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Archive for October, 2013

Poison Ivy. You Can Still Get it Even as the Weather Changes! By Our October Student Pharmacist, Tracey Dowdell.

I don’t know about you, but I love going into the woods and escaping from all of the troubles of everyday life and achieving a moment of serenity. Braving the wilderness also means that I will potentially come into contact with some of the negative traits of the woods such as mosquitoes, snakes, spiders, and poison ivy.

In this blog post, I will address the various home treatment options for poison ivy.

Let’s start out with discussing what causes poison ivy. The itchy, blister rash that comes from contact with poison ivy is actually caused by the oil from the plant called urushiol. Even though it may look like everything in the woods is drying out and getting ready for winter, urushiol is still on the leaves and actually may be more abundant due to the dryness and cracking of the leaves. After contact with urushiol, approximately 50% of people develop signs and symptoms of poison ivy. The symptoms and severity differ from person to person.

Common symptoms of poison ivy include:

  • Intense itching
  • Skin swelling and redness
  • Blisters (little bubbles of skin that are filled with fluid)
    • FYI: touching the blisters or the fluid inside the blisters will not spread the rash (only the urushiol oil causes the rash).

The best way to treat poison ivy is to avoid it! Since it is bonfire season, please make sure that there are not any poison ivy plants on the wood that you will be burning. It is possible to get the rash from the oil being vaporized as it burns and coming into contact with your skin.

When you are in the woods, you need to know how to identify poison ivy. We all have heard the saying, “Leaves of three, let them be.” While the rhyming slogan is easy to remember, identifying poison ivy is not always that obvious. See the pictures in this blog to help you know poison ivy when you see it.

What to do when you know you have come into contact with poison ivy:

  • The first thing you should do is thoroughly wash your skin with a mild soap, such as Dial or Dawn dish soap.
    • The key is to not use fancy soaps, because the oils in these kinds of soaps will not allow the oil to be removed from your skin.
    • Don’t forget to thoroughly wash under your fingernails.
    • Next make sure you wash EVERYTHING that may have come into contact with the poison ivy.
      • This includes your clothes, dog/cat, and don’t forget your shoes and shoelaces!

Your rash should go away on its own within one to three weeks, but if the itching is unbearable you can do and use the following over the counter treatments to help relieve the itching:

  • Avoid scratching (scratching actually makes the itch worse).
  • Soak in oatmeal baths.
  • Apply cool, wet compresses such as washcloths or paper towels.
  • Apply calamine lotion.
  • If your rash has blisters and they begin to ooze fluid, use astringents containing aluminum acetate (Burrow’s solution™ or Domeboro™).
  • Steroid creams may be helpful if they are used during the first few days after symptoms develop.
    • Hydrocortisone 1% is available over the counter.
    • Antihistamines do not help to relieve itching caused by poison ivy.
      • The ones that make you sleepy (i.e. diphenhydramine aka: Benadryl™) can help you to ignore the itch while you are asleep.

Treatments you should avoid because they can make your rash worse:

  • Antihistamine creams or lotions (i.e. Benadryl™ or Allegra™ CREAM).
  • Pain relieving creams containing benzocaine.
  • Antibiotic creams containing neomycin or bacitracin (i.e. Neosporin™).

You should see your doctor or nurse if:

  • Your rash is severe.
  • Most of your body is affected.
  • Your face or genitals are affected.
  • You have a lot of swelling.
  • Your rash oozes pus or gives other signs of being infected.
  • Your rash does not get better after two to three weeks.

I hope you can enjoy the wonderful fall weather. I know I will be enjoying the outdoors this season!

Treating Minor Sports Injuries. By Our October Student Pharmacist, Tracey Dowdell.

The weather is cooling down and the leaves are starting to change. Fall is finally here! I don’t know about you, but fall is my favorite time of the year. Some of my favorite things about fall are: the crisp air, the beautiful and colorful scenery, and fall sports (especially football).

With sports, however, there are always injuries. The best way to treat an injury is by preventing the injury from happening in the first place! This can be done with properly fitted equipment and braces, good technique, and performing an adequate warm up.

In high school, I was enrolled in a two year athletic training course and I became very familiar with the various types of injuries that can happen in high school sporting events.

In this blog post, I will discuss how to treat some of the minor athletic injuries that can happen to your child.

First and foremost, if you think your child might need to see a doctor after an injury, don’t second guess yourself. Take your child to the doctor as soon as possible.

After an acute (sudden) sports injury, you should always remember “RICE” (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation):

Rest:

  • Rest is important after an injury so that your child doesn’t aggravate or reinjure his/her injury.

Ice:

  • Icing a swollen injury is one of the best things you can do.
  • Icing decreases inflammation (swelling) and numbs the painful area.
  • As we age, we tend to apply heat to our aching joints. But if you were to apply heat to a swollen sports injury, you could potentially make it worse.
  • The best rule of thumb for icing an injury is 20 minutes ON and 45 minutes OFF. This means that you should only apply the ice for 20 minutes. Then take it off for 45 minutes. Then repeat.

