Posts Tagged ‘Grace Kilbane’

Although we’ve had it made in the shade this summer, this is the time of year when things can really heat up. As the fall sports programs start to work out our young athletes, it is important to be aware of the risks of heat injury.

There are three main types of heat injury that range in severity and urgency: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Read on to educate yourself on how to beat the heat!

Heat cramps can be common in people who work or exercise outdoors and lose too much salt through sweating. Salt is an important regulator of skeletal muscle contractions. If your salt levels are out of whack, your muscles may not function properly and may begin cramping. If you notice cramping, you should opt for a sports drink (such as Gatorade) instead of water to help replace some of the salt and potassium lost by your body and call it a day. If the cramping does not subside within one hour or you notice that your urine is very dark or brown, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to excessive loss of water and salt through sweating. Symptoms include: rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, fast but shallow breathing, and skin that is cool and damp. Treat heat exhaustion by resting in a cool area and drinking lots of water. A cool shower or bath can help your body maintain a safe temperature. Heat exhaustion may also be accompanied by heat cramps.

Heat stroke occurs when your body is no longer able to maintain a safe temperature. Heat stroke is the most serious type of heat injury and can lead to death if not treated. Symptoms of heat stroke include: high body temperature, loss of coordination, confusion, headache, seizure, and skin that is hot and dry. Body temperatures can rise very quickly during heat stroke, and it is important to treat it immediately. Call 911. Get the person to a cooler area as soon as possible. Do NOT give fluids. Begin cooling the body by dousing the person with water and/or placing icepacks in the groin area, armpits, and forehead.

Here’s what you can do to chill out and prevent having a meltdown this year:

• Avoid direct sun between the hours of 11am – 2pm, seek a shady area if possible.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and light fabrics.
• Drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages.
• Do not wait until you become thirsty to drink water, drink two glasses every hour.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and monitor yourself and others.

References:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness.  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat Related Illness.

http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/warning.html

This is my first blog EVER, so naturally I chose to write about lice!!

Each August, kids squeeze every last minute out of summer, parents go back-to-school shopping, and pharmacies stock up on nit combs. Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and dish the dirt on lice.

The human head louse is a parasite that lives on the scalp, feeding on human blood. Lice have specialized legs that grip human head hair. Head lice do not spread disease, but can cause intense itching. The eggs of the louse are called “nits,” and the adult glues them to the hair shaft.

Lice outbreaks are associated with close personal contact, not with poor hygiene. Lice commonly spread in elementary schools and day care centers where children interact closely.

Avoid sharing hats, brushes, stuffed animals, towels, or pillows to help stop the spread of lice. Wash clothing and bed linens in hot water (>130 ⁰ F), vacuum often, and examine children regularly if an outbreak is suspected.

There are many treatments available to treat lice including non-drug, over-the-counter, and prescription treatments. You’ll notice the details depend on which method you use, so double check directions with the pharmacy. Not to be “nit-picky,” but incorrectly using the medication or method will leave you scratching your head.

Over-the-Counter Options 

• Rid: Apply to DRY hair and massage until wet. Leave on for 10 minutes. Add water, work into a lather, and rinse thoroughly. Comb hair through with nit comb. MUST repeat in 7 – 10 days.
• Nix: Apply to clean, towel-dried hair. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water. Comb hair through with nit comb. May need to repeat in 7 – 10 days.

Prescription Options

• Permethrin 1% (Nix): Apply to clean, towel-dried hair. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly with water. Comb hair through with nit comb. May repeat in 7 – 10 days.
• Permethrin 5% (Elimite): Apply to clean, dry hair and leave on overnight (8-14 hours) under shower cap. Then rinse thoroughly and comb hair through after rinsing.
• Malathion (Ovide): Apply to dry hair and scalp until moistened. Shampoo out after 8-12 hours. Avoid open flame while treating.

Non-Drug Options

• Daily wet combings: Wet hair with water and remove tangles with a comb. Start behind ears, separating hair into sections. Start at scalp and pull nit comb through to the end of hair. Wipe comb with a tissue or wet wipe and discard in plastic bag. Continue for hair all over head. Repeat until every part of head has been checked at least 5 times. When finished, tie up the plastic bag and discard in dumpster. Repeat combings daily for two (2) weeks. Wash comb under running tap water and use old toothbrush to clean. Wash comb in hot water for 10 minutes or store in freezer for 24 hours before re-using. This method requires a lot of time and persistence but is an option for those who would like to avoid the use of chemicals.

References:

Guidelines for Treatment of Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice). Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection. August, 2008. Available from: http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/publications/head_lice_guidelines_for_treatment.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Head Lice. November 2010. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html

Please stop in and meet our student pharmacist, Grace Kilbane, who will be with us for the entire month of August. Grace is joined this month by future pharmacist, Ann Kuttothara, who is also a fourth year Ohio State pharmacy student. Give Grace and Ann hearty welcomes and make them fall in love with our special community!

Here is what Grace tells us about herself. We’ll introduce Ann in a follow up blog later in the week.

“I have always loved the outdoors and spent hours ‘creeking’ (catching frogs and hunting salamanders) in the Delaware county area where I grew up. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology from Loyola University of Chicago, where I worked my way through summers as a scientific diver researching fish behavior in Lake Michigan. Next, I earned my Masters (MS) degree in Ecology from THE Ohio State University studying aquatic invertebrate responses to hydraulic stress during Midwestern floods.

“My first career as a freshwater biologist carried me to many exotic and interesting places including New Zealand, Vancouver, Idaho, Seattle, Texas, Colorado, New Orleans, Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. During this time, I did many jobs from collecting and identifying aquatic invertebrates to underwater endangered species surveys. I became adept at piloting small boats, communicating underwater, and managing resources.

“After all this globetrotting, my wanderlust finally wore off and I moved back to the city where I was born to settle down and find a more stable career with less travel. I began working as a pharmacy technician in 2007 and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love all over again–this time with a different career. I enrolled as a continuing education student to finish off my pre-requisites for application to pharmacy school while working the night shift at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. I started the Doctor of Pharmacy program in the fall of 2010 and expect to graduate in May of 2014.

“The one thing I was missing throughout my previous career was a connection with people. I hope to go into community pharmacy to fulfill this need and to make a difference in the lives of individuals. Although I’ve contemplated individual ownership, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to make that step and so I’m very interested in learning more about how a successful independent business operates. I am eager to learn as much as I possibly can both in management and in the compounding lab during my time at Plain City Druggist. I’m proud to be called a Student Pharmacist and a student of pharmacy!

“When I’m not studying or working, I find inspiration in endurance training. I consider every new accomplishment as a triumph of the human spirit and am constantly amazed at what someone can accomplish when they commit to a goal. I completed several half marathons and several 100 mile bike rides, including the 2-day, 220 mile Tour of the Scioto River Valley that rides from Columbus to Portsmouth and back again. I play recreational softball with the Ohio State department of Entomology on a team endearingly called ‘The Maggots.’ I also enjoy gardening, hiking, camping, canoeing, traveling, and giving back to the community. I volunteer regularly for the New Life Free Clinic, have donated over 2 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross, and am a member of the Franklin County and Columbus Medical Reserve Corps.”