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Be safe during hurricane clean up

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The damage inflicted by hurricane Florence is immense and the hazards that homeowners and construction crews may face during cleanup efforts are numerous. It’s important for everyone to be aware of these risks and plan accordingly.

If you are returning home, organizing cleanup efforts or hired to help, here are some of the major threats and the measures you can take to mitigate them. While most homeowners will have intermittent contact with contaminated materials, recovery workers may be in constant contact for eight to 12 hours a day. All workers should have an up-to-date tetanus shot before any cleanup project begins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get a tetanus booster every 10 years.

Contaminated Flood Water

Standing water after a flood is often contaminated with sewage that can contain infectious bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella and the hepatitis A virus. It can also harbor toxic chemicals that can cause headaches and skin rashes. Concealed sharp objects can also be a problem. Appropriate personal protective equipment and good hygiene can help keep you safe when working in these conditions. These include:

  • Electrically insulated, waterproof boots with a steel shank, toe and insole
  • Heavy, waterproof, cut-resistant work gloves
  • Goggles or safety glasses with side shields or full-face shields
  • Washing hands with soap or disinfected water after participating in cleanup activities and before eating
  • Immediately cleaning any wounds or cuts with soap and water followed by antibiotic ointment. If the wound shows any sign of infection, seek medical attention.

Mold

Extensive water damage after a hurricane can cause mold to develop on walls, floors, furniture and carpets within 24 hours. Exposure to mold can be especially dangerous for people with asthma and other respiratory issues. It can also cause shortness of breath, flu-like symptoms, skin infections and other health problems. Occupants and cleanup workers are at increased risk for exposure to mold. If you are the homeowner, it’s best to leave mold cleanup to the professionals. Protective measures include:

  • Ventilating enclosed areas with fresh air
  • Isolating the work area
  • Using NIOSH-approved N-95 disposable respirators
  • Wearing eye protection
  • Wearing gloves

Electricity

Downed power lines and energized lines and objects are common hazards after a hurricane, creating risk for burns and electrocutions. Even just a puddle of water can conduct electricity. When wet, materials like wood and cloth can also conduct electricity. To reduce risk for burns and electrocution, you should:

  • Assume all power lines are live
  • Not touch water or any object near downed power lines
  • Mark a danger zone around downed power lines
  • Stay at least 10 feet away
  • Contact the utility company
  • Wear an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rated hard hat if there is danger of electrical hazards or falling debris

Insects and Other Animals

If flood waters, mold and downed power lines aren’t enough to deal with, add wildlife to the mix.

Mosquitoes

The flood waters are are a haven for mosquitos which means an increased risk for West Nile Virus, Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses in the weeks and months to come. To protect against mosquitoes, workers and residents should:

  • Cover as much skin as possible by wearing shirts with long-sleeves, long pants and socks (wear lightweight clothing to reduce risk for heat-induced illnesses)
  • Avoid perfumes and colognes when working outdoors
  • Use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient

Fire Ants

Fire ants are aggressive and will bite and sting. To escape flood waters, this invasive species will link together to form a floating ant colony. Fire ants are not deterred by insect repellent. To protect against fire ants, workers involved in cleanup should:

  • Wear socks
  • If possible, do not disturb a fire ant colony

Other Animals

Hurricanes can displace other wildlife such as snakes and alligators or household pets. Avoid contact with any animals during cleanup efforts. Call your local Animal Control center for assistance.

Stress

If you have had storm damage at your home or business, the days are long and hearts are heavy dealing with the destruction. To help manage your stress:

  • Stay in touch with people and don’t withdraw. Even if it’s through social media or texting someone, keeping close to you community will help keep you updated and opens the doors of communication.
  • Try and get back to your normal routine. When so much has to be done it’s easy to work long days and not eat healthy meals. Do your best to get a good night’s sleep and do your best to eat the right things to give you the energy you need.
  • Writing down the events of the day can be therapeutic and is a great way to communicate your feelings—even if it’s only for yourself.
  • Limit screen time. Ongoing exposure to the news on various devices can cause more stress and anxiety.
  • Breathe. Practicing breathing techniques, listening to music, and exercising are great ways to relieve stress.
  • Lend a helping hand. In situations where you feel helpless, reach out and help a neighbor. Even if it’s helping them think through a situation, or taking a meal to someone in need, helping others can be as therapeutic for the giver as it is to the receiver.

