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Archive for June, 2019

Music in the Park Features Funky Waters This Sunday, June 30, at 7 pm.

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Plain City’s Music in the Park continues this week on Sunday, June 30 at 7 pm with Funky Waters, which features electric blues and an interesting and unique ensemble of seasoned musicians playing a variety of classic blues music.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and meet in the Gazebo area of the park. You can make a voluntary donation to the Plain City Music in the Park program at intermission.

Here is a listing of the schedule for rest of the season:

July 7, Sunday, 7 pm, Counterpoint Acoustic Duo, featuring Christopher James in a duo with accompaning guitar and vocals. Sure to be a relaxing evening of easy listening music.

August 11, Sunday, 7 pm, Shriners Jazz Band–enjoy dance, Big Band, and Swing music presented by the Shriners.

August 25, Sunday, 7 pm, Lower London Street Dixieland Band featuring 1920’s and dixieland music. This is our friend Ernie Sparks’ band. He is the pharmacist in London and plays the drums.

For more information, you can also visit the Village of Plain City’s web site HERE or visit the Plain City Parks and Recreation Facebook page HERE.

Travel Safety. By Our Student Pharmacist, Steve McVey.

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Summer vacation and travel are here!

The summer months can be very relaxing and fun, but travel can be stressful and bring with it unexpected issues. One thing that can make travel even more stressful is having to manage your medications away from home. It is important to know if there are any restrictions on traveling with your medications, how to store them while traveling, and how to take them if you are traveling outside your normal time zone. If you plan to fly, make sure you check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website ahead of time to know what the rules are about traveling with your medications (you can search “medications”).

Several helpful tips include:

  • Carry a letter from your physician that includes medical conditions and medications you are taking. Include your physician’s and pharmacy’s phone numbers.
  • Keep your medications with you in your carry-on.
  • Keep your medications in the original, labeled prescription containers if possible.
  • Tell the screener that you have your medications in your bag and alert them if you have diabetic testing supplies with you.
  • These rules can change so always be sure to check before you travel.

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If you are planning to drive, ask your pharmacist about any special storage instructions for your medications. You may need to use cold packs and coolers for refrigerated medications. Plan ahead so you don’t run out of medication. Let your pharmacy know 1-2 weeks ahead of your travel plans. This will allow them time to work through any potential issues in getting your medication or working with your insurance. Your pharmacist can also instruct you on how to take your medications in a different time zone.

If you plan on driving, make sure your vehicle is in good repair. Have a mechanic do a checkup to screen for potential safety issues. Educate yourself on roadside repair and know what to do/who to contact should you have issues you cannot resolve. Map out your refueling plan to keep from running out of gas. If you are traveling to other states, you may want to familiarize yourself with any unique traffic laws.

Study up and educate yourself about your travel destination. Learn what services are available and where to find them. Inquire about any special weather conditions or other unexpected or unique occurrences (i.e. traveling to a location where flash flooding is a possibility, local events that may impact your travel plans, etc.). You may also want to learn about the local culture. Educating yourself will enrich your experiences and keep you safe and healthy during your stay.

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International travel presents a host of other considerations you should review prior to travel. Schedule a visit with your physician about 4-6 weeks in advance to make sure you are healthy and able to travel. Discuss with your physician or pharmacist what immunizations you may need while traveling to that area. Some needed vaccinations may be unexpected, like the current resurgence of measles.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the first two months of 2019 there were over 34,000 confirmed cases of measles in 42 countries in the WHO European region.

You can learn more about staying safe and healthy while traveling at this CDC website.

A few helpful tips about international travel also include:

  • Wash your hands frequently and before eating, drinking, or touching your face. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid tap water and other sources of unpurified water (i.e. ice, fountain drinks, etc.). Instead choose bottled products or heated drinks.
  • Be careful of what you eat. Avoid street vendors and never eat undercooked meat or vegetables. Avoid raw fruits and veggies unless you can peel them before eating.
  • Protect yourself from bug bites, animal bites, and sunburn.

Vacations and travel can provide needed rest and relaxation, as well as many great memories. Prepare for your travels well ahead of time to minimize stress and keep yourself healthy as you have fun.

