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2020 PATY WINNER: How to prepare for lWife’s little mishaps hat can go wrong will go knowledge skills and understand what wrong. This is a lesson products your pharmacy stocks and my brother and I learnt what they do. well, growing up. Now let’s talk about the future: When we were kids my brother our children. Kids are naturally PATY 2020 NATIONAL WINNER 29 thought it would be a grand idea to put his hand onto a clothes iron, and proceeded to burn his entire hand. Not long after this, he sliced the skin off his hand while trying to climb our fence. In high school, I managed to tear all the ligaments in my right ankle by falling about 30cm off a rock-climbing wall. Two years later I’m paintballing with some friends when I step into a ditch, tearing the ligaments in my right ankle. Now, fast forward to a recent weekend: my four-year-old daughter decided to hold open our screen door. I thought we’d have some fun and fired some mist at her with the hose. She panicked and let go of the screen door ... which slammed shut on the back of her heel, leaving a nice long cut. Everyone gets hurt and we can’t predict when or where it might happen. So, how can we prepare for injuries? What advice can we give to families? And what products are safe to sell? During our workday, anyone could walk through our door needing assistance. If someone did walk through our door with a horrible wound, what would we do? How do we, as pharmacy assistants, ensure they receive the proper advice and products? First of all, if you can’t handle the sight of wounds, get another staff member to assist. I’m blessed with a pharmacist who has profound first aid knowledge and whom I learn from every day. Ensure you liaise with your pharmacist, as the customer in your store could be on several medications and some products might not be safe for them to use. Hone your inquisitive, they love learning and exploring, so, within their first exciting steps of life, it’s possible they might hurt themselves. Keeping our little ones as safe as possible is no easy task, and being a parent is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. I have a few helpful tips for families, to ensure they’re prepared for any adventure: Research and equip. Consider what you’ll need for wherever you may be taking your family. For example, if you’re going to the beach, make sure you bring sunscreen, aloe vera and bandaids. Ensure that you bring the appropriate items you might need with you. Make or buy a first aid kit. I have two kits, one for home and one for the car. It never hurts to be too prepared. Learn CPR. I can’t stress how vital this is. Having this skill could save a life if the situation calls for it. Teach your child resilience. Ensure they understand that getting hurt is a normal part of life. Don’t dote on them too much. For example, if they have a tumble, teach them to brush it off and keep going. Be aware of risks. Falls can be risky for younger children, especially those still learning to walk. While you cannot fully prevent falls, you can minimise them. Ensure that the floor in your home is clear of obstacles. If you’re heading out, make sure appropriate footwear is being worn. During bath time, keep your child sitting upright and utilise a non-slip mat. Stay calm. If your child is hurt, don’t panic. Be composed and calm. Panicking and stressing will not reassure your child that things are OK. By Benjamin King, 2020 Pharmacy Guild of Australia/Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year. Here are a few products I’d like to recommend for families. Please always remember to consult a pharmacist when providing medical advice for children. • Aloe vera gel. I never thought I’d need this, but it works wonders for burns. • Antiseptic/anaesthetic cream. A fantastic combination that numbs and helps to keep wounds clean. Perfect for scrapes, cuts or any other minor injuries. • Bandaids. I keep a wide variety of different bandaids in an assortment of sizes. • Bandages. Useful for strapping and dressing. • Hydrocortisone cream or ointment. Perfect for hives or rashes. Always seek pharmacist advice if you feel a customer may have use for this product. • Sunscreen. This really goes without saying. Summer here is hot and harsh. Always remember spot tests need to be done before applying all over the body. • Sodium chloride irrigation. Perfect for cleaning out dirt or other substances from a wound. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2021