Take your medicine

Time to take your medicine

when to take your prescription drugs

Q: What is an MDS blister pack? A: A monitored dosage system [MDS] is a method of dispensing tablet and capsule medications that helps manage the days and times when they should be taken. An MDS blister pack contains medications for the week organised in clear pods by the day and time of day you should take them whether at breakfast, lunch, supper, or bedtime.

an MDS blister pack? A: If you are required to take one or more medications daily, you can make use of an MDS blister pack; also, those who find it difficult to organise or remember to take their medication at the correct time each day can benefit from the use of an MDS blister pack. Caregivers and nursing homes often find the blister packs useful.

Q: How is the MDS blister pack A: A qualified pharmacist fills each MDS blister pack per the doctor’s prescription[s]; each pack is sealed and labelled with dosage instruction.

A: Should an order change after an MDS blister pack is dispensed, just return any unopened packs to the distributing pharmacy along with your new prescription to have your MDS blister packs dispensed per your new medication requirements.

A: As a walk-in customer, please be prepared to collect your MDS blister pack later that day or within 24 hours.

Covid-19: The surprising lifestyle side-effects

Tim Smith investigates how our hair and fashion styles have been impacted by lockdowns

Homemade buzz cuts, the return of natural hair colours and comfortable sneakers instead of formal shoes – all that time spent working the way we present ourselves.

Some changes in style have been forced on us by our inability to go to the hairdressers or barbers.

Others are a result of a new-found freedom because our colleagues cannot see us from the waist down during a Zoom meeting.

And according to fashion experts, some new looks are here to stay even as we

Beauty specialist Samaela CannonierDarrell says many people had been styling their hair at home during lockdown.

This has caused problems for some, but also encouraged the development of new trends.

“We have seen a lot of people come in with damaged hair because they don’t know how to do it themselves. They rely on a hairdresser to get their hair done,” says Cannonier-Darrell, of St George’s salon Crowned.

“If you are getting your hair done regularly and you go four to six weeks without taking care of it, it gets matted and tangled and you end up with damage.

“A lot of at-home hairstyles have been happening across the board. For example, box braids, Bo dreadlocks, extensions. I’m seeing a lot of weaves braided with elastic beads at the front.”

But she adds: “I have had to physically people’s hair, because sometimes people really don’t know what to do.”

Cannonier-Darrell says lockdown also prompted an increase in ethnic hairstyles, while some people just want to go natural.

She adds: “I have seen a lot of people not colouring their hair anymore because they like the grey. decisions with their hair because they are forced to do it themselves.

“I think we are going to see a lot of try to do things themselves. We want to YouTube and see a video of how to do it ourselves.”

Many customers found it stressful that they were unable to visit the hairdresser while restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Hair is a culture in Bermuda and worldwide,” Cannonier-Darrell says. “It is from those people with real hair issues.”

Helen Stirling, owner of the Cutting Room barber shop in Hamilton, says her business was “absolutely bombarded” with men in urgent need of a trim when it reopened after being shut for nine weeks last year. says.

“People were trying to cut their own hair. Some people cut their hair very short, like buzz cuts, and they liked it. That impacted us because they didn’t come back!

“With some people, their wife or girlfriend had tried to cut it. They would just be cutting round the ears and the back of the neck with kitchen scissors.

“We can tell 100 per cent when that’s happened. It’s not neat, the neck wouldn’t be tapered, it wouldn’t be clean around the ears.”

The Viking beard and hipster look increased in popularity during lockdown – but many men need reminding that there is more to growing a beard than simply not shaving.

“You can have a beard but it doesn’t

Smartening men up has not been easy, however, while some restrictions remained in place over beard-shaping.

Stirling adds: “Some people are still scared to come to a barber shop. I think they are worried about catching Covid

“Also, people were working from home, so they probably weren’t as bothered quite as often about having to look smart.”

It’s a similar story when it comes to clothing, as people have enjoyed going casual at home.

“If people are 100 per cent at home, not customer facing, does it really matter whether we wear our PJs all day? It really doesn’t,” says Paula Clarke, the CEO of Gibbons Company.

“You get up in the morning and put your active wear on so you can do your work and then do your exercise later without having to change.”

Clarke predicts a hybrid of comfort

There’s nothing like being stuck indoors to motivate you into making home improvements.

So it has proved over the past year, as residents across the island got busy with DIY projects while Covid-19 restrictions meant they spent more time at home than ever before.

Anne Lindo from Gorham’s in Hamilton says the hardware store saw an increase in home improvement items since the pandemic began.

“It seems everyone is painting either the interior or exterior of their homes or spray painting that old furniture to give it a new look,” she says.

“We know that customers were bored at home and were looking for things to do. after the latest stay at home order.

“Homeowners are buying new hand and power tools, lawn and patio furniture – they are doing those small plumbing and electrical projects that they didn’t have time to do before.”

Vacuum cleaners have been a particularly popular purchase as parents cleared up after having the children at home seven days a week.

Lindo adds: “It seems that everyone was organising their closets and kids’ toys, as storage containers are hot items.”

People are also preparing to enjoy their gardens this summer.

Soil and fertilisers have sold well, some people have built garden boxes for homegrown vegetables and above ground pools have been a favourite purchase.

“If people are not travelling this summer, they are looking for a nice garden – comfy furniture and some fun things to keep them and their kids entertained,” Lindo says.

She has one key tip for any DIY novices as things begin to get back to normal. have started, especially once we are back to work and have some social distancing freedom!”

and smartness as people return to the workplace.

Men are still buying dress shirts and women are opting for great-looking blouses, she says.

But active wear has become a big hit for men and women.

Bottoms made from technical fabric – a more comfortable, breathable material than traditional pants – have become an increasingly popular choice among men.

“They have moisture management, they’re stretchy and comfortable,” Clarke said.

“They mean the guy can go and run out and jog, without having to change. actually elastic.

“From a fashion point of view it doesn’t matter if you are on a Zoom meeting, but when you go outside you want to look good.”

Gap, Bonobos and Superdry have all moved in the direction of technical fabric.

Clarke says: “Denim is taking a backseat because the future is becoming more athletic. Even if people are putting on weight, they are also working out to counter it.”

Women particularly appreciate the stylishness and bright colours of technical fabric.

Clarke says: “It’s a much more relaxed look than it used to be. It’s away from the body. It’s athletic wear.

“Jeans and shorts are always a great stretch. One of our biggest lines is Democracy in bottoms, which never loses its shape, whether in short or crop.

“If they are wearing dresses, it’s very much a tiered dress.”

Men have switched to a more “sneakertype” of casual shoe, and women are wearing sneakers with built-in heels and platforms.

“If you are on a Zoom call, no one is looking at your feet,” Clarke says.

But what will happen as Covid-19 restrictions are eased this summer?

Clarke says: “I think there will be a new breed of awareness. We will change our dress codes to make sure we accommodate the new lifestyle.

“It will be hybrids of everything. We jeans in a business environment. We can’t have see-through spaghetti straps.

“There will be a hybrid of comfort and style that’s appropriate for us wear when we travel and go to meetings.”

There is one piece of bad news for traditionalists as we move into this brave new world: the demise of ties.

They had been threatened with extinction for some time, but Clarke says ties are now worn almost exclusively at special occasions such as weddings.

“Men are wearing fabric dress shirts most of the time, hopefully nicely pressed,” Clarke says, “but ties are gone.

“The tie business had changed in recent times anyway. But the pandemic has been the death knell.”