Prepare For Cold War
With the cold and flu season approaching, it’s time to sort out the medicine cabinet.
Informational materials will be available to consumers at several local pharmacies in a program called the Medicine Cabinet Safety campaign. The program focuses on three key messages:
* Review your medicine cabinet contents. Check expiration dates and consult your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions.
* Remove expired medications and make sure you’re aware of over-the-counter products that may interact with prescription drugs you are taking.
* Restock with medications that meet your family’s individual needs, such as pain relief, nighttime products, allergy and sinus medications, cold and flu treatments, antacids and anti-diarrheals, and first-aid items.
The campaign is sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and the American Pharmaceutical Association.
For more information about the Medicine Cabinet Safety campaign, contact your local pharmacy or visit www.dothecheck.com.
* Breast cancer awareness class: For women who feel they may be at high risk for breast cancer, based on family history, abnormal mammograms or previous breast biopsies, Cancer Care Northwest is offering a free informational class Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the North office, 605 E. Holland. The class is presented by Dr. John Caton. RSVP by calling 464-5100.
* The waiting game: What are the chances that your baby will arrive on his or her actual due date? According to “Great Expectations: An Illustrated Guide to Your Pregnancy, Your Birth, Your Baby” by Antonia van der Meer (Dell, 1993), fewer than 5 percent of babies appear on their actual due date. Other stats: Babies born within four days of due date, 25 percent; within seven days of due date, 50 percent; 14 days before or after due date, 95 percent.
* Over the river and through the woods: If your family is planning a trip to grandmother’s house or anywhere else for that matter, the November issue of Parents Magazine offers tips to make traveling easier.
They suggest packing traveling treats, trail mix made with 2 cups toasted-oatmeal-squares cereal, 1 cup mini pretzel twists, 1 cup mini bear-shaped, chocolate-flavored graham cookies, 3/4 cup dried banana slices and 1/2 cup dried apricots cut in half, makes about 6 cups.
You can listen to “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J.K. Rowling, on cassettes or CDs — all 20 hours of it — in your car ($69.95).
GeoSafari’s travel-size world Challenge has more than 7,500 geography questions about countries, rivers, mountains and landmarks ($44.95; ages 8 and up; 877-543-6549). Or there’s always the old standby, the license-plate game.