By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish senior citizens filed into the parish’s YMCA center in LaPlace throughout the day Saturday to get some free advice about the prescription medications they may be taking.

Parish residents 55 and older interacted with hospital technicians, insurance agents and pharmacists as part of the parish’s first Meet the Pharmacist Day.

St. John Parish spokesperson Paige Braud said residents were encouraged to bring medications, vitamins and other supplements with them so they could get some insight on how different things interact.

“Different medications interact with others in various ways,” Braud said. “The pharmacists sat with each attendant and broke down the interactions, side effects and what to look for when taking regular medications to help them better understand what they are using.”

In addition to medication and health advice, each attendee was given a “Vial of Life” information sheet that offered complete documentation of medical information in case of an emergency.

“The document lists all current medications, allergies and prior medical diagnoses in one place,” Braud said. “The document is coupled with an alert sticker so that first responders know where to look for it.”

Braud said the Vial of Life replaces and older alert system used by the parish that involved a list of medical information stuffed into a medicine bottle that is placed in the freezer. She said the older system was confusing and often not utilized properly by participants.

Braud said the parish was happy with the first-year participation, saying it gives the administration something to look at in the future.