Wednesday, August 29, 2018

How to remember to take or pack pills

Problem
I am in such a rush on travelling days, or any day, I often forget if I have just taken a pill.

Answers
A large seven day pill box. That is too large except for a very large pocket. You might want to buy jacket with a larg pocket, or sew a large pocket onto a garment, or wear a neck bag or cross-body bag on the plane.

I don't like pills kept in a jacket pocket next to the heat of my body or the heat of a recently used laptop, because the packet tell you to keep the pills cool.

A small four day pill box for a pocket for a weekend away or while travelling. (A pill needs to be in your pocket when your airline breakfast tray arrives, not in the bag in the overhead locker, when theaaisle is blocked by the breakfast cart.

Ordering Pills
Order pills for your entire stay away and a day or two extra becuase:
If you are travelling overnight you need another pill on the day of arrival.
You might decide to extend your holiday.
Your flight might be delayed a day, or longer.
You might want one pill packed in a bag, but a backup in your pocket in case even your backpack or wheel on cabin bag could go missing.

Records
You need a record of your pills and the prescription. Why?

You know it's medication. The people in security checking 500 people a day or a week or a year have to be sure what that white liquid or powder or pill really is.
1 To show it's required personal medication and not something you are selling (which would be illegal in another coutnry or your own if you are not a doctor nor permitted to do so).
2 To prove it's medication (and not some poison you are planning to drop in a stranger's drink!).
3 To show it's actually medication and not something else (such as gunpoweder or an explosive).

Packing
Singapore Airlines and other people tell you not to pack your medication in luggage.
Why?

Your luggage could be delayed.
Your luggage could go missing.
Rain could damage your luggage.
Impact could break your luggage and any bottles.
Your luggage might break open and things could fall out.

Thieves could take out your medicine to save themselves money or to sell it on. Who?  Passers-by in the airport.  Staff in luggage handling.

Chancers could collect luggage from the carousel at the other end.  Nobody would notice if a stranger grabbed your black bag. Easy for them to do. If challenged, they would just say it was a mistake and looked like theirs.

Noting Pill Taken
So you have packed your pills in your pocket or bag, but you are rushing to the airport. You took today's pill - or did you?

You arrive at the other end, jetlagged all week, sleeping until noon. You took this morning's pill when you got up to go to the bathroom and clean your teeth when the alarm went off. Or did you?

If your bags are still locked, or if your pills are in the fridge, you could still be confused. I have devised two systems.

1 Each time you take a pill, whilst it is still in your mouth, or before you put the box away, write the date you have taken the pill. Keep the record on the fridge secured with a magnet.

2 I used to check the bin for the mpety pill packet. However, could I be sure the one at the bottom of the bin was today's, fallen down, not yesterday's.

Alternatively keep the empty pill wrapper out visible on a work surface until after lunch or until bedtime. Write down the date on a piece of paper under the wrapper by your drinking glass on the dining table or by the kitchen sink.

I hope this helps you. If you have any other suggestion, write to me on Facebook referring to this article and teh date of the article. I have written several articles on pills, packing, destinations and other subjects. Please bookmark and, if you have a favourite post, share the link with your friends.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer, author and speaker. I can give you an entertianing talk or workshop about travel, tailored to the interests and needs of your group. Contact me by email or through Facebook.




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