Expert provides safety tips on travel essentials

PROTECTION:
Apart from getting ready medication, masks and sanitizers towards COVID-19, folks with power sicknesses can have their prescriptions stuffed earlier than touring overseas

• By Lin Hui-chin / Workers reporter

With folks hitting the street through the 10-day Lunar New 12 months vacation, a healthcare professional suggested getting ready six forms of safety as a safeguard towards COVID-19 and different forms of illnesses.

First is getting ready medication to deal with COVID-19, flu and chilly signs, together with fever, ache, runny nostril, cough and sputum, Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations spokesman Huang Yen-ju (黃彥儒) stated, including that folks can put together liquid options for youngsters who have no idea how one can take capsules.

Many individuals have already been vaccinated towards COVID-19, so even when they contract the virus, they’re prone to be sick for about 5 days solely, he stated.

Photograph: Tony Yao, Taipei Instances

Acetaminophen (Panadol, Tylenol and different manufacturers) is often used to deal with fever and ache, he stated.

The standard dosage is one 500mg pill at a time for as much as 4 occasions a day, he stated, warning that overdosing might trigger acute liver harm, so folks with liver illness must be particularly cautious about how a lot they take.

Ibuprofen is a sort of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can be extensively used to alleviate ache and irritation, however it might probably trigger abdomen irritation or ulcers, and a few folks may need an allergic response to it, he stated.

Many individuals assume that if taking a capsule doesn’t work, they need to take two or three extra, however that might result in an overdose, Huang stated.

If taking one ache reliever is just not sufficient, they need to take into account taking one other kind of ache reliever with completely different components or metabolic pathway and ask a pharmacist on how one can take such medication, he stated.

Antihistamines are sometimes used to alleviate a runny nostril, sneezing, or pores and skin allergic reactions, particularly within the winter, when many signs of allergic reactions worsen, he stated.

First-generation antihistamines work by affecting the histamine receptors within the mind and spinal wire, and may trigger sleepiness, whereas second-generation antihistamines, which don’t cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore don’t trigger drowsiness, which might be higher for individuals who must drive or focus, he stated.

Second is masks and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, Huang stated.

Whereas surgical masks are good, folks taking long-haul flights might think about using N95 respirators, particularly if passengers close by present signs of respiratory issues he stated.

Third is having at-home COVID-19 fast check kits, a pulse oximeter and a thermometer, he stated, advising folks to take a fast check after they develop signs to guard their journey companions, and to have a pulse oximeter at hand if their journey companion has underlying well being situations.

The fourth is crucial drugs for vacationers, akin to medication for allergic reactions or movement illness, he stated, including that people who find themselves touring to nations with decrease hygiene requirements ought to put together medication to deal with diarrhea or topical ointments for out of doors accidents.

The fifth is medicines for power well being situations, Huang stated.

Individuals who must refill their prescriptions for power sicknesses can achieve this from Jan. 10, whereas these touring overseas for greater than a month can refill their prescription for as much as three months by presenting their airplane ticket and an affidavit, he stated.

Lastly, folks ought to have their medical information available, he stated.

They’ll obtain the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Administration’s cellular app (全民健保行動快易通), in addition to maintain their over-the-counter or prescription drug packets which include details about the drugs they’re taking and present them to healthcare suppliers after they search medical consideration overseas to keep away from antagonistic drug reactions, he stated.

In different information, the Central Epidemic Command Middle yesterday reported 20,773 new native COVID-19 instances, 305 imported instances and 33 deaths from the illness.

The full variety of instances rose 3.1 % from the identical day per week earlier, it stated.

Extra reporting by CNA