For linemen and those working long days surrounded by destruction in communities that may be far from home, it can be extremely stressful. To help manage this stress, workers should be encouraged to:

  • Watch out for each other and develop a buddy system
  • Eat as healthily as possible
  • Avoid using alcohol or drugs to cope
  • Whenever possible, take breaks away from the work area
  • See what mental health resources are available through their health and welfare fund
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Back to school travel safety

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time to kick off another school year—and time to remind our children how to get to and from school safely. These suggestions, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will get your kids off to a great start.

Riding the school bus

School buses are the safest way for children to travel to and from school. However, there are dangers when children are waiting for the bus and when boarding and leaving the bus. Over the past decade, nearly two-thirds of school-age pedestrians who were fatally injured in school transportation-related accidents were hit by school buses or other vehicles while getting on or off the school bus. Teach your child to always play it SAFE:

  • Stay five steps away from the curb.
  • Always wait for the bus driver to tell you when to board.
  • Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
  • Exit the bus when it stops, look left-right-left and take five steps away from the bus toward the curb.

Walking to school
If you live within walking distance of your school, walking to school is a great way to start the day. It’s great exercise and gets kids ready to focus on their studies. Children under 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult or someone who will make sure they walk safely. Teach your child to always:

  • Use the sidewalk whenever possible. If there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street or in the grass facing traffic.
  • Stay focused and keep your eyes on the road when walking near traffic. It may be fun to play around with your friends, but goofing-off can prove deadly if you’re not careful.
  • Use crosswalks whenever they are available to cross the street.
  • Look left-right-left more than once before crossing any street.

Riding a bike
Riding a bike is a fun and quick way for kids to get to school or a friend’s house. Be sure to do these simple things to keep your bike ride safe:

  • Always wear a properly fitted helmet and securely fasten the chin strap.
  • Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow traffic signs and signals.
  • Learn how to use arm signals to show when turning right or left.
  • Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
  • Use the sidewalk appropriately and keep an eye out for other pedestrians. Be sure to call attention when passing a pedestrian.
  • Never use electronics while riding due to distraction and so you can hear traffic around you.

Driving to school
If your teen is driving to school, riding with another teen or driving younger siblings to school, make sure you discuss safety rules:

  • Always have a safe driver behind the wheel.
  • Everyone must buckle up or the car doesn’t move.
  • Use appropriate car seats and/or booster seats when driving younger siblings to school. Every child under age 13 must ride in the back seat. No exceptions.
  • NO phone use while driving.

And for those of us driving to work or running errands, remember that when school is back in session, more cars and buses will be on the road. Watch out for stopped school buses and use extra caution around schools and bus stops.

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It’s Time for Spring Cleaning

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The temperature outside may not feel like Spring, but our clocks have moved forward and our days are getting longer. You may be cleaning out closets and doing your annual window washing, but are you taking the time to clean out your medicine cabinet, too?
In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began requiring an expiration date on prescription and over-the counter medicines. “The medicine expiration date is a critical part of deciding if the product is safe to use and will work as intended,” says Ilisa Bernstein, Pharm.D., J.D., Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The expiration date can be found printed on the label or stamped onto the bottle or carton, sometimes following “EXP.” It is important to know and stick to the expiration date on your medicine. Using expired medical products is risky and possibly harmful to your health.

Expired medicines can be risky

Expired medications can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth, and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. “Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective,” says Bernstein. “If your medicine has expired, do not use it.”
In addition, many Americans may not be not aware that medicines that sit in their medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. With the rise of prescription drug abuse in the United States, the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses has dramatically increased. Oftentime, the abused prescription drugs are unknowingly obtained from family and friends, whether taking medications out of a purse, or a home medicine cabinet.
Finally, expired medicines are also not just a risk to the person they were prescribed for —they can injure children and pets if taken by mistake. For all these reasons, proper disposal of unneeded and expired medicines is essential!

