Better Communications & NPHW - On the Move

Medication Safety Week

Day Seven

April 7: Better Communication with Health Professionals Day

Actively seek information from your pharmacist about the pills and supplements you are taking. Ask for print-out sheets on all drugs. Discuss all risks and benefits with your prescribing practitioner. Share information about all the medicines and supplements you are taking with every prescribing practitioner and your pharmacist. Discuss expected effects and possible side effects. Discuss if there are any serious side-effects that your doctor needs to know about right away. Report adverse effects promptly and never hesitate to ask questions when it comes to your health. Go to Taking Medications Safely. Go to Taking Coumadin® at Home for safety tips when taking warfarin (generic name for Coumadin) – a blood thinner. Go to www.lamycenter@rx.umaryland.edu for information about geriatric medicine and to http://gerontology.umaryland.edu/docs/lamy.html. Ask consumer questions If you have any concerns at all, call your pharmacist. Your pharmacist is there to help...Just Ask!  (Provided by the Women’s Heart Foundation, www.womensheart.org – thank you)

National Public Health Week

Thursday: On the Move

You can protect yourself, your family and community by taking action, both big and small, to prevent injury. Here are just a few examples:

Start small...

• Wear a seat belt on every trip, no matter how short.
• Make sure children are buckled up in a car seat, booster seat or seat belt.
• Be mindful of the environment and be cautious when crossing the road. Use sidewalks and avoid jaywalking.
• Walk facing traffic and make yourself visible when walking at night.
• Wear a helmet and reflective gear when on a bike, skateboard, scooter or other motor vehicle.
• Avoid texting, eating, using the phone or grooming while driving.
• Be a designated driver. Don’t drink and drive, let others drink and drive, or get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking.
• Avoiding driving while you are tired.
• Discuss your rules of the road and ask your teen to pledge to avoid speeding, texting and having multiple passengers while driving.

Think big…

• Partner with law enforcement officials to offer traffic education classes for both motorists and non-motorists.
• Support graduated driver’s license laws for new drivers.
• Support alcohol screening and brief intervention programs in your community.
• Encourage the PTA to work with schools to implement teen driver safety programs.
• Hold a child safety-seat demonstration to help families ensure their safety seats are installed correctly.
• Work with community and urban design professionals to plan for and create safe walking and cycling conditions.
• Educate policymakers about the importance of traffic calming measures in residential and urban areas.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper that stresses the importance of preventing injuries during NPHW and beyond.

There is much more you can do to prevent injuries beyond these actions. Raise awareness of safety and injury prevention within your community during National Public Health Week. You can help make your community a safer and healthier place to live.