Various Ways to Ice:

1. Ice Cup:

This is one of my favorite icing techniques. To make an ice cup you fill a paper Dixie cup with water and freeze it. Then you peel off some of the rim of the cup and rub it in circular motions on the skin. By constantly moving the ice in a circle you are preventing the skin from getting frost bite.

2. Ice Pack:

This is the simplest method of icing. All that you have to do is place a bag of ice (or a frozen bag of corn or peas) on the injury. It is important that you put either a towel or clothing between your skin and the ice pack to prevent frostbite.

3. Ice Bath:

This method involves submerging the injured area in a bucket of ice water. I would only recommend using this method for ankle or hand injuries since they are a little harder to apply ice to. All that is involved in this method is filling a bucket with water and ice and placing your injured ankle or hand in the cold slush for 15-20 minutes.

Compression:

  • Compression helps sports injuries by pushing the swelling out of the injured area and increasing blood circulation for improved healing.
  • All you need is an ACE wrap, nothing fancy.
  • To compress an injury properly you need to wrap the area starting at a point furthest away from the trunk of your body. You then end at the point closest to the trunk of your body overlapping the ACE bandage as you go up.
  • Be careful not to wrap the area too tightly and cut off circulation.
  • Never go to bed with a compression wrap on.
  • If you are trying to wrap a shoulder or hip, ask your child’s athletic trainer or sports doctor to show you how to do it. Wrapping techniques for shoulders and hips are more involved than an ankle, hand, or knee and are difficult to explain in words without a demonstration.

Elevation:

  • Elevation also helps to decrease swelling. When elevating an injured area you should have it elevated above the level of your heart.

Over the counter ibuprofen (Advil™/Motrin™) or acetaminophen (Tylenol™) can be used to help control pain. Ibuprofen will also help with swelling, but acetaminophen will not affect swelling.

REMEMBER TO ASK YOUR PHARMACIST IF IT IS ALRIGHT FOR YOU TO TAKE ANY OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS. ALWAYS ASK IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF HOW MUCH TO TAKE AND HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD TAKE A MEDICATION.

If after using the RICE method for two days, there is still swelling in the injured area, you should make an appointment to see a doctor.

If you have any questions, please call me or feel free to stop in the store any time to talk!

Plain City Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12, Will Raise Money for 2014 Fireworks.

To raise money for the 2014 July 4th Plain City Fireworks display, a group of Plain City residents are banding together to host the Plain City Fall Festival on Saturday, October 12, in Pastime Park from 10 am to 7 pm. The public entrance will be at the north entrance of Pastime Park with all attendees asked to make a goodwill donation.

Check out all the great events that are planned for a full day!

Former Plain City resident, Arnett Howard, will perform from noon to 2 pm. There will be other live musicians and bands performing the rest of the day, including The TJ Smith Project (10-11 am), Darby Smith (11 am to noon), Joe Thompson (2-3 pm), Graham Studio Irish Step Dancers (3 pm), Gregg Jordan (3:30-5 pm), Locker 15 (5-6 pm), and Drawing Airplanes (6-7 pm). Bring chairs or blankets and make it a day!

The Pleasant Valley Fire District has challenged the Jerome Township Fire Department to a chili cook off at noon. The winner will receive the “Chili King Trophy,” as well as bragging rights for the upcoming year.

DJ, Mac Thomas, who entertained during the Plain City Cruise In, will be in the Gazebo at the Park with his music all day.

There will be tons of antiques, arts and crafts, flea market vendors, and direct sales representatives from Thirty One, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Pink Zebra, and Origami Owl.

The Plain City Fireworks Committee will hold a pulled pork barbecue dinner from 5- 7 pm and will be pre-selling tickets for $10 per adult, $5 per child.

You can also test your skills at a pumpkin carving contest, paint pumpkins, go on a hayride, eat candied apples, get your face painted, and allow the kids to romp all day long!

Leslie Perkins and Colleen Davis are co-chairs. For more information, you can visit the Plain City Fall Festival web site HERE.

“Donations for Dennis Benefit” for Mary Johnson’s Son, Dennis Mayo, on Saturday, October 12.

Most of you know our former employee and good friend, Mary Johnson. Mary recently moved back to Mechanicsburg to be near her family. Unfortunately, in the past several months Mary has suffered a lot of heart break and we would ask you to keep her in your prayers.

On July 6, Mary’s son, Dennis Mayo, was injured in a mowing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Dennis also had two broken vertebrae and four broken ribs. Two steel rods were placed in his back. Dennis’ doctors report that he is doing really well in therapy. Mary and the family are hoping and praying that the paralysis is temporary and that with continued therapy, Dennis will walk again.