What to do with expired meds

First, read the medicine’s label and follow any specific disposal instructions that may be included. A drug take-back program, if available, is the preferred way to dispose of expired, unwanted or unused medicine. From 10am – 2pm on April 28th at Village Pharmacy in Hampstead, we are participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event addresses a vital public safety and public health issue by focusing attention on the importance of keeping your communities safe and reminding everyone to get rid of unneeded and outdated medicines. Through this important program many tons of unneeded and out-date drugs have been removed for proper disposal.
When drug take-back programs aren’t available, federal guidelines recommend throwing the medicines away in the household trash after mixing them with a substance like dirt or kitty litter and then sealing the mixture in a container like a zipper baggie.
Follow these instructions for disposing of most medications in the household trash:

  1. Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance like dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds.
  2. Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
  3. Throw the container in your household trash.
  4. Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container.

For a list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing, as well as other information on proper disposal, please see the FDA’s Disposal of Unused Medicines page.

A place for everything

Proper storage is one way to help make sure your medicines will remain safe and effective up to their expiration date. Be sure to read the label to see if there are specific storage instructions for your medicine. Certain medicines need to be stored in the refrigerator and others cannot be exposed to high temperatures. Improper storage – such as a damp bathroom cabinet – can contribute to decreased effectiveness in medicines that have not reached their posted expiration date. For most medicines, to help ensure the proper shelf life of your medicine, it is better to store medicine in a cool, dry place such as a dresser drawer, storage box, closet shelf, or kitchen cabinet.
When storing medicine in a kitchen cabinet make sure that it is away from hot appliances and the sink due to changing temperatures and humidity, which can affect the medicine. When storing medicine in a high traffic area, like a kitchen, care should be taken to prevent access by children at risk of accidental poisoning or others who may be tempted to take for abuse/misuse.
Remember to store medicines properly and don’t use expired medicines — it’s not worth the risk!
Hope to see you on April 28th!

Source: FDA and WebMD

Prevent Falls at Home

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We are pleased to offer the complete line of Nova Medical Products at our pharmacies. Their home safety products can prevent injuries and make mobility a bit easier for our senior customers who
want to remain independent.
Did you know that over 60% of falls occur at home, and the majority of those falls occur in the bathroom? And, one in three adults aged 65 or older fall each year. Every year, 235,000 people over age 15 visit the emergency room for injuries suffered in the bathroom. Being proactive can keep you safe and prevent injuries.
Here are some helpful tips and tools to guide you:nova

  • Never lock your bathroom door. It could prevent help from reaching you promptly. Instead, use a Do Not Disturb sign.
  • If you have trouble getting on and off a chair, then you are also having trouble getting on and off a toilet. An elevated toilet seat and handrails can make all the difference.
  • Getting in and out of the tub or shower can be tricky, and holding on to the sink or towel rack isn’t safe. Using grab bars is a much better option.
  • A bath bench with back provides comfort and safety when bathing or showering. This should be used with an 84″ long hand held shower.
  • Use a non-skid bath mat in the bathtub and the shower floor to prevent slipping.
  • Set water heater thermostats at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to avoid scalds.
  • Use shower gel instead of bar soap that can slip out of your hands and onto the floor.
  • Install a night light that comes on automatically in dim light.
  • Mark water faucets clearly with “hot” and “cold” labels. Replace faucet handles with easy to use levers.

We have several Nova Products in stock including:

  • Walkers and accessories
  • Canes
  • Crutches
  • Back cushions
  • Back sponges
  • Bath seats and cushions
  • Grab bars
  • Shoe horns with extended reach arm
  • Hand exercisers
  • Reachers
  • Hand held shower

The Groove walker comes standard with two seat heights, locking hand brakes, padded seat, under seat pouch, flip-up back, 8” wheels and it’s fold-able/collapsible to make it easy to take with you. You can also get several accessories for it including a flashlight, cane holder, bag holder, and basket to name a few.
Available with and without arms, our Nova bath seats are all standard with aluminum frames, sturdy plastic seats with drainage holes, skid-resistant rubber tips and some models can accommodate up to 500 pounds of weight.
Our Nova canes come in a large selection of colors and patterns to meet the unique tastes and styles of our customers. All canes are made with high-quality, lightweight aluminum and are easy to adjust.
Our wide selection of Nova cushions, pillows, and wedges are available to help you sit and sleep in comfort. Gel-foam, memory foam, egg crate foam, and adjustable air foam cushions let you select the seat that’s perfect for your needs. All cushions either washable, or have removable and washable covers. Get a good night’s sleep by using leg wedges, knee supports, neck, shoulder and back supports.
Stop by and check our all of these products for you or a loved one. We want to help keep you independent and safe at home.
Thanks to Nova Medical Products for the great information!

