PharmCATS Talk Pharmacy, Medication Safety with Elementary School Youth

A group of second-graders lean forward to examine medications inside individual zip-loc bags. 

Emily Tran, a third-year pharmacy student, explains how medications and candy can appear similar and stresses the importance of medication safety. She highlights the need for children to inform adults about any medications they come across at home, how to store them properly, and how to dispose of them safely.

In addition to medication safety, Tran, along with 20 other students from R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy representing PediaCATS and Kappa Psi, introduced various topics related to healthy living during an annual community outreach event at F.O. Holaway Elementary School.

"This type of community outreach is valuable because we're not only serving our community and educating the next generation, but we're also representing our profession as pharmacists," Tran said.

The outreach at Holaway Elementary School began three years ago when a second-grade teacher, whose spouse was attending pharmacy school at the University of Arizona, came up with the idea.

Trechel Valentin, the principal of Holaway Elementary School in her first year in the role, was approached with the idea and immediately recognized the value of the outreach after meeting with the student organization representatives.

"I see a lot of value especially in what the college students are bringing into the classroom because there are opportunities for access and exposure to medications," Valentin said. "Letting kids know and understand the dangers around medication is a big deal, so getting the expertise is something that can really prepare our kids for the future." 

The pharmacy students were divided into four groups, with each group further splitting into smaller groups within the second- or third-grade classrooms. They led three 10- to 15-minute activities, beginning with an Introduction to Pharmacy and Pharmacists, followed by Medication Safety and Disposal, Diabetes, Nutrition, Healthy Living Habits, and How Diseases Spread.

Tran mentioned that over the past few years, they have been able to develop activities that are both engaging and informative.

For instance, the activity on how diseases spread involved taking the students outside of the classroom, forming a circle, and passing a ball of yarn. As the students passed the ball of yarn to one another, a web formed between each student, visually illustrating how germs can spread.

"Our volunteers are big role models to these students, and I hope that watching us in action will inspire them to also serve our community in the future," Tran said. "Who knows, maybe one of the kids we presented to will group up and be a future PharmCAT."

She added that the PediaCATS are currently working on a similar outreach event at a Phoenix school that will focus on compounding hand sanitizer and educating the class how how it works to kill bacteria. 

"My hope for our organization is that we will continue to present to multiple schools to inspire and educate them on the field of pharmacy," Tran said.