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32 PATY STATE/TERRITORY WINNERS FROM PAGE 31 Kenya Broad, Tasmania – Penguin Pharmacy What is your advice to women who may experience issues with their monthly cycle? What can they do to reduce period pain, bloating, cravings and hormonal fluctuations each month? Being a woman can be challenging sometimes. However, there are ways we can assist our body to get through our monthly cycle with less pain, bloating and hormonal fluctuations. Evening primrose oil is a great supplement for women to assist with mood changes and pain during their cycle. Try using Hotteeze heat pads or Deep Heat Period Pain Heat Patches to allow you more comfort during the day. They can be stuck on over a singlet for all-day warmth. Although exercise can be the absolute last thing you want to do when you’re feeling unmotivated, bloated and craving everything sweet, try to go for a long walk or do some low intensity exercise. If that’s not your thing, try a yoga class. Lastly, stay hydrated with lots of water during this time, along with fresh fruit and vegetables. liquid or Savlon cream, and cover with a bandage. Leave the bandage on for a couple of days if possible before changing. However, it all comes down to the individual and what works best for them. My go-to advice would be pain relief, particularly the combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen with a nice warm wheat bag and cup of peppermint to help with the bloating. Be prepared each month by tracking your monthly cycle, either by calendar or the handy apps you can download, and having some healthy snacks and meals in the home to avoid caving into the cravings. What is your advice to someone in terms of healing wounds, cuts, scrapes? What do parents need to have on hand in terms of first aid when out and about with their young ones? The most important aspect of wound healing is to keep it clean to prevent infection. Using an antiseptic cream and keeping the wound covered will help to fight off the bacteria. A first aid kit is available at your local pharmacy to provide the basics for wound care. Young ones in particular are more prone to accidents. My best advice is to keep bandages and alcohol wipes handy to clean and wrap up their wounds (and maybe even a special treat for being so brave). “A first aid kit is available at your local pharmacy to provide the basics for wound care.” • • • • • Essentials for parents include: Antiseptic spray (easy to apply). Gauze squares (for cleaning around the area). Elastoplast Peppa Pig bandaids. Large Primapore dressings. Children’s Panadol. Jaclyn Jenson, Western Australia – Wizard Pharmacy Rossmoyne What is your advice to someone in terms of healing wounds, cuts, scrapes? What do parents need to have on hand in terms of first aid when out and about with their young ones? When talking about wounds and healing, it’s important to not have any expectations on how fast or how well a wound is going to heal. Everybody is different. Age is a huge factor when it comes to wound healing. The older you are, the slower the skin cells will heal. It’s important to keep wounds and the area around them clean. When treating a graze, clean the area, apply an antiseptic such as Betadine What is your advice to women who may experience issues with their monthly cycle? What can they do to reduce period pain, bloating, cravings and hormonal fluctuations each month? Endometriosis affects roughly 11 per cent of the Australian female population. There’s an array of medications and natural therapies to help reduce the severity of the symptoms associated with the disease. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • MAR 2021