Washington Health System

LEARN THE BEST WAY TO TOSS MEDICATIONS YOU NO LONGER NEED. WHETHER YOU'RE PL AYING A PICKUP GAME WITH FRIENDS OR WATCHING THE GAME ON T V, TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS DURING FOOTBALL SEASON. P ill Disposal 101 Everybody has them—those old bottles of pills prescribed years ago that you no longer need. When you're cleaning out your medicine cabinet, you may be tempted to throw these unused medications in the garbage or ush them down the toilet. "Prescription medications are powerful substances that can have a strong impact on health and the environment," says Lisa Mannella, PharmD, Washington Health System Greene Pharmacy Manager. "ey should be handled with care, even when they are being thrown away." To dispose of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, call your city or county government's household trash and recycling service and ask if a drug take-back program is available in your community. Some counties hold household hazardous waste collection days, where prescription and over-the-counter drugs are accepted at a central location for proper disposal. DON'T: Flush expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specically instructs you to do so. DO: Return unwanted or expired prescription and over- the-counter drugs to a drug take-back program. e next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please check with your local police department for details about participation. » TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFELY DISPOSING OF YOUR UNUSED MEDICATIONS, CALL THE WHS PHARMACY AT (724) 223-3266 OR THE WHS GREENE PHARMACY AT (724) 627-2366. Pope FOOTBALL With the fun of watching Steelers games comes the impulse to play ourselves. Unfortunately, that play can cause us to pay if we're not careful, and injuries such as concussions, dislocated shoulders and sprained ankles are all too common. "Have fun with your friends, and enjoy the camaraderie of pickup football games, but be smart," says Tom Pirosko,DO, Medical Director and Emergency Department Physician at Washington Health System Greene. "If there is alcohol involved, you're more likely to become injured, so if you're planning to partake, save it for aer the game." Dr. Pirosko recommends that participants who aren't doing some kind of regular athletic training, or "weekend warriors," stretch and warm up properly. Avoid contact as much as possible to prevent injury. "If you ever have a doubt as to whether or not you should seek medical attention, err on the side of caution," Dr. Pirosko says. "And if you've been drinking, whether you're playing or watching the game, don't drive home." Don't Get BLINDSIDED BY » MANY INJURIES CAN BE HANDLED BY YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, BUT IF YOU THINK YOUR INJURY COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING, CALL 911. DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR? VISIT US AT WHS.ORG AND SELECT "PHYSICIAN FINDER." F A L L 2016 | connections whs.org 3

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