DRUG & POISON INFORMATION CENTER | |
Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2023 | |
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Concert and Festival Drug and Alcohol Safety Guide
Heading to a concert or festival this summer? It’s the season for outdoor fun! Here are some important safety precautions related to medications and alcohol that your family should be aware of. When going to concerts or festivals, you may be out in hot weather for long periods of time. That can affect how certain medications work. And for those who are 21 and over, drinking alcohol in the hot sun can bring risks with it. Before heading out to your next festival or concert, take note of these important safety tips, and share them with your family members of all ages:
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Recreational Drugs
It is always recommended to avoid recreational drugs. Ingredients in these are unpredictable and may cause significant effects including overheating with stimulants (methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy) and decreased consciousness and breathing (opioids, benzodiazepines) especially in combination with alcohol.
Planning ahead and taking some simple safety measures can help ensure that your outdoor events stay fun this summer. Have a good time and stay safe! If you have any questions, call the Drug and Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222. We are available to help 24/7/365.
References:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Drug and Poison Information Center. (2022). 4 Things parents should know about medications and the summer heat. [Blog]. Retrieved from: https://blog.cincinnatichildrens.org/safety-and-prevention/4-things-parents-need-to-know-about-medications-and-the-summer-heat/
National Institute of Health. (2023). Alcohol and medication Interactions. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761694/
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). The risks of mixing alcohol and summer heat. Retrieved from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dangers-of-too-much-alcohol-summer-heat/
Health Direct. (2023). Top 7 tips for safe drinking. Retrieved from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/top-7-tips-for-safe-drinking
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Ohio Beach Bacteria and Algal Toxins Dashboard | |
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As summer continues on, many Ohioans will be heading to rivers and lakes to cool off. Before swimming or other recreational activities, make sure to check out the Ohio Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality & Advisories Board. This interactive dashboard allows you to see bacterial and algal toxin alerts at various locations throughout Ohio, including Lake Erie, the Ohio River, and other small lakes or rivers.
The dashboard can be accessed by visiting the Ohio Beach Water Quality & Advisories Board powered by BeachGuard.
As an extra precaution before diving in, the Ohio Department of Health also provides a notification system where you can be alerted (by voice message, text message, or email) of active alerts at the locations of your choice.
You can subscribe to notifications on the Beach Advisory Alerts webpage.
Reference:
Ohio Department of Health. (2023). Ohio’s beach water quality and advisories powered by beachguard. Retrieved from: https://publicapps.odh.ohio.gov/beachguardpublic/
Photo: Jake Blucker, Unsplash
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Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory Dashboard
Planning on going fishing this summer? If you plan on eating any of the fish you catch, make sure to check out the Ohio Sport Fish Consumption Advisory Dashboard, recently updated in 2022. This dashboard, created in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, provides key information on the safety of eating various types of fish throughout Ohio. Specifically, the dashboard provides recommendations by location on the number of certain fish species it is safe to eat per week or month, or if a certain species is unsafe to eat.
The dashboard can be accessed by visiting the Statewide General Fish Consumption Advisory Map (2022).
Reference:
Ohio Department of Health. (2023). Ohio sport fish consumption advisory. Retrieved from: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/ohio-sport-fish-consumption-advisory
Photo: Clark Young, Unsplash
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Insect Repellents and Kids: Do’s and Don’ts
When summer hits, so do the bugs. Unfortunately, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, and biting flies can turn outdoor activities into miserable experiences. Insect repellents can help protect you and your family from the annoying itching that comes with mosquito bites. Using insect repellents can also prevent illnesses such as Lyme disease, West Nile disease and Zika virus which spread through mosquito or tick bites. Using an appropriate insect repellent correctly is one way to help reduce your family’s chances of being bitten this summer.
Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Family
Before they can be sold in stores, most insect repellents that can be put on the skin must be registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent. Insect repellents can be divided into two chemical classes - synthetic chemicals and plant-derived oils:
Synthetic chemicals — including DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) and picaridin. Insect repellents with these chemicals provide protection from mosquitoes and ticks for an amount of time that is based on the concentration of the chemical. Products with lower concentrations of the chemical may need to be reapplied the longer you are outdoors.
