-South pipeline. 3.1 Water Treatment Process overview Water treatment process involves coagulation, clarification, filtration, disinfection and pH correction (chlorination) and fluoridation. The water is passed through 14 sand filters before being added with chlorine, lime and fluoride. The filtered water is distributed only if it meets the Australian standard for drinking. Untitled.png Figure 2: Winneke Process Flow Diagram (Source) 3.1.1 Coagulation Untreated water is pumped from the Sugarloaf Reservoir to the Winneke inlet control structure. At this stage, lime and aluminium sulphate (alum) is added. The alum acts as a coagulant, which will suspend solids and other microorganisms to form larger particles. 3.1.2 Clarification The water then flows through an underground channel to a water distribution chamber. The water is sent to one of five sludge blanket clarifiers and polyelectrolyte injected to promote flocculation and sedimentation processes. Water is circulated in the clarifiers for 3 to 4 hours. The clarifiers improve the coherence and entrapment of the suspended solids and thus eliminate the colour from the water. Solid particles are separated from the raw water as settled water and sludge. 3.1.3 Filtration The settled water is delivered through concrete channels to 14 gravity filters (Sand filters). This will remove most of the remaining suspended solids. Each filter is a rectangular concrete structure with a bed of sand supported on a layer of pebbles. 3.1.4 Chlorination The water comes out of the filter is disinfected by the process called chlorination. A small amount of chlorine is added to disinfect the filtered water which will eliminate the residual microorganisms. This will help to kill bacteria and other micro organisms which spread waterborne diseases. Drinking water typically contains 0.2 milligram per litre (mg/l) 1.6 mg/l of chlorine. Lime is added to maintain the alkalinity and acidity (pH) level. The treated water flows into a large enclosed storage reservoir which is located adjacent to the treatment plant. This reservoir act as buffer storage and the water is released according to the needs. 3.1.5 Fluoridation Fluoride is added in small quantities to prevent tooth decay. Natural water contains concentrations up to 1MG/L (milligram per litre) of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance in rocks, soils and plants. Fluoride is added to drinking water at a concentration of approximately  0.7MG/L or less than 1 part per million. The left over debris from the plant is recycled for bike paths and building roads. 4.0 MELBOURNE WATER Melbourne Water is owned by Victoria Company. It maintains all aspects from water collection to distribution. A complex interconnected pipeline system distributes water from Melbournes main water storage reservoirs to the three retail business water companies and to their customers. Melbourne Water operates and maintains around 157,000 hectares of protected catchments in the Yarra Ranges. It has main ten water storage reservoirs and distributes to around 1,062 kilometres. It has 214 kilometres of aqueducts with 65 service reservoirs and 42 water treatment plants. 4.1 Water collection and distribution 4.1.1 Collection Majority of Melbournes water catchment is located in the forest areas of Yarra ranges. These forests capture and filter rainwater as it flows across the land into streams and then to the reservoirs. 4.1.2 Distribution From the main reservoir storages, through large pipes the water flow to the service reservoirs by gravity. There are about 55 service reservoirs, which is stored only for one or two days. These reservoirs will ensure that a constant supply of water during the peak demanding periods. From the service reservoirs, water flows down again by the gravity through smaller underground pipelines to households and businesses by the water retail network of pipes. Water pressure is adjusted so that all households receive water at all times. 5.0 Yarra River The Yarra River upstream of Warrandyte is the main source of Melbournes water supply. The progressive development of water supply infrastructure in Melbourne is driven primarily by population growth. The growth in consumption is been made possible by ever increasing abstractions from the Yarra catchment upstream. Water harvesting has caused flows in the Yarra River to be much less than they would otherwise be. Larger dams restrict the sediment flow down of the rivers. Another major issue with the removal of water from the Yarra River is the change in the echo system and diversion in river path. 6.0 Methods of providing Potable water A number of possible alternative water supply options have been put forward to extend the water supply to Melbourne and its surrounding areas into the future. These include: Desalination (Wonthaggi Desalination) Recycling water Rain/ storm water catchment Dual pipe recycling Upgrade of Sewage treatment plant Sugarloaf Pipeline Project Management of current water supplies (restrictions and public awareness ) Raising the height of the dam Re-opening past water sources for the sole purpose of water supply Construction of new dams Melbournes water resource is large enough to feed the entire