McGreals Announce 30,000 Donation to Community Groups & Sports Clubs

McGreals Group are delighted to annnounce that they will donate €30,000 worth of hand sanitiser this month to local community groups and sports clubs.

”We are aware of the importance of community groups and sports clubs and the vital role they play in our communities. McGreals would like to support their return to normality in the safest way possible by donating large amounts of hand sanitiser.”

Kilian McGreal, Managing Director, McGreals Group

McGreals Group offers a range of integrated healthcare services including pharmacy, optical, audiology and nutrition in a local community setting across Leinster.

We are asking people to register their interest in store or on our website >>  https://mcgreals.ie/community/

10 Steps to CPR

10 Steps to CPR

Performing CPR properly can mean the difference between life and death. CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency procedure done when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. CPR techniques vary depending on the age or size of the patient. Those who are certified or trained in CPR are ideally the ones who should perform the procedure.

Step 1

Survey the area. Although it is best to begin CPR as quickly as possible, the person who is about to perform CPR needs to ensure that he will be safe while performing the procedure. This may include looking for traffic, fires or other potential dangers.

6 Tips for Eye Health and Maintaining Good Eyesight

Don’t take your eyes for granted. Protect your sight with these six tips:

1. Eat for Good Vision
Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts, studies show. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health:

Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards
Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices
Oysters and pork

Eating a well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Quit Smoking
Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you’ve tried to quit smoking before and started smoking again, keep trying. The more times you try to quit smoking, the more likely you are to succeed.

3. Wear Sunglasses
The right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection, though.

4. Use Safety Eyewear
If you work with hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time.

Certain sports such as ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Wear eye protection (such as helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to shield your eyes.

5. Look Away From the Computer Screen
Staring at a computer screen for too long can cause:

Eyestrain
Blurry vision
Trouble focusing at a distance
Dry eyes
Headaches
Neck, back, and shoulder pain
Taking the following steps to protect your eyes:

Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and adequate for computer use.
Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer.
Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen.
Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.
Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.
If your eyes are dry, blink more.
Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

6. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
Everyone, even young children, should get their eyes examined regularly. It helps you protect your sight and see your best.

Eye exams can also find some eye diseases, such as glaucoma, that have no symptoms. It’s important to find these diseases early on, when they’re easier to treat.

Book an eye test at McGreals Opticians located in Blessington Co Wicklow and Baltinglass, Co Wicklow.

SANTA IS COMING TO MCGREALS

Santa is Coming to McGreals

*FREE Magical Christmas Experience at McGreals*

Going to see Santa on the run up to Christmas is always a highlight for children growing up, so here’s where you can find him this year.

Santa will be visiting all the McGreals Pharmacies in December. Every year huge crowds of children arrive at their local McGreals to meet Santa and his elves. There is no admission fee and Santa will have a free gift and a free photo for every child. We have Santa letters available in store that can be posted in our Santa post box. Santa replies to every child before Christmas by post.

Santa will be visiting from 1pm – 5pm on these dates

Baltinglass – Baltinglass Pharmacy Wed 7th December

Blessington – Mcgreals Primary Care Pharmacy Thurs 8th December &
Mcgreals Pharmacy, Main Street, Blessington Fri 9th December

Portarlington – Mcgreals pharmacy Tuesday 13th December

Monasterevin – Monasterevin Pharmacy Wed 14th December

Newbridge – Mcgreals Pharmacy Thursday 15th and Friday 16th December

sss

5 Tips so you can Survive Spring Allergies

1. Limit your time outdoors
Each spring, trees release billions of tiny pollen grains into the air. When you breathe them into your nose and lungs, they can trigger an allergic reaction. Staying inside can help, especially on windy days and during the early morning hours, when pollen counts are highest.

When you do head outdoors, wear glasses or sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. A filter mask can help when you mow the lawn or work in the garden. Different types are available, so ask your doctor to suggest one that will work best for you.

Once you head back inside, always take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothing.

2. Take allergy medicine
It can help adults and children with sniffles and a runny nose, Kim says.Antihistamines, which block your body’s response to allergies, usually work in less than an hour. But read the package carefully. Some older drugs, like chlorpheniramine, clemastine, and diphenhydramine can make you drowsy.

For more severe allergies, we suggests a nasal spray. But don’t expect symptoms to vanish right away. “They may take a few days to work,” he says. Since they can have side effects like burning, dryness, or nosebleeds, use the lowest dose that controls your symptoms.

Hot Tip: Switch between drugs if, after several weeks, you find your body stops responding as well to one of the pills.

3. Protect yourself early on
Start taking medicine long before your eyes get watery and you’re sneezing nonstop, at least 1 week before the season begins. That way, the medicine will be in your system by the time you need it.

4. Cleanse your garden
Your worst hay fever foe could be planted right outside your window, warns horticulturalist and author Tom Ogren. Take stock of your plants: if one has fruit or berries, it’s not male and won’t release pollen (female plants don’t produce pollen). If you can’t identify a plant on your own, take a clipping to a nursery for help identifying its gender.

5. Tweak your home
Simple changes make a difference. Shut all windows to keep out pollen. Use an air conditioner to cool your home instead of a fan, which draws in air from outside.

Take off your shoes at the door and ask guests to do the same. That keeps allergens outside.

Clean floors with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. These filters trap 99.97% of microscopic particles in the air. And don’t line-dry clothes or sheets in warmer weather! They’ll collect pollen while they hang outside.

Finally, don’t smoke. It can make allergy symptoms worse. If you or someone you live with smokes, now is a good time to quit. If you start smoking again, start over.