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PharmacyCOSTCO
IT’S THAT time of year again, when we
all want to avoid getting that dreaded
cold. Here are some precautions you
can take to protect yourself from all
those unwanted germs.
Touch tactfully. If a friend or family
member looks sick and moves in for a
hug or a handshake, kindly let them
know you would prefer to “play it safe”
before extending your hand or leaning
in for a hug.
Avoid shared surfaces. Cold viruses
can survive several hours on surfaces,
but having disinfecting wipes on hand
can help. So, the next time you’re at the
grocery store, wipe down that cart
before heading for the aisles.
Wash your hands regularly.
Whenever returning home from
public places, make sure to
wash your hands with soap
and warm water to stop
germs from entering your
home. It’s also useful to
keep hand sanitizer handy
when you are on the go.
Cover your mouth wisely.
Coughs and sneezes give germs
and viruses a vehicle to spread, so make
sure to use a tissue or cough into your
elbow. When using a tissue, promptly
dispose of it and sanitize your hands.
Keep a sickness relief arsenal.
Keep your office or home well-stocked
to help treat your symptoms when they
strike. Consider items like tissues and
hand sanitizer, as well as a pain reliever
and a cough syrup for symptom relief.
By following these simple tips, you
could improve your chances of staying
healthy this winter. Don’t forget to pick
up all your product needs in the Costco
Pharmacy on your next visit.
COLD PREVENTION
Five tips to protect
yourself from germs
DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS
Safe medication disposal
IF YOUR medicine cabinet is full of
medications that have expired or are no
longer needed, you’ve probably wondered about the best way to dispose of
them. Safe disposal of unused medication can prevent accidental poisonings,
medication misuse and abuse, and it
helps protect the environment.
The best option is to use commu-nity-based drug take-back programs.
The Drug Enforcement Agency website
(
dea.gov) supports a search tool to find
an authorized drug disposal collector in
your area. The DEA also offers National
Prescription Take-Back Days twice a
year, in April and October. For more
information, visit the DEA website.
Costco pharmacies sell envelopes to
return medications for safe disposal for
;;.;;. If you have additional questions
about safe medication disposal, ask your
Costco pharmacist.
If a program is not available in your
area, most medications can be disposed of
in the trash as a last resort after taking a
few precautions (see bulleted list).
Some medications include specific
disposal instructions, which should be fol-
lowed. According to the Food and Drug
Administration, if disposal instructions
are not included with your medication,
take the following steps:
• Remove the medication from the
original container and mix it with used
coffee grounds, kitty litter or dirt to make
the medication less desirable or unrecog-
nizable to children, pets and persons seek-
ing drugs.
• Place the mixture in a sealable bag,
empty can or other container to prevent
the medication from leaking or breaking
out of the garbage bag.
• Make sure to scratch out any personal information on the prescription
bottle to protect your identity and personal
health information.
DID YOU know you and those you care
about can get immunizations at your
local Costco warehouse?
Costco pharmacies offer pneumonia, shingles (Zostavax), Tdap (tetanus,
diphtheria, whooping cough) and MMR
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COSTCO PHARMACY, CLICK ON THE “PHARMACY” LINK
AT COSTCO.COM OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL COSTCO PHARMACIST.
(measles, mumps,
rubella) vaccines at a Costco value. Check
with your Costco pharmacist to find out
which vaccines and dosing schedules are
right for you. Costco pharmacies accept
many types of insurance plans. Vaccine
and age restrictions vary by state.
Costco provides immunizations
to children ; years and older. For
more information, stop by your local
Costco Pharmacy.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Value vaccinations
keep hand sanitizer handy
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Keep your office or home well-stocked
to help treat your symptoms when they
strike. Consider items like tissues and
hand sanitizer, as well as a pain reliever
and a cough syrup for symptom relief.
By following these simple tips, you
could improve your chances of staying
healthy this winter. Don’t forget to pick
up all your product needs in the Costco
Pharmacy on your next visit.
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