summer safety- a pharmacists perspective 2016
TRANSCRIPT
Summer SafetyPharmacist’s Perspective
August 2016
Candace Gregorian, PharmDKate Higgins, PharmD Candidate
Cathy Nguyen, Pharmacy Intern
MEDICATION Storage○ Storing insulin
○ Keep unused insulin refrigerated
○ Do not leave in your vehicle
○ Use ice packs to keep cool during transport
○ Do not use beyond expiration date
○ Storing tablets/capsules/liquids○ Keep in original bottles ○ Store in a cool dry
place○ Do not leave in your
vehicle○ Do check expiration
dates○ Some items may
require refrigeration-check the label
Over the Counter○ Allergy
symptoms○ Sneezing ○ Running nose○ Itchy & watery
eyes○ Skin rash○ Headache ○ Swelling○ Anaphylaxis
○ Cold symptoms○ Sore throat○ Rhinitis &
congestion (day 2 or 3)
○ Cough (day 4 or 5)○ Headache○ Low grade fever○ Malaise○ Muscle pain
Poison Control○ General
symptoms○ Nausea○ Vomiting○ Abdominal
cramps○ Diarrhea ○ Dizziness○ Seizures○ Drowsiness
○ Treatment○ Monitor the patient ○ Keep the original
bottle of poison substance (medication/chemical)
○ Call the poison control center or 911
SUMMER HEATSigns of heatstroke○ Red, hot, dry skin○ Rapid pulse○ Throbbing headache○ Confusion○ Dizziness
Signs of dehydration○ Increased thirst○ Dry mouth○ Lack of tears○ Lack of sweating○ Muscle cramps○ Nausea and vomiting○ Heart palpitations○ Lightheadedness
(especially upon standing)
○ Weakness○ Decreased urine output
Medicine Cabinet○ Adult medicine
○ Pain relief○ Antihistamines○ Antidiarrheal○ Antacids○ Sunscreen○ Antibacterial
ointment
○ Child medicine ○ Dosing
instruments○ Thermometer○ Oral electrolyte
solution○ Saline drops○ Infant liquid
ibuprofen○ Simethicone oral
suspension○ Diaper rash
ointment
First Aid Kit○ Basic items
○ Cotton balls/swabs○ Bandages○ Adhesive tape○ Instant cold packs○ Scissors/tweezers○ Sanitizer○ Antibiotic ointment○ Eye wash solution○ Thermometer
○ Emergency items○ Emergency
contact information
○ Medical history○ Flashlight ○ Waterproof
matches
Water Safety○ Prevention
○ Swim only in areas with a lifeguard
○ Do not swim alone (use the buddy system)
○ Make sure young children have adult supervision
○ Wear lifejacket when boating
○ Emergency situation○ CPR training ○ Have first aid kit by
swimming pool○ Have access to a
cell phone and reaching or throwing equipment
○ Have lifejacket○ How and when to
call 911
Sunblock - SPF○ Pets
○ Do not put human sunscreen on pets, use pet sunscreen.
○ Zinc oxide is toxic to dogs
○ No sunscreen for cats
○ SPF 15 or above○ Products:
Doggles Pet Sunscreen
○ Children○ Play in shade○ Avoid outside
activity during mid-day
○ Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, hats
○ SPF 30 or above○ Don’t use sunscreen
on infants younger than 6 months (avoid sun exposure)
○ Products: Coppertone Kids, sun protective clothing
○ Adults○ Cosmetic may
contain sunscreen; extra sunscreen may be needed for full protection
○ Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, hats
○ Products: Banana Boat Sport, Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch
Diseases transmitted by insect bites○ Zika virus
○ Transmitted by mosquitoes
○ Symptoms: fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain, headache
○Powassan (POW) virus○Transmitted by ticks○Symptoms: fever,
headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, seizures
○Lyme disease○ Transmitted by ticks○ Symptoms: fever,
headache, erythema migrans
○ West Nile virus○ Transmitted by
mosquitoes○ Symptoms: fever,
headache, body ache, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
○ Prevention○ Insect repellent
○ Ben’s Tick & Insect repellant
○ SC Johnson’s Off○ Wearing protective
clothing○ Avoid brushy wooded
areas○ Check for ticks after
spending time outdoors
Allergies to bee stings○Symptoms
○Severe: anaphylaxis (chest pain, facial swelling, difficulty swallowing/breathing, headache, fainting, abdominal pain/vomiting, rash, flushing)
○Common: pain, redness, swelling, itching, burning, numbness, tingling
oTreatment○Epinephrine injection
(EpiPen) if anaphylaxis
○Remove stinger, wash site, apply ice
○Medication○Call 911 if severe
reaction
Rabies ○Transmitted by the
bite of a rabid animal○Raccoons, skunks,
bats, and foxes ○Initially similar to the
flu symptoms○Weakness, discomfort,
fever, headache○ Can progress to CNS
symptoms○ Confusion, anxiety,
agitation
○Prevention○Vaccination○Avoid suspicious
acting animals○Treatment
○Seek medical treatment immediately after animal bite
○Mainly supportive, no cure
Food Safety○ How to store
food○ Follow
recommendation on the labels
○ Keep meat in the original package
○ Keep cold food cold, keep hot food hot
○ Do not keep perishable food out of storage temperature for more than 2 hours
○ Store fruits and vegetables separately from meat, poultry, and seafood
○ What to do if you get sick○ Drink fluids to prevent
dehydration○ Rest○ Anti-diarrheal
medication (Imodium)○ Check with doctor if
symptoms do not resolve in 2 to 3 days
Travel medication○Preparation○ Vaccinations prior to
travel○ Yellow Fever○ Hepatitis A○ Typhoid Fever
○ Carry international vaccine card while traveling
○ Other illness prevention
○ Carry prescriptions for any personal medications
○Medications○ Personal
prescription medications
○ Sunscreens, insect repellant
○ Motion sickness relief
○ Pain relief○ Antidiarrheal○ Laxatives○ Cough and cold
relief○ Antacids○ Antifungals,
antibiotics○ First aid kit
Poison Plants ○ Poison ivy○ Poison oak○ Poison sumac○ Stinging nettles○ Wild parsnip
○ Treatment○ Be able to identify
poison plants○ Wear protective
clothing and gloves○ Wash the area as
soon as possible after exposure
○ Product: Zanfel Wash
Thank you!