Question

Create a healthy "Body Maintenance fact" sheet or handout that would be appropriate to put in the waiting room at a local health service.

Body regulation

Protection from infection

Active and passive exercise

(Please According to the Certificate 3 Individual Support)

Answer 1

Healthy body Maintenance

Factors that support healthy functioning of the body

Work with a basic understanding of how to maintain the whole body in an overall state of health. A basic understanding of the
relationships between body systems is required to support healthy functioning.
Processes, conditions and resources (factors) the body needs to support healthy functioning may include but are not
limited to:

Body regulation including:

 maintenance of body temperature
 body fluids (including e.g. absorption of water from digestive system, loss of water through skin, distribution of
water by cardiovascular system)
 elimination of wastes from the body
 maintenance of blood pressure
2. Protection from infection
3. Physical activity (exercise) - active and passive

Optimal body temperature

 Normal human body temperature is 36.2 – 37.6 °C, with 37°C being stated as the average normal temperature.
 Fever - The body attempts to maintain a normal temperature. When that set-point is raised, the result is a fever. Fevers
are not to be confused with heat stroke. Note: The difference between fever and hyperthermia is the underlying
mechanism.. A fever is usually a response to infection and can be lowered with medications.
Average body temperatures Common signs and symptoms
COLD
HOT
Medical emergency <32°C Hallucinations, delirium, complete confusion, extreme sleepiness, progressively becoming
comatose. Shivering is absent (may even think they are hot). Reflex absent or very slight.
Hypothermia <35°C Intense shivering, numbness, bluish/grey skin. Seek medical help.
Normal Average 37 °C Varies, depending on time of day, activity and mode of measurement.
Fever >37°C Feeling hot, sweating, feeling thirsty, chills. Seek medical help.
Hyperthermia >38°C Severe sweating, may be flushed and red or pallor with dry skin. Fast heart rate,
breathlessness. Possible convulsions. Seek medical help.
Medical emergency >41°C Fainting, vomiting, severe headache, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, delirium,
drowsiness. May become comatose, convulsions, brain damage, cardiac arrest.

Optimal levels of fluid and pressure
Maintaining the volume and composition of bodily fluids is essential for homeostasis. Bodily fluids are the dilute, watery solutions
found in 2 types of fluid compartments – 1. Inside cells (intracellular fluid) and 2. Surrounding them (extracellular fluid).

Protection from infection

This is not always possible as you are always going to be exposed to germs and other molecules that could make you ill.

However, you can increase your strength of defence by following the general health tips.
Some ways your body tries to protect itself from infection:
1. The lymphatic system has infection fighting white cells
2. The integumentary system – skin covers the whole body and is the first line of defence for the immune system
3. The Immune system - A complex system that is responsible for protecting us from everything foreign
You can also reduce your risk of infection by:
1. Maintaining good personal hygiene e.g. wash your hands regularly and or use anti-bacterial hand washes.
2. Use personal protective equipment such as gloves and or face masks for situations that pose risks in both professional
and personal situations.
3. Avoid contact with those that have infectious diseases.

Active and Passive excercise

Passive physical activity – There is no substitution for getting your body up and moving daily via such activity as walking,
swimming, biking, jogging, hiking, tennis, basketball or even lifting weights or walking a treadmill in a gym. However, due to
physical challenges, illness, age limitations, time restrictions and weather factors, many people simply cannot or do not get their
body moving every day. Many people spend their day commuting, working, raising a family, sitting in front of a computer or TV,
or sleeping.
Passive physical activity is where movement applied to the body or a body part, by another person or persons (physiotherapy),
or via a motion machine. When a passive range of motion is applied, the body or body part (arm, leg, head, ankle, wrist, knee),
of the individual receiving the passive exercise is completely relaxed, while the outside force moves the body part throughout
the available range of motion.

Exercise (active physical activity) - Regular exercise, for example, 30 minutes 3 times a week, will help to:
 Increase your endurance
 Maintain healthier muscles, joints and bones
 Increase cardiovascular fitness
 Prevent disease
 Increase your metabolism
 Provide increased energy
 Increase overall well being
 Increaser ability to cope with stress
 Improve quality of and ability to sleep