HEALTH BRIEFS
FDA warns of cold remedy dangers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that over-the-counter, also known as OTC, cough and cold medicines not be used to treat infants and children under 2 years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur.

FDA officials are aware of reports of serious side effects from OTC cough and cold medicines in children 2 years of age and older. FDA is committed to completing its comprehensive and thorough review of the safety of OTC cough and cold medicines in children aged 2 and older as quickly as possible and expects to communicate our recommendations to the public in the near future.

Pending completion of FDA's ongoing review, if parents and caregivers use OTC cough and cold medicines in children twoyears of-age and older, FDA recommends:

Checking the "active ingredients" section of the drug facts label. This will help you understand what "active ingredients" are in the medicine and what symptoms each active ingredient is intended to treat. Cough and cold medicines often have more than one "active ingredient" (such as an antihistamine, a decongestant, a cough suppressant, an expectorant, or a pain reliever/fever reducer).

Being very careful if you are giving more than one OTC cough and cold medicine to a child. Many OTC cough and cold medicines have more than one "active ingredient." If you use two medicines that have the same or similar "active ingredients" a child could get too much of an ingredient which may hurt your child. For example, do not give a child more than one medicine that has an antihistamine.

Carefully following the directions in the drug facts part of the label. These directions tell you how much medicine to give and how often you can give it.

Only using the measuring spoons or cups that come with the medicine or those made specially for measuring drugs. Do not use common household spoons to measure medicines for children since household spoons come in different sizes and are not meant for measuring medicines.

First Project Search student hired at Baptist Hospital

Four months after beginning a workplace training program for students with disabilities, the first alumnus of Lakeview Center's Project Search has a job with pay and benefits.

Lawrence Jones, 21, was hired March 3 as a respiratory care assistant at Baptist Hospital after serving as a student intern in the respiratory therapy department. Jones was one of 12 extended education students enrolled in Project Search when it was launched last October.

Based on a program that originated in Cincinnati, Ohio, Project Search allows students with developmental disabilities to gain real-world work experience as they begin the transition form high school to competitive employment. Located at Baptist Hospital, Project Search provides both classroom instruction and opportunities to work in various settings, including clinical areas such as radiology and the emergency department.

The goal is not only to prepare students for employment, but also to open up job prospects for them. Project Search is based on the conviction that, when given the opportunity and training, people with developmental disabilities are able to excel at many of the routine, repetitive tasks that burden health care professionals. Hiring these less-skilled workers increases overall efficiency by freeing clinicians so they can focus on their areas of expertise.