References:

  1. Transportation Security Administration. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.tsa.gov/. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  2. Travel and Your Medicines. Pharmacist Letter. Therapeutic Research Center. https://pharmacist.therapeuticresearch.com/Content/Segments/PRL/2016/Jul/Travel-and-Your-Medicines-9921. Published June 2016. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  3. Staying Healthy While Abroad. Pharmacist Letter. Therapeutic Research Center. https://pharmacist.therapeuticresearch.com/Content/Segments/PRL/2013/May/Staying-Healthy-While-Abroad-5575. Published April 2013. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  4. Traveler’s Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel. Accessed June 27, 2019.
  5. Measles- European Region. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/csr/don/06-may-2019-measles-euro/en/. Updated May 6, 2019. Accessed June 27, 2019.

Photo Sources:

  1. Plane: https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/best-travel-tips-2018-21-things-experienced-business-travelers-say-to-do-when-you-hit-road.html
  2. Photography/Mountain: https://www.outsideonline.com/2393413/what-to-know-when-traveling-alone
  3. Car: https://backroadramblers.com/how-to-pack-a-small-car-for-a-big-trip/

June is National Safety Month. By Our Student Pharmacist, Stephanie VanHouten.

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June is National Safety Month.

National Safety Month aims to promote work, home, and travel safety! According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, accidental injuries are the leading cause of death to people aged 44 and under. National Safety Month is all about spreading awareness on ways to reduce risk of accidents and injury.

The US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has suggested the following ways to reduce risk:

  1. Prevent poisoning: Most accidental poisonings happen to people at home. Some common sources of poisoning are spoiled food, medicines, cleaning products, and cosmetic products. Be sure to keep these items out of reach of children or impaired adults. NEVER share prescription medicine with others.
  2. Driving safely: Focus only on driving. Do not let other activities distract you like eating, texting, or talking on the phone. Distracted driving causes nine deaths every day in the United States!
  3. Avoid falls: Over 25% of seniors fall every year. Falls cause injuries like broken bones and skin lacerations that too often lead to death. But older adults aren’t the only ones at risk! With summer comes increased hiking and rock climbing, as well as increased construction. Anyone can fall doing these activities.

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Additionally, the National Safety Council (NSC) chose four safety points to focus on for the month of June:

  • Recognizing hazards: The NSC suggests thinking about every action you take before you take it. Avoiding hazards is all about learning to anticipate them. They also suggest reducing hidden hazards like replacing burnt out light bulbs that are causing poor lighting, and keeping potentially hazardous substances out of sight from children and pets.
  • Avoiding Falls: Just like the ODPHP, NSC has also placed emphasis on preventing falls, especially in the workplace. Stairs are a common fall hazard. Always take extra caution when going up or down them, especially when carrying items. Avoid leaving open drink containers laying around that can easily spill and create slip risks. Trying to multitask while walking can also cause falls. Don’t text and walk at work!
  • Fatigue: Being overly tired puts you at risk for having accidents. The NSC suggests “A.C.E.S.” to get the proper amount of sleep. A.C.E.S stands for:
    • A-Alcohol: drinking before bed can interrupt your circadian rhythm and cause your sleep to be less restful.
    • C-Caffeine: caffeine is a stimulant that can cause you to lose sleep. Limit your daily intake and avoid it at night.
    • E-Environment: keep your bedroom dark and cool for the best night’s sleep.
    • S-Screens: blue light from your phone, computer, or TV tricks your body into thinking it’s still daylight and causing you to produce less melatonin, keeping you awake. Avoid screen time before bed.
  • Impairment: Impairment at work is a leading cause of workplace injury. Of course, we suggest you NEVER do drugs (including marijuana) or alcohol before or during work, but other things can cause impairment, such as loss of sleep and some medications. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications cause mild to extreme impairment. Be sure you know how your medication affects you before taking it at or prior to work.

Some common medications that cause sleepiness include:

  • Pain relievers like Percocet (oxycodone-acetaminophen)
  • Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • Muscle relaxers like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)
  • Certain mental health drugs like Desyrel (trazodone) and many, many more!

Ask your pharmacist for more information about your medication regimen!

For more information about National Safety Month visit https://www.nsc.org or visit us at Plain City Druggist in Plain City, Ohio, Happy Druggist in West Jefferson, Ohio, or Happy Druggist on Karl Road in Columbus, Ohio.

We sincerely wish you all a safe summer!

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References:

  1. National Safety Month. US Department of Health and Human Services. 06/2019. Accessed online at https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx on 6/25/2019.
  2. Teen Safe. 100 Distracted Driving Facts and Statistics for 2018. 12/26/2018. Accessed online at https://teensafe.com/100-distracted-driving-facts-statistics-for-2018/ on 6/25/2019.
  3. National Safety Council. National Safety Month Free Material. Accessed online at https://www.nsc.org/pages/nsm-public-materials on 6/25/2019.

