Prescription and over-the-counter does not mean over-the-road By Carmen DaecherProfessional bus drivers shoulder an immense responsibility on a daily basis - transporting passengers safely. Each time an individual boards your bus, they are entrusting their safety and well being to you - their driver. As a professional driver, it is important to remember that your physical and emotional condition, in addition to your driving skills, are critical to performing your job and safely operating your vehicle. Emotionally, you must always remember to concentrate on your driving duties, preventing the actions of other drivers, actions of passengers, and personal issues from distracting you. Getting proper rest and following a healthy diet are essential to maintaining good physical condition. Safe and professional drivers must also be aware of prescription and over-the-counter drugs which may adversely affect their ability to drive safely. Be sure that your physician and pharmacists know your position and duties. Inquire with doctors and pharmacists regarding the side effects of medications. If a medication has the potential to jeopardize your driving performance, ask about alternative treatments and medications that would not adversely affect your ability to safely perform your job functions. The National Transportation Safety Board has identified the following medications as having the probability to diminish a driver's ability to safely operate a vehicle and transport passengers:
This list is not definitive or all-inclusive; however, it is a good starting point. Some over-the-counter medicines listed may surprise you. The trust placed in you by passengers and your company demands that you should take the time to review with your physician or pharmacist any medications you are taking to determine whether they adversely affect your abilities and the safety of your passengers - and you. Driving under the cold medicine influence If you've ever taken an antihistamine to help you while suffering from a cold or allergy, you should be interested in this: researchers at Iowa State University recently ran an experiment. They took 40 drivers between the ages or 25 and 45 and split them into four groups. One group drank alcohol, another took a "first-generation" antihistamine (Benadryl), another took a "second-generation" antihistamine (Allegra) and the fourth group was given a placebo. Then the drivers were put behind the wheel of a driving simulator. After each round, the drivers came back the following week and took one of the other preparations until each group had tried them all. The groups that had taken the placebo did fine. The groups on the second-generation antihistamine did nearly as well. The groups that drank alcohol performed poorly. Worst of any group, though, were the drivers on Benadryl, the first-generation antihistamine. They had trouble staying in their lanes and their reaction times were dangerously slow. Scarier still, the drivers on Benadryl didn't know there was a problem. They didn't feel drowsy. They didn't notice that they were having trouble. They felt fine and thought they were driving well. Medicate with caution Most drivers are aware of the dangers of driving after drinking. However, the dangers of some over-the-counter drugs that we commonly take to deal with everyday ailments are not as widely known. About 2,000 non-prescription drugs are now on the market. Many of them come with labels warning against taking them if you are going to be driving or operating heavy machinery. Most of us pay little or no attention to these warnings. However, some over-the-counter drugs pack quite a punch. Among the worst are those medications taken to combat colds and allergies, especially antihistamines, which often cause drowsiness and slower responses. In addition, cough syrups and nighttime cold medicines often contain considerable amounts of alcohol. For example, Nyquil (a nighttime cold remedy) contains 10 percent alcohol, more than is found in beer or most wines. Even medications that may seem harmless can turn dangerous when combined with other drugs that may also seem harmless. Other factors, such as increasing the dosage of a drug you've been taking for awhile or exceeding recommended dosages, can also increase the risk of over-the-counter drugs having a negative effect on driving skills and abilities. Driving too long and not getting enough sleep are also factors. Tired drivers are likely to have problems with drowsiness, even without the increased risk posed by some medications. And drowsiness leads to crashes and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Board estimates that 100,000 crashes are caused by drowsiness each year. Those accidents kill 1,500 people and injure 71,000 more. To prevent contributing to these statistics, drivers need to be aware of the risks associated with some prescription and over-the-counter medications. Drivers need to use good judgement, read labels and advisories of medications they are taking, and ask a pharmacist or physician any questions they have regarding potential effects of over-the-counter medications. From where I'm sitting, getting well and staying well is a matter of using the right remedy for both your ailment and your job. Your passengers will be grateful for your wise choice of medicine. *** Click here to visit the NADME training web site ***
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