Because of this accident, family and friends will be hosting a benefit in Dennis’ honor to help raise money for many of his healthcare bills.

For those of you who do not personally know Dennis, he is a 58-year-old, good-natured, happy-go-lucky man. He is a loving husband to his wife, Terri; a terrific dad to his daughter, Stacy (and dogs Cosmo and Baby); a devoted son to his mother, Mary; a dear brother to his sister, Susan; a special brother-in-law to Shelly, Lana, and Keith; and a fun-loving uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend to countless others.

Dennis is and always will be a “home-town” guy from Mechanicsburg who is known to many as “The Fix-It Guy.” Dennis can sometimes be spotted sitting on the “liar’s bench” at Winner’s One Stop visiting with friends with his trusted dogs at his feet. Dennis has been employed at Urbana University for the past sixteen years where he served as the maintenance supervisor. He has also been employed by Sodexo for the last eleven years. Unfortunately, he will probably not be able to return to work any time soon.

Because he won’t be able to go back to work in the near future, his friends and family have decided to help raise money to assist with the hospital, Med-Flight transportation, pharmacy, and therapy bills with a benefit on Saturday, October 12 from 3 pm to midnight. An outside elevator and wheelchair ramp was installed at Dennis’ home to assist him, which also created more expenses.

Dennis is a proud man, but he has agreed to let his family and friends assist him in this traumatic situation. He is very strong-willed and by his own admission claims, “I will walk again.” Hopefully, Dennis will be able to walk and return to work someday. Anyone who knows Dennis will attest to the fact that if he puts his mind to something, he will do it!

The “Donations for Dennis Benefit” will take place at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2118 Eagle Road, Woodstock, Ohio 43084. The committee is planning several fundraisers for this event. They are soliciting for donations to contribute to raffles and a silent auction (gift baskets, gift certificates, electronics, or cash donations). There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Monetary donations can be made at any Security National Bank.

Checks can be made out to “Donations for Dennis Benefit.”

Additionally, there will be a hog roast from 4 until 7 pm. D. J. Ted Walter with El Dorado Karaoke will be playing.

The “Kick Off” for music will begin at 6 pm with Bill Purk. Live music will also take place from 8 pm until midnight with Jarious Railroad and 9-Volt.

For more information, check out the “Donations for Dennis” event page on Facebook HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the Committee Members:

1. Susan Mayo Rutan (Dennis’ Sister), 937-508-8328, susan@ctcn.net

2. Stacia Mayo Deane (Dennis’ Daughter), 937-869-0647, stacia.deane@yahoo.com

3. Kim Gibson (Urbana University Colleague), 937-484-1203, kgibson@urbana.edu

The family and friends of Dennis Mayo thank you very much for your support, prayers, loving thoughts, and for helping them to make this benefit a huge success.

Annual Joe “Hug” James Memorial Poker Run Will Benefit Shellie Huff on October 12.

This year, the Annual Joe “Hug” James Memorial Poker Run will benefit Shellie Huff who has been fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Shellie has a very rare form of vascular cancer. Unfortunately, there is no known cure or treatment for this type of cancer. Shellie has been to the Cleveland Clinic and the James in Columbus seeking advice and care. This has been a very rough time for the whole family. Please keep Shellie and those who love and support her in your prayers.

The Poker Run for Shellie will be held on Saturday, October 12. To make the flyer in the right corner larger, click on it. You can then print it out.

The Poker Run will begin with registration at C & A Harley Davidson, 7610 Commerce Place in Plain City at 10 am. Registration is $20 per person and includes the ride, hog roast, and admission to hear four bands play at Lee’s Sports and Spirits in Plain City. The first bikes will head to Lucky’s Grill and Sports Pub in Marysville at 11 am. The final bikes will leave at noon. Cars are also welcome.

There are six stops on the run, which will end at Lee’s.  The run will leave Lucky’s Grill and Sports Pub and head to Yummy’s Bar and Grill in Milford Center (second stop). The third stop is Braken’s Pub in Urbana. Fourth Stop is Village Inn Tavern in Mechanicsburg. The fifth stop, before heading back to Lee’s, is Oak Grove in Galloway.

If you are not taking part in the poker run, the cost is $10 per person or $15 per couple for food and to hear the bands. There will also be a benefit auction, raffles, and a corn hole tournament.

The four bands playing will include Karma 10The Charlie Tatman Band, Ron Keel, and Stay Tun’d.

There is also a Shellie L. Huff Cancer Fund set up at Richwood Bank, 601 West Main Street, in Plain City to help Shellie and her family with Shellie’s struggle with cancer. Anyone can stop in to Richwood Bank and make a donation for Shellie. If you cannot take part in the Poker Run, please consider stopping at Richwood to support the Huff family.

Keep up with everything concerning the benefit for Shellie on Facebook HERE.