Insect repellents with DEET offer the best protection against mosquito bites. When label directions are followed and the product is used safely, using insect repellents with DEET should not be harmful. DEET is approved by the EPA for use on children with no age restriction.
Plant-derived oils — including oil of lemon eucalyptus and oil of citronella. These are products derived from a plant. They also provide protection from mosquitoes and ticks based on their concentration. Some studies show that oil of lemon eucalyptus is nearly as effective as DEET when it comes to repelling insects.
Please note that oil of lemon eucalyptus (used in insect repellents) is not the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil (which has had limited research performed on it). Products with oil of lemon eucalyptus have been shown to be more effective than citronella. Also, some oil of lemon eucalyptus products labels instruct that they should not be used on children ages 3 and under.
Insect repellents registered by the EPA, when used as directed, have been proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. To ensure the product you choose is effective, look for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration number on the label. You may also want to use the EPA's EPA's Insect Repellent Tool to find the right bug repellent for your family.
Keep in mind the following DOs and DON’Ts when using insect repellents:
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DO:
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DO read the label and carefully follow all instructions. If the product is marked as flammable, don’t use it around open flames.
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DO use bug repellents outdoors only to avoid inhaling them. Use caution when spraying them around your kids. Spray the repellent away from the face in an outdoor area to prevent breathing it in.
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DO limit the use of insect repellents in children, as some may cause seizures. Only use the lowest concentrations of DEET (less than 30%) on kids. Avoid repeated application.
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DO use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin. Applying more does not increase its effectiveness.
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DO apply insect repellent only on the outside of clothing and exposed skin. Applying it underneath clothing can cause skin irritation.
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DO wash your child’s treated skin and clothes with soap and water when you return indoors.
DON’T:
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DON’T use insect repellent on babies 2 months old or younger. Use mosquito netting over baby carriers and strollers instead.
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DON’T choose combination sunscreen/insect repellent products. Sunscreen requires frequent application. This can result in overexposure to the insect repellent.
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DON’T store insect repellent within the sight or reach of children. Don’t allow your kids to handle insect repellent.
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DON’T apply insect repellent to your kids’ hands and face. Instead, apply it to your own hands first and then put it on your child.
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DON’T use insect repellents on irritated skin or skin with an open wound or cut.
Ingesting insect repellent can cause stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, neurological effects such as seizures and coma. If you have any questions, concerns, or suspect that your child has ingested an insect repellent, call the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) immediately at 1-800-222-1222. Our experts are available to assist you 24/7/365.
References:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2023). Choosing an insect repellent for your child. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito-bites.html
Photo by healthychildren.org
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FDA News Release: Nalmefene Hydrochloride Nasal Spray
A new nalmefene hydrochloride nasal spray was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 22. The product, called Opvee®, is the first FDA approval of nalmafene nasal spray. It is indicated for known or suspected opioid overdose in people 12 years of age and older. Nalmafene is similar to naloxone but stays in the bloodstream longer than naloxone. Also, like naloxone, nalmafene may cause withdrawal symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, muscle cramps and anxiety in users who are dependent on opioids. This new approval was a part of the FDA’s Overdose Prevention Framework.
The full FDA News Release is available online to the public.
References:
US Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA approves prescription nasal spray to reverse opioid overdose. Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-provides-update-proposal-unified-human-foods-program-including-new-model-office-regulatory
Photo by https://www.drugs.com/image/opvee-images.html
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© 2023 By the Cincinnati Drug & Poison Information Center (DPIC)
Editors: Alysha Behrman RN, MSN, CSPI, OCPC, ICPS; Sheila Goertemoeller PharmD, DABAT, OCPC, ICPS ; Julia Conroy; Jewel Sisk; Jonathan Colvin, RN, MS; Shan Yin, MD, MPH
The opinions expressed herein are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, publisher or supporting institutions. DPIC is a service of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Children’s Hospital Research Foundation. Services are also supported by: the US Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA), the Ohio Department of Health, Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS). Additional support for DPIC services is provided by Cuyahoga Department of Health and Human Services and additional member hospitals.
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