As part of the Safeguard My Meds project, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and
Purdue Pharma L.P. have created a spreadsheet to help families keep track of their prescription
drugs during the busy holiday season. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, at least 70% of those 12 and older say they got prescription drugs from a friend or
family member for free, and many teens took them from medicine cabinets. The spreadsheet documents
such information as type and quantity of drugs in a household and how often they are taken.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a mobile-security education initiative
featuring a website where providers and healthcare organizations can find training videos about
protecting patient data on mobile devices.  The initiative is called, Mobile Devices: Know the
RISKS. Take the STEPS. PROTECT and SECURE Health Information.  An initiative Website offers
downloadable fact sheets and posters to promote the best ways to protect patient information. 

You love your grandchildren and would do anything for them, but did you know these startling facts?

•Annually, more than 60,000 children – or roughly four school busloads of children per day –
age five or younger are treated in emergency departments for accidental ingestion of household
medicines.

•Nearly 1 out of every 4 grandparents say they store prescription medicines in easy-access
places; and

• 18percent keep over-the-counter medicines in easily accessible spots.

Take the following precautions to help keep them safe:

1.Keep all medicines and vitamins up and away and out of sight in a high cabinet or other place
inaccessible to your grandchildren. 

2.Keep purses, bags, or coats that have medicines or vitamins in them out of their reach and sight. 

3.Remember to never leave medicines or vitamins out on a table, countertop, or bedside table where
your grandchildren could reach them – always make sure the caps are locked and put them away every
time they are used. 

4.Set a daily reminder to take your medicines and vitamins on your refrigerator or a location you
check on a daily basis, since they will be safely stored up and away and out of sight. 
 
Program the national Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, along with other emergency contact numbers
into your home and cell phone, so they are available in case of an emergency. 

Medicines can be helpful for a child’s health. But if they’re given in the wrong dose or at the
wrong time, they can actually be harmful. Here’s how to give medicine to your child with
confidence.  (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics).

Canadian scientists found the number of common prescription drugs that can interact badly with the
tart citrus is climbing, potentially causing deadly results. Twenty-six new drugs that can cause
serious harm when mixed with grapefruit were introduced in the last four years alone, bringing the
total to 43, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. More than
85 drugs that interact with whole grapefruit, grapefruit concentrate or fresh grapefruit juice have
been identified, and severe problems include acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, gastric
bleeding and possibly death. 

(Original source: Bailey DG, Dresser G, Arnold JMA. Grapefruit and medication interactions:
forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? CMAJ 2012; DOI:10.1503/cmaj.120951).