population in the city. Water is available for urban use from the north east catchments of Melbourne. Building a new dam to collect water from the Thomson/Macalister, Latrobe or Mitchell basins is the most cost-effective approach. This can be a blessing for the Gippsland farmers. This should be the preferred approach. Water can also be brought from north of the Great Divide with the Sugarloaf scheme, but this would be a costly approach. The stormwater collection in Greenfield urban area is another option. Rainwater tanks have a higher capacity than urban stormwater collection but are inefficient and enforce unnecessary costs on the new house developments where they are mandatory and on the taxpayer where the tanks are subsidized. Regulations requiring their installation should be removed and subsidies to their installation should be discontinued. Similarly, the proposals for recycling of water from the Eastern Treatment Pla nt and for desalination should be rejected. The proposed Wonthaggi desalination plant, according to the estimates provided by the government, would result in excessive capital costs of $2 billion and significantly higher operating costs compared with making use of water from the catchment area. Various options for the Eastern Treatment Plant, including exchanging treated water for more harvesting from the Yarra, seem to be high cost approaches but could be further investigated. Modifying or increasing the release of flows from the reservoir and other points of regulation would prefer fewer benefits for in stream, riparian and wetland ecosystems than would measures to restore native vegetation, natural floodplain drainage patters or incentives or controls to improve the quality of discharge from agricultural and especially urban areas. Public awareness and cooperation are essential, as many of the actions which need to be taken to maintain or restore the ecosystem of the Yarra upstream of Warrandyte involve private land. 6.1 Conclusion The above methods of providing water for the future are all available but at a high cost to the taxpayer. The best option is to ensure that the all the measures implemented are well in place to organize and maintain its current resources. Climate change also has to be considered as this will have a negative impact on the ground water resource. Though ground water is replenished every year by the annual rain fall, figures are decreasing and evaporation rates rising as predicted under the CSIRO Climate Science. Public awareness is needed to ensure less wastage of water and maintain supply for the future.

Electronic Health Records Essay

Implementing a new electronic health records (EHR) system to replace manual records is an extremely complicated task. EHRs use complex algorithms to exchange patient data among different physicians and departments such as a pharmacy and laboratory. EHRs are becoming popular because employees and patients can access records anytime and anywhere. Patient drug alerts are also part of the system to warn emergency room and intensive care nurses about potential drug reactions. A needs assessment is a systematic procedure to determine what components are required for EHR implementation to prevent failure of the highly costly investment. Although EHR systems have been shown to dramatically reduce human error, proper assessment before undergoing the implementation process is critical or errors and costs could actually increase. An EHR assessment must be completed before the software packages can be selected to ensure it is conformed perfectly to the specialized needs of the hospital. According to the California Medical Association the assessment has two steps: 1.) Readiness Assessment; and 2.) Work Flow Analysis (Ginsberg et al., n.d.). The assessment should be done by a seasoned group of engineers, physicians, lab workers, billing staff, pharmacists, and nurses to collaborate so that each department increases patient safety and efficient care. The assessment should include a web-based demonstration that allows all stakeholders to identify gaps that would hinder their job responsibilities. Once the needs assessment has been done and vendors chosen as potential suppliers, the readiness assessment should begin. One of the most important data to collect is financial resources. Are more physicians going to be  hired that will increase training costs? Can the organization truly afford the upstart investment and ongoing computer support? Space considerations are also critical to evaluate because most closets are too small for the new EHR platforms that have huge servers. High-speed internet capabilities are a must for EHR data exchange between stakeholders. Moreover, are existing medical records planned to be thinned to put the data into the new system? If so, data needs to be destroyed according to HIPP protocol to protect patient confidentiality. The work flow analysis portion of the needs assessment looks at step-by-step procedures. Examples are scheduling, diagnostic tests, and reviewing tests, prescribing medication, clinical notes, and billing data (Ginsberg et al., n.d.). Other data to be analyzed for the EHR system should be medical history forms, lists of current