Summer Safety

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Summer is heating up and that means more time outside playing sports, having picnics, and going on vacation. Along with all of these activities there are associated risks that you can avoid if you’re aware of them.
Avoid the heat
Whether it’s a tennis match, going for a run, or playing on the beach, getting overheated can cause a heat stroke. When the body gets hotter and hotter, blood gets thicker and you’re at a greater risk of heat stroke. Signs include:

  • Red, hot, dry skin
  • Rapid pulse
  • Throbbing headache
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness

Be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water or sports drinks and find some shade and take plenty of breaks throughout the day.
Water Safety
Living close to the water, it’s important to teach water safety at a very early age. Teach your kids how to swim when they are young. And, it’s critical to install proper fencing around a pool and keep your eyes on the kids when they are playing near water or swimming.
Even if you’re a strong swimmer, you should never swim alone. And, if you’re boating in the open water or kayaking on the river, wearing a life jacket is just as important as wearing your seatbelt when you’re in your car.
Food Safety
We all love our neighborhood gathering or church picnics. There’s lots of good food to enjoy along with the company. However, there’s a greater risk of food poisoning when food is left out in the sun. The basic rule of thumb is to keep hot foods hot and keep cold foods cold. Use separate coolers for cold foods and beverages. You can also use coolers to insulate hot foods (at least temporarily).
Proper cooking temperatures for meat:

  • 165° Poultry (whole and ground)
  • 160° Ground beef, lamb, veal, or pork; sausages
  • 145° Beef steaks, lamb, pork chops, and seafood (and let them rest at that heat for three minutes before serving to get rid of bacteria)

When it’s time to put the food out on tables, it’s important to not leave it out more than a couple of hours. Mayonnaise based foods, like potato salad, deviled eggs, and some pasta salad tend to spoil more quickly than other cold foods. Whatever you’re bringing to the party, be sure to pack an ice tray to keep it colder longer.
Bug Bites and Bee Stings
There seems to be nothing worse than a picnic or other outdoor activity that is filled with nagging bugs. Mosquito bites cause itching, and can transmit West Nile, Zika virus, other viruses. Bee stings are painful, can itch for days and for some they can cause a serious allergic reaction. Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, so keep them and other bugs away with outdoor citronella-type candles, and keep them off your skin with bug sprays containing DEET.

  • The current American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC recommendation for children older than 2 months of age is to use 10% to 30% DEET. DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months of age.
  • The effectiveness is similar for 10% to 30% DEET but the duration of effect varies. Ten percent DEET provides protection for about 2 hours, and 30% protects for about 5 hours. Choose the lowest concentration that will provide the required length of coverage.

If you do get stung, scrape the area to remove the stinger, then use ice to reduce swelling. And apply an antihistamine cream to the affected area. If the reaction is more severe, seek immediate medical attention.
Sun Safety
Protecting your skin and eyes from the sun can not only prevent skin cancer, but also prevent damage to your vision. If you must be outside at mid-day, be sure to wear protective clothing like long sleeve SPF 50 clothing and hats, sunglasses and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours, and whenever you have been in water — even if the sunscreen is waterproof.
Equip your First Aid Kit
Whether you are at home or on the road, having a well-equipped first aid kit is good to have on hand to help relieve cuts, pains and insect bites and stings.

  • Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen
  • Bandages and adhesive tape
  • Antibacterial cream
  • Antacid
  • Anti-itch cream
  • Antihistamine (like Benadryl)
  • Aloe
  • Icepack

Start your summer off on the right foot and stop by one of our stores and pick up your first aid kit essentials so you have them in case of emergency. Also, write down your emergency contact numbers, including family members, doctors and pharmacy information, and keep them handy if need them.

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