Is it 'Medicine or Candy'?

UH Pharmacy Students Promote Medication Safety and Flu Prevention to More Than 200 Children at HISD's Rodriguez Elementary 

In an effort to reduce the number of accidental poisonings from prescription and over-the-counter medications in children, UH College of Pharmacy students presented an interactive game called "Is It Medicine or Candy?" to more than 200 pupils at Houston Independent School District's Sylvan Rodriguez Elementary in southwest Houston.

Presented to first-, second- and fifth-grade students at the school, the interactive program is designed to help children learn how to recognize the difference between medications and candy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 60 percent of all accidental poisonings in the home occur in children under the age of 6 and one-half of those involve medication misuse.    

The students also presented information on how children can protect themselves and others from the flu, including the importance of hand-washing, covering the mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing, and other tips to prevent the spread of germs. 

During the school visit, UH pharmacy students also performed blood glucose and blood pressure wellness screenings for teachers and staff. 

The program and screenings were presented by members of the UH College of Pharmacy Chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association.