medications vital signs, insurance, and referrals. The flow of steps in this planning process involves network upgrades, expanding server room space, a Medicare fraud plan, selection of three EHR vendors, visiting other hospitals using the systems, negotiating, and finally select the model that is best suited to all stakeholders. A 10-year study done by the Canada Health Info way about who should be consulted during adoption of an EHR system looked at 29 key stakeholders involved in establishing policy (Rozenblum et al., 2001). They found that stakeholders should be consulted from a bottom-up, clinical needs approach first because they will be the heaviest users of the system. This means physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, billers, lab workers, and pharmacy employees need to have significant input into selecting what aspects are most important. The number one reason for implementation failure is inadequate involvement of line-worker clinicians (Rozenblum et al., 2001). Therefore, the informatics team must work very closely with these stakeholders. Other critical stakeholders to consult are the finance department to ensure how much funding is available. Patients are also important stakeholders because no one wants their health information linked to a huge system that is insecure and prone to hacking confidential medical records. Policy makers at the executive organizational and governmental level also have powerful sway over which EHR is chosen. Lack of  collaboration among these diverse groups can delay implementation of the system for decades. Appropriate needs assessment provides relevant feedback to upper management. This helps these higher-ups make wise decisions based on financial resources, training needs for staff, vendor choice, and whether or not EHR is even necessary (Hartzler et al, 2013). Upper management is also provided with the ability to analyze which employees should have access to the system (or what parts of the system) to complete their designated tasks. Gaps between â€Å"wants† and â€Å"needs† can also be identified so that valuable resources are analyzed in cost-benefit analysis. Training needs or additional hiring of employees can also be anticipated to prevent glitches in the system due to human error. EHR systems can increase profit margins and protect patients from human error if assessed closely prior to purchase and implementation. References Ginsberg, D. (n.d.). Successful preparation and implementation of an electronic health records system. Best Practices: A guide for improving the efficiency and quality of your practice. Retrieved December 26, 2014 at https://www.cmanet.org/files/pdf/ehr/best-practices-7.pdf. Hartzler, A. et al. (2013). Stakeholder engagement: A key component of integrating genomic information into electronic health records. Genetics in Medicine, 15, 792-801. Rozenblum, R. (2001). A qualitative study of Canada’s experience with the implementation of electronic health information technology. CMAJ, 183(5), E281-E288.

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The Ethics Of Mental Health Nursing - 1596 Words

In order to address the moral theory and moral principles that underpin the ethics of mental health nursing, I intend to demonstrate how clinical decision making mental health nursing is formulated based on the chosen moral principles of beneficence, non-maleficence and ‘respect for autonomy’ (NHS, 2015). I will also be considering the influence of consequentialist theory in mental health nursing, as I believe this to be the ethical core of the debate. Consequentialist theory dictates that moral justification for the clinical rationale process by health professionals lies in the result of the process as a whole. This ‘all or nothing’ view of mental healthcare can be seen as the conceptual ancestor of modern day ‘best interest’ practices, and an ethical chrysalis that patient advocacy can also draw its roots. (Miller-Keane, 2003) From our given scenario (see appendix); some of the staff that believe Paul should be restrained into the bath in order to stave off further illness, despite the distress that this process would cause him, logically this the most appropriate course of action, as it was not morally justifiable to cause distress to the patient in order to alleviate a more pressing need. if however the continuation of suffering through the lack of action regarding Paul’s physical healthcare deterioration, is held to be the highest moral regard, the very act of omission or failing to act where it was reasonably practicable for the team to intervene in his healthcare,Show MoreRelatedNursing Ethics : The Four Biomedical Principles Of Nursing1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay I will be discussing and exploring the four biomedical principles of nursing which refer to: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. 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Public Health, Safety, And The Environment - 750 Words

