Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications are intended to keep us healthy. In the wrong circumstances - especially when we are behind the wheel of a vehicle - our drugs could contribute to our early demise. To be sure your medications don't abuse you, please remember:

- It is your responsibility to know what you're taking and how it affects you. If you have a question, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

- Bodies are different and every­one will not react the same to medications. Furthermore, a drug can affect one person differently in dif­ferent situations.

- Don't mix medications, or mix any kind of drug with alcohol, until you have consulted with your doctor or pharmacist.

- Try to use only one pharmacy.

- The problem with some drugs, such as cough medicines, is that they have a high alcohol content. Read the literature you get with any drug to determine whether it con­tains sedatives or alcohol.

Driving Alert

Even at recommended doses, OTC drugs can affect driving ability as much, or in some cases, even more than illegal drugs, pre­scription drugs, or alcohol.

- Antihistamines are the principal culprit, according to the Southern California Research Institute. They can cause drowsiness, dizziness and blurred vision.

- Sleeping pills and night-time cold medications can also impair drivers. Obviously, a medication intended to help you sleep is not going to make you a good driver.

- Ibuprofen, a commonly used pain reliever, can reduce concentra­tion levels and cause drowsiness.

- If you're taking a medication for the first time, don't plan on driving after you take that first dose. Wait to see how it affects you.

Posted by Steven J. Klearman at 8:06 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0) | Comments (0)

Over the next several blogs I plan to concentrate on basic information about driving safety.

Driving a car is one of the most routine activities we engage in, but it's also one of the most dangerous. Over 40,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents each year.

These 40,000 deaths translate into lifetime odds of 1-in-100 of dying in a motor vehicle accident.

Another discouraging number associated with motor vehicles is that 1-in-2 of us will suffer a temporary or permanent disabling injury* in a motor vehicle accident.

With odds like these, your only answer is to develop a defensive driving attitude when you get into a car. As the articles in the Driving section show, there are many steps you can take to reduce the odds you will be one of these statistics.

One of the most important steps you can take is to develop an attitude to make every driving trip a "perfect trip." This includes such things as wearing seat belts, obeying speed limits, and driving defensively under all weather and traffic conditions.

Driving a car should be one of life's pleasures, not one of life's tragedies.

The principal causes of motor vehicle deaths, based on recent National Safety Council statistics, are: Collision Between Motor Vehicles - 20,600; Collision with Fixed Object - 13,300; Pedestrian Accidents - 5,900; Noncollision Accidents - 5,200; Collision with Pedalcycle - 900; Collision with Train - 200; Other Collision - 100.

* A disabling injury is an injury that disables you beyond the day of the injury.

Posted by Steven J. Klearman at 10:07 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0) | Comments (0)