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!