Since there is such a large amount of food waste, where does it go? Although not all food waste ends up in landfills, there is a large amount that does. Studies show that â€Å"food wastage in 2007 represented the production of 1.4 billion hectares of land, equal to about 30 % of the world’s agricultural land area, and larger than the surface of Canada† (â€Å"Global Food Wastage†). With landfills taking up such a large percentage of land, there is less land for farmers, housing, and other resources. Landfills also give off multiple dangerous chemicals. For example, landfills give off greenhouse gases, dioxins, furans, and mercury (â€Å"Public Health, Safety, and the Environment†). Landfills are also a severe cause of deforestation. Also, landfills take†¦show more content†¦An example would be the rise in the migration to urban areas and rapid changes in what foods are wanted by consumers. As people begin to move into urban areas, the amount of f armers and help begin decreasing. Research has proven that the popularity for urban environments is in a constant rise. Sadly, recent observations have concluded that â€Å"the proportion of the world’s population employed in agriculture has declined in recent decades and 50 per cent of the world’s population now lives in urban environments. This proportion is expected to rise to 70 per cent by 2050† (Parfitt et al., â€Å"Food Waste within Food Supply Chains†). Being in shape or skinny has been important for many years. Seventy-seven percent of America’s population is trying to lose or maintain their weight (â€Å"Americans Concerned about Their Weight†). A fad diet is a popular diet that usually known for success. Fad diets usually change the foods consumed by the dieter. As the fads change, so does the demand for different types of food. As the demand for one food item increases, the demand of others decrease. Due to the constant changes, it is extremely difficult for farmers to plan what they need to grow. As farmers fail to predict the amount of crops needed, the extra food is more likely to become waste. As the predictability changes, farmers cannot make profit. This also leads to the decline of farms.

Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet Free Essays

string(67) " there is no reason to believe that this trend is going to change\." An unhealthy lifestyle means more illness and more expense to treat those illnesses. This means a bigger burden on an already challenged healthcare system. Poor health also means more time lost at work, less quality recreational time, and even shorter lifespan. We will write a custom essay sample on Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet or any similar topic only for you Order Now But the people in this modern day have a mindset that takes good health for granted. One can suffer from years of aches and pains, and would just ignore them, and then feel so surprised when one finds out one has developed a serious chronic disease. Majorities would usually leave their health to the hand of the doctors, relying on the advance medical technology, medical drugs when the fall sick. We have the choice to live a healthy lifestyle, but many chose to live just for today, enjoy life, and most of the time end up suffering in pain with chronic diseases and illnesses. Unhealthy Lifestyle There are many factors contributing to the degeneration of health among many people today. We live in a terribly polluted world. We are all exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals every day at work, home, in the air, and in the food that we eat and water we drink. In addition, we are eating more processed foods than ever before in human history and we constantly abuse or bodies with pharmaceuticals We are constantly bombarded by fast food at every corner. And video games have led the majority of teens to spend countless hours in front of the television being sedentary. And, as a result of all of this, there exists a generation that is out-of-shape, overweight and obese. Many would spent hours on a couch in front of the picture box watching their favorite TV programs, together with several packets of snacks like potato chips and other junk food, and they don’t get up from your butt to move around for the next couple of hours, and that’s alright. Too much junk food being put into children’s hands. Children were introduced to fast food restaurant at a very young age by their parent, having been brought up in this environment, they grew up spending long hours of their free time there ,chatting with friends, galloping burgers, French fries and cups of Coke, without thinking of how nutritionally deficient foods would intoxicate their body, But do children understand that junk food or snacks like potato chips, burgers and fries have high levels of fat, sugar or salt and are simply unhealthy? Junk food which contains saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and therefore increases your risk of heart disease and some cancers. Smoking and drinking are two big habits that can affect your health and the way you feel. Smoking, in particular, is one habit to quit if you haven’t already because it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. Alcohol can be fine in moderation, but when you are with some good buddies in a party, you may drown yourself with glasses of them without realizing how intoxicated your body is, it also can contribute to sleep problems and suppress your appetite, preventing you from eating well. Life is full of stress. Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. Work can be a stressful place, whether in an office, a factory, or a school. For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Some stress is good, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But too much stress is bad, when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes. But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. Public are generally dependent on medical drugs and are not aware that medical drug side effects are dangerous to their health. In the world today, Many people seems to think that they just want medicines and drugs to solve their health problems, they believe they can always seek medical assistance,. But what they are not aware of is that these pharmaceutical medications may have potential adverse reactions. Some of the most popular prescription drugs on the market are used for the treatment of arious conditions such as high cholesterol to depression to rheumatoid arthritis to sexual enhancement. Some of these pharmaceuticals drugs can cause serious problems such as liver damage, muscle pain and in some cases severe muscle breakdown and even death. When you go to a medical doctor and he gives you many packs of pills and capsules in various colours, shapes and sizes, drugs which are toxic to your liver and do crazy things to your health and metabolism, perhaps you obediently swallow t hose little poisons without considering what they are doing to your body. Polluted Environment The industrial revolution, technological advancement and modern transportation have seriously depleted oxygen levels in our atmosphere. Our obsession with carbon-based fuels for power generators, planes and automobiles consumes vast amounts of oxygen daily. Coupled with this is the huge reduction of our forested areas and all plant life as the need for timber and paper continues beyond our production capacity. At the present time, scientists have determined that our atmospheric oxygen concentration levels are being reduced by about 0. 8 percent every 15 years or so. Regrettably, at the moment, there is no reason to believe that this trend is going to change. You read "Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet" in category "Papers" Toxic stress, toxic chemicals and air pollution (all of which are becoming more prevalent in our industrialized cities), as well as increased use of antibiotics, emotional stress (which produces adrenaline and adrenal-related hormones that use more oxygen), physical trauma (reduces circulation and oxygen supply) and infections (the body uses oxygen to fight bacteria, fungi and viruses). Frequent use of drugs also depletes your oxygen supplies at the cellular level. A shortage of oxygen in the blood could very well be the starting point for the loss of the immune system and the beginning point of health problems like cancer, leukemia, AIDS, seizures, nerve deterioration and candida. Future research will clarify the links between poor oxygen levels and disease. Initial symptoms of oxygen deficiency may include overall weakness, fatigue, circulation problems, poor digestion, muscle aches and pains, dizziness, depression, memory loss, irrational behavior, irritability, acid stomach and bronchial complications. When the immune system is compromised by a lack of oxygen, the body is more susceptible to opportunistic bacteria, viral and parasitic infections, colds and the flu. Oxygen deprivation can also trigger life-threatening diseases, as underscored by Nobel Laureate Dr. Otto Warburg’s assertion that cancer and other infections or diseases cannot live in an oxygen-rich environment. Poisonous agents from the household items. Our bodies are absorbing the harmful chemicals surrounding the environment today. It is thus imperative that we clean up our living environment as much as possible. Those regular detergents, soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and perfumes that we uses today contain many chemicals which are toxic to our bodies, some even carcinogenic. Although we don’t directly ingest them, these chemicals are absorbed by our skin, other harmful chemicals such as turpentine, arsenic, insecticides, paints, etc. Again, even though we don’t ingest them, we are constantly breathing in their gaseous fumes. Lack of Exercise. You just put in a good 10 hour day in front of your computer screen, and the last thing you want to do is exercise. Let’s see, exercise, and improve your fitness level, or sit down with a glass of wine and watch your favorite evening television show. What would you do? Seventy percent of individuals know they should exercise, but choose the wine and the television program instead. Do you know this simple daily decision can end up being detrimental to your health? Effects of irregular eating or skipping meals †¢ Mouth ulcers †¢ Acidity and heart burn †¢ Nausea †¢ Constipation †¢ Lowered blood pressure †¢ Elevated uric acid (kidney disease) †¢ stresses brain and body †¢ Fat Storage Eating breakfast primes your metabolism and helps set its pace for the day, says Michelle A. Gordine, M. D. , author of the book â€Å"Reclaiming Our