XN000022-1981-04-02 — Page 6

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ADVICE ON DRUG SAFETY

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1981

THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF PHARMACIST MR MERVYN LOIE, TODAY (THURSDAY) CALLED FOR A CONCERTED EFFORT BY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED - DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS AND CONSUMERS DRUG SAFETY AT HOME.

TO ENSURE

SPEAKING AT A ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, HE SAID CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY PRONE TO THE ACCIDENTAL INGESTION OF DRUGS, OFTEN THROUGH THE NEGLECTS OF PARENTS.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT HAD ENACTED LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE SALE OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRUGS, HE SAID, IT WOULD STILL BE UP TO THE PARENTS THEMSELVES TO ENSURE ALL MEDICINES ARE STORED OUT OF CHILDREN'S REACH.

MR LOIE SAID DOCTORS COULD HELP REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DRUG POISONING BY GIVING CLEAR DIRECTIONS TO PATIENTS HOW DRUGS SHOULD BE TAKEN AND WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE LIKELY TO BE.

PHARMACISTS, TOO, COULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROMOTING DRUG SAFETY BY GIVING ADVICE ON HOW DRUGS SHOULD BE STORED AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THE ADMINISTERING OF CERTAIN DRUGS, THEIR COMPATIBILITY WITH ALCOHOL, THE ADVISABILITY OF DRING OR OPERATING MACHINES AND SO FORTH, HE SAID.

BUT ABOVE ALL, SAID MR LOIE, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN PROMOTING DRUG SAFETY IS IN THE HOME, AND THIS IS WHERE THE CONSUMERS THEMSELVES MUST PLAY THEIR PART.

ON STORAGE OF DRUGS, HE GAVE THIS ADVICE :

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UNKNOWN MEDICINES OR MEDICINES THAT HAVE BEEN KEPT FOR A LONG TIME SHOULD BE DISCARDED.

ALL MEDICINES THAT HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF DETERIORATION, SUCH AS CHANGE IN COLOUR, APPEARANCE OR SMELL SHOULD BE DISCARDED.

ALL MEDICINES MUST BE LOCKED OR STORED OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

* STORE ALL MEDICINES IN COOL, CLEAN AND DRY PLACES, AWAY

FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

ON THE QUESTION OF ADMINISTERING OF DRUGS, MR LOTE ADVISED CONSUMERS THAT THEY

* READ THE LABEL OR DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE CAREFULLY BEFORE

TAKING THE MEDICINE.

* TAKE MEDICINES AT THE RIGHT TIME (1.E. IF THREE TIMES

DAILY, ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIMES OF THE DAY) AND THE RIGHT DOSAGE.

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NOTE AND OBEY ALL WARNINGS ON THE LABEL.

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