 

Summer is Officially Here! By Our Student Pharmacist, Andris Grinvalds.

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Summer has officially started. The turn of the season from spring to summer was on June 21, the summer solstice.

We have two solstices during the year, Summer and Winter. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the winter solstice is the shortest. In the southern hemisphere they are in opposite seasons, so they just celebrated their winter solstice this past week. If you were to travel to the north pole, the sun would not set. There is continuous daylight, since it is the time of year where the northern pole is facing the sun.

The summer solstice is celebrated around the world. It is especially observed in Northern European countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the three Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, where the solstice is an ancient tradition.

I am going to give some deeper insight into how the solstice is celebrated in the small country of Latvia, since I am Latvian and have celebrated the holiday with all its traditions in the Latvian countryside.

The Latvian solstice is a national holiday celebrated on the evening of June 23 through June 24 by the entire country, as well as by Latvians living abroad. The holiday is known in Latvian as Jāņi, translated to John’s Day. It is also called Līgosvētki or Līgo festival, but the word Līgo does not have a translation. Celebrations include elements of plants, fire, food and drink, as well as singing and dancing.

In the Latvian countryside, neighbors travel from house to house together, sharing in food and drinks, while singing and dancing to celebrate the solstice. Each family usually makes their own verses to a song and when the neighbors travel from house to house, they sing their songs back and forth in a kind of singing duel.

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During the celebration, people drink beer and eat a type of cheese made with caraway called Jāņu siers or John’s cheese. This is thought to promote a good harvest of barley and good health for cows in the upcoming year.

There is always a big bonfire to celebrate the holiday and it burns all night. One of the traditions of the holiday is to jump over the fire. This is said to bring good luck and health for the upcoming year.

Another tradition is that wreaths made of flowers and grasses for females and oak leaves for males are worn on the head. The flowers are said to protect against misfortunes and sickness and keep enemies away. Oak leaves for men symbolize the strength of oak trees and are said to bring the promise of strong horses and bees. These symbols along with the bonfire are symbols of the sun.

In Latvian folklore, it is also thought that the fern blooms into a flower on the night of the celebration of the summer solstice, June 23. The flower brings good fortune and happiness to whoever finds it. But the flower is very rare and is guarded by evil spirits and can only be found by those deserving of it.

These traditions are celebrated every year in Latvia, but also here in the United States. Latvian American communities still get together every summer solstice to celebrate the longest day of the year. Most of the traditions are also celebrated, such as having a big bonfire, singing and dancing, as well as drinking and eating the traditional food.

References:

Jāņi. Accessed June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20120620182318/http://www.liis.lv/folklora/gadsk/origin/jani.htm

Caption for Pictures:

This is a picture of the traditional Latvian cheese eaten during the summer solstice celebration.

Accessed June 21, 2019. https://receptes.tvnet.lv/recepte/206-janu-siers

 

This is a picture of a wreath made of flowers and grasses. This is something women would wear during the celebration of the summer solstice.

Accessed June 21, 2019. https://puaro.lv/interesanti/janu-tradicijas-atsvaidzinam-zinasanas-lai-nepaliekam-kauna/

 

Music in the Park Continues on June 23 with Shrine Concert Band.

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Plain City’s Music in the Park continues this week with the Shrine Concert Band, an historic musical group presenting patriotic, family oriented music on Sunday, June 23 at 7 pm.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and meet in the Gazebo area of the park. You can make a voluntary donation to the Plain City Music in the Park program at intermission.

Here is a listing of the schedule for rest of the season:

June 30, Sunday, 7 pm, Funky Waters–electric blues is on the program. An interesting and unique ensemble of seasoned musicians playing a variety of classic blues music.

July 7, Sunday, 7 pm, Counterpoint Acoustic Duo, featuring Christopher James in a duo with accompaning guitar and vocals. Sure to be a relaxing evening of easy listening music..

August 11, Sunday, 7 pm, Shriners Jazz Band–enjoy dance, Big Band, and Swing music presented by the Shriners.

August 25, Sunday, 7 pm, Lower London Street Dixieland Band featuring 1920’s and dixieland music. This is our friend Ernie Sparks’ band. He is the pharmacist in London and plays the drums.

For more information, you can also visit the Village of Plain City’s web site HERE or visit the Plain City Parks and Recreation Facebook page HERE.