Health: A Guide to African-American Wellness. † By contrast, skipping breakfast puts your body in starvation mode, an energy conservation setting of your body’s metabolic machinery that promotes fat storage and discourages calorie-burning. †¢ Blood Sugar Skipping meals, particularly breakfast, can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels. After fasting overnight, your blood sugar levels may be at their lowest ebb of the day. Skipping this meal can result in hypoglycemia — dangerously low blood sugar — which can cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy and overeat to compensate. A spike in blood sugar from a large afternoon meal leads to a late afternoon blood sugar drop, sending you on a blood sugar roller coaster, according to Roberta Larson Duyff, author of the â€Å"American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. † Instead, try cutting back on dinner and shifting the bulk of your calorie intake toward the first half of the day. You may find that eating this way gives you more energy when you need it the most. After doing this for a few days you’ll naturally become hungry at breakfast time. †¢ Malnutrition Older adults who experience decreased appetite as a function of aging may be in danger of malnutrition from skipping meals, according to nutritionist Sari Edelstein, Ph. D. , R. D. , author of the book â€Å"Life Cycle Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach. † Aging also brings with it decreased nutrient absorption. The combination of the two is a recipe for potential nutritional deficiencies. Early intervention can prevent weight loss and other serious health consequences, such as osteoporosis and decreased immune function. Brain Function Maintaining even-keeled blood sugar levels ensures that your brain and muscles receive a steady supply of glucose, their preferred fuel source. Eating regular meals results in better mental acuity, learning and memory, improved work performance and better strength and endurance. Your attitude toward work or school may also improve and you might find that your demanding boss or that irritating co-worker aren’t as unreasonable as you previously thought. †¢ Blood Sugar Drops and Spikes One of the most important reasons that skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the affect this has on your blood sugar. When you eat a meal, your body breaks up the food. Some of this food is stored as fat, while other parts of it enter your bloodstream as sugar, and work to provide you with energy throughout the day. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar drops dramatically. This not only can make you feel sluggish and tired, but it can also wreck havoc with insulin in your body. If you chronically skip meals, you can be setting yourself up for the development of diabetes later in life. †¢ Inadequate Nutrition Another important reason why skipping meals is unhealthy is due to the fact that you are more than likely not receiving adequate nutrition. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats helps not only to ensure that your body functions properly, but can also help in the treatment and prevention of a number of serious conditions. Some conditions that can be improved with proper nutrition include cardiovascular disease, strokes, and some types of cancer. You may believe that you can skip meals and still achieve optimal nutrition by supplementing your diet with multivitamins. And while multivitamins do have their place, research has shown that these pills aren’t as effective as real food at providing your body with what it needs. For good health, try to eat as naturally as possible. †¢ Altered Metabolism You  typically  skip meals for two main reasons. One,  you are ultra busy and don’t have enough time to grab a quick snack, or two, you are trying to lose weight. If you are one of the people who are trying to lose weight, you may be actually sabotaging yourself by skipping meals. When you eat, your metabolism, which is one of your body’s functions, works to break the food down into smaller, usable parts. When you skip a meal, your metabolism has nothing to do. In a way, your metabolism is like a muscle. You must use it, or you will â€Å"lose it. † When your metabolism does not have to work to break down food, it begins to slow down. Then, the next time you do actually eat something, your metabolism is not able to break the food down as quickly, and as a result the food is stored as fat. Therefore, in order to maintain a healthy weight (or even lose weight), it is essential that you eat regularly throughout the day. Recent research has found that five to seven small, regularly timed meals eaten over the course of a day works best when trying to maintain a healthy weight. The Effects of Sleep Deprivation Neurologic Effects Sleep deprivation mimics the effects of drinking alcohol — you may experience slurred speech and uncontrolled reflexive movements of the eye called nystagmus. You may also develop a slight shakiness or tremor in your hands. Some people even have a more pronounced droopiness in their eyelids, called ptosis. Various other neurological reflexes can change in sleep deprivation. These are unlikely to causes symptoms