The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an official online publication, FDA Consumer, that offers a wealth of new and in-depth information on how to get healthy and stay healthy. The publication reports FDA activities and information about products that the FDA regulates, such as food, human and animal drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, radiation-emitting products, and biologics. A recent issue featured an FDA caution on the use of ultrasound “keepsake” images, as well as information on preventing disease in older Hispanics and preventing Listeria contamination in food. The articles are appropriate for a wide variety of educational purposes and may be republished without permission.

The lighter side

Registered nurse Carl Elbing was born May 5, which is National Cartoonists Day and the eve of Nurses Week, so it is no surprise that he grew up to become a nurse/cartoonist. Elbing, an ICU nurse, had his first nursing cartoon published in the Journal of Nursing Jocularity in 1996 and has been drawing cartoons ever since. To view some of his work and have a good laugh, visit his website, Nurstoon.com.

Orphans in Haiti

The Foundation For Children in Need is a nonprofit organization that provides care to orphaned children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The organization was founded two years ago by registered nurse Rebecca Maesato. Maesato previously did humanitarian work in Ecuador and now finds that working in Haiti has allowed her to become involved in the local culture and to use her nursing skills. She has remained in Haiti throughout the political unrest, caring for children in orphanages and those living on the street. The website provides background about Maesato’s work and information about volunteer opportunities in Haiti.

Tracking tool

At the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website, laypeople can learn how to take medicine safely and download a form to record and track information about their medications. The form asks for contact information, blood type, allergies, prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbals, and supplements. The prescription medication section is in the form of a table and asks for the name and strength of the medication, the color of the pill, what it is for, how much to take and when, and any possible interactions. This form is a great educational tool for patients and, if carried with the patient, a useful resource for health care providers to identify the patient’s medication regimen.

OTC meds

The National Council on Patient Information and Education provides information about the proper use of medicines. MedWise seeks to help the public understand that over-the-counter medications are serious medicines that must be taken with care. The site provides information about four of the most common OTC medications: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and aspirin. A teaching tool instructs how to read drug labels correctly.

Recently, the FDA has changed the way OTC medications are labeled and now requires a standardized label that clearly shows the drug ingredients and warnings. The new label makes it easier for consumers to understand the drug’s benefits and risks, as well as proper usage. A brochure, “Use Over-the-counter Medicines Wisely,” can be downloaded in both English and Spanish.