The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has been backing a Doctor Patient Partnership and Royal National Institute for the Deaf campaign warning students about the possible damage to hearing from clubbing extensively over the new year holidays.
Representatives of the Society took part in the campaign's launch at a Southbank university Christmas party on December 15, 1999. Health care students, including pharmacy preregistration trainees, handed out flyers giving simple tips on how to avoid hearing damage caused by loud music. The tips include watching out for warning signs such as tinnitus or dullness of hearing, taking regular breaks from noisy loudspeakers by sitting at the bar or in the chill-out room and, for those who regularly put themselves at risk, wearing earplugs.
The flyer also recommends calling the RNID helpline (0870 60 50 123) for information and a free set of earplugs.
The photograph, taken at the Southbank university party, shows Santa Claus (alias Mr Roger Odd, chairman of the Pharmacy Healthcare Scheme and head of the professional and scientific support at the Society) with some of the health care students who helped hand out flyers.