you would notice. However, if your doctor were to test them, you may have sluggish corneal reflexes, a hyperactive gag reflex, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes. In addition, you may have a reduced threshold for seizures. As a result, people with epilepsy are at greater risk for seizures when they’re sleep deprived. One thing that you may notice right away is an increased sensitivity to pain. Studies have shown our sensitivity to heat and pressure pain is especially enhanced when we don’t sleep enough. Also, there is reported to be an increased sensitivity to pain in our esophagus, as might occur in the setting of nighttime heartburn Vital Sign Changes Research studies have demonstrated that sleep deprivation may cause subtle changes in your vital signs. Vital signs are important physiological markers that are often tracked as part of a general health assessment. These include: †¢ Body temperature †¢ Blood pressure †¢ Heart rate †¢ Breathing rate †¢ Reduced decision-making skills †¢ Poorer memory †¢ Reduced concentration †¢ Reduced alertness †¢ Shortened attention span †¢ Slower than normal reaction time †¢ Poorer judgment †¢ Reduced awareness of the environment and situation †¢ Reduced work efficiency smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and drinking too much increased the risk of dying by such a large degree that it was the equivalent to being 12 years older. How to cite Unhealthy Lifestyles and Diet, Papers

Reckitt Benckiser Supply Chain in Practice free essay sample

Company Background Benckiser was founded by Johann A. Benckiser in 1823. It is a business derived from industrial chemicals. Over years of development through innovations and various acquisitions, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is now a world leader in household, health and personal care. Today it is the global No. 1 or No. 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation typically about one third of net revenue comes from innovations launched in the prior 3 years. It has a strong portfolio led by 19 global powerbrands which are: Finish, Lysol, Dettol, Vanish, Woolite, Durex, Calgon, Airwick, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Veet, Nurofen, Clearasil, Strepsils Gaviscon, Mucinex, Scholl and Frenchs, and they account for 69% of net revenue. The company operates through eight business segments: fabric care, surface care, health and personal care, home care, dishwashing, pharmaceutical, food, and other household. More than 75% of net revenues in 2007 were generated by brands that are either leading in the market or ranked second in their markets. In the fabric treatment section, Vanish leads the fabric segment globally so does Calgon in the water softeners segment and Lysol and Harpic brands in lavatory care egment. Furthermore, Dettol, Veet and Strepsils are the number one brand in antiseptic personal care products, depilatory products and throat tablet segment respectively while Nurofen, an analgesic, ranks second in Europe. Also, Clearasil is ranked as the number two anti-acne treatment worldwide. The companys Air Wick is ranked second in the air care segment worldwide. This strong portfolio of brands significantly fuels the revenues and profitability of the company. In terms of management structure, it is organized in such a way that there are three areas in the world: Europe, which includes Eastern Europe and Turkey; the Americas†North America plus Australia and New Zealand, which are very similar markets; and are called the developing markets, the rest of Asia (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Africa and Latin America. Each of these areas has a head of business, and below them are regional directors who run the specific regions. They, in turn, work alongside a category development organization, which is responsible for making sure that brand strategies are developed and implemented, as well as for developing a pipeline of new products for these brands. They work with the marketing and RD departments to make sure the right communications strategies in place . Supply Chain Management at RB 2. 1. Overview Rds supply chain and logistics is a global perspective and has about 41 production facilities worldwide including countries from Europe to North America, Africa to New Zealand. The company has a wide range of wide-range policies and procedures to protect their supply chain, Code of Business Conduct, reputation and Manufacturing standard. 