Q: Why have they taken Prevacid 24HR off the shelves? Nobody has any information, and I can't get an answer as to why.
-- Robert Williamson, Hiram
A: Maintenance is being done and improvements are being made at the plant in Humacao, Puerto Rico, where the heartburn medicine Prevacid 24HR is made, a spokeswoman with pharmaceutical company Novartis told Q&A on the News in an email. "... We are experiencing a temporary product supply disruption at some retailers," she said. "We anticipate that Prevacid 24HR will start to appear on store shelves in mid-May."
Q: Can you advise me what to do if I see a dog left in a hot car this summer? Do I call 911? What happens? Do I wait on a respondent? I have already seen it once this year.
-- Mary Walsh, Atlanta
A: People should call 911 if they see an animal in a vehicle this summer or on other hot days, Kathy Mooneyham, the director of DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement, told Q&A on the News in an email. "Animal services officers can respond, but sometimes do not have the means to get the animals out of the vehicle," she said. "Most often we rely on the police department to aid us in these cases." She said temperatures inside the vehicle are much warmer than the outside temperatures. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) warns that "animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes." The complainant should wait until law enforcement personnel respond, Mooneyham said.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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