3. Supply Chain Improvement Initiatives of Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Management According to the Rds Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011, RB believes its culture and passion for its people (RB employees) are its greatest competitive dvantage. The people are entrepreneurial, innovative, internationally diverse, dynamic and driven by a strong sense of ownership. RB continues to attract best management talents; retaining them by investing on the performance oriented remuneration policy which paid managers for excellent performance. RB has 25 formal training modules for middle management and Top 400 international managers (T400). During 2011, the Group ran over 80 courses on these modules, training over 652 people. At RB, Management is international and is trained through rotation in international postings both in countries and in the Groups central unctions. Succession planning is a critical management discipline and is reviewed annually (at least) by the full Board and the Executive Committee. RB closely monitors the Top 400 international managers (T400). The T400 being a multi-national management team reduced the added complexity of managing work in different languages, currencies and different political and legal systems thus giving a competitive edge over other companies. Technology Technology plays a major role in improving the efficiency of Supply Chain Systems. It helps organisations to better manage their supply chains, as supply chain anagement applications built on technology platforms enhances the ability of organisations to integrate their processes through collaborative information sharing and planning (Charles et al. 2001; Kalakota and Robinson, 2001). Some of the technologies RB used to improve their supply chain in recent years include: 1 . Implementation of Microsoft Windows Server TM 2003 Enterprise Edition with Active Directory This was done to simplify the complex IT infrastructure and introduce a centralized management system. RB nas operations in 60 co untries, sales in 1 countries and annual net revenue in excess of E3billion (US. $5. 8billion). RB was formerly using a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4. 0 Operating System through 96 domains and 720 servers. Approximately 9000 clients were spread throughout the domains and each one was managed with its own unique set of common rules and procedure. Through the investment in Microsoft windows server 2003 enterprise edition, they were able to reduce the number of domain to 3 and servers to 627. This helped in creating a central network system and provided a good and robust environment for managing Rds operations this because many of its application drive critical processes such as placing orders and providing real-time in response for roduction and shipment of goods. 2. Xtrim Xtrim optimization system is software which offers solutions for advanced planning and scheduling. This helped RB in cost saving. Another such cost saving program called the Squeeze 50 was also used by them. These programs helped push Rds operating margins up 0. 8 percent to 13. 4 percent in the year 2003. 3. The Xpress-MP Operational data of procurement, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution were collected and an optimization model was created using Xpress-MP software. The model basically demonstrated how costs could be reduced for a given supply chain configuration. This software helped the senior management at RB to analyse the potential impact of changes in risk free environment save up to ten percent annually 4. Reverse Engineering For the past few years, RB has been using a method of re-engineering in making, packaging and distributing their products. The company has been working with its partners across the supply chain finding way of consuming less energy, both directly and in the materials and packaging used to make its products. It has been reported that 25% of Rds manufacturing energy use already comes from more sustainable sources such as highly efficient or renewable energy (http://www. . com/carbon20/ how-we-will-achieve-it) Outsourcing To improve its on-time delivery performance, RB outsourced its transportation to Ryder in North America. Ryder transports raw materials into the manufacturing plants and finished goods from these plants to the logistics centre and then to the customer (Edge, a Ryder system Inc, publication). Investmen ts RB and other worlds largest the worlds largest food, beverage and consumer product manufacturers came together and created an open, standards-based industry-led marketplace (transora. com) that delivers breakthrough value to all participants in the consumer value chain. This business arena helped improved areas like procurement in the supply chain by providing services such as auction/ reverse auction capabilities, vendor catalogs, strategic sourcing and of course e- procurement for both direct and indirect materials. Shared Transportation To reduce the environmental impact and cost of product transport RB decided to combine truck Journeys with other companies, so that there were no empty running of truck on both inward and outward leg of the Journey. They even contracted third- parties to combine less than a truck load shipments together. Recommendations Focus on sustainability In relation to SCM, sustainability according to UN Global Impact, 2010 is the management of environmental, social and economic impacts and the encouragement of good governance practices, throughout the lifecycles of goods and services. A major approach to this challenge is collaboration with companies in terms of physical logistics such as shared transportation and physical infrastructures. Even though RB has started practicing this especially in the aspect of transportation, it is strongly recommended that, more effort should be put into this approach so to be able to operate a sustainable supply chain. Increase in logistics cost