SAFE MEDICATION STORAGE

SAFE MEDICATION STORAGE IN THE HOME THIS YULETIDE

It is the yuletide season again, everyone is coming home, from far and near, home and abroad, to celebrate/ commemorate the birth of a KING. It’s a season of love and happiness.
The catch here is………. “HAPPINESS” - Everyone would love his/her loved ones to return back after the celebrations in peace with a joyous and merry heart. Hence, we all should try to keep each other safe this season. Keeping them safe is paramount generally, but I would be telling you about keeping them safe from misusing medications/ substances. This is the reason for the article you are about to read on the proper storage of medications. ENJOY.


    Proper storage is of paramount importance in maintaining the integrity of medications and medical devices (such as the inhalers, insulin injections etc.). Apart from this, proper or safe storage helps prevent unauthorized access and accidental ingestion which almost always has dire consequences- which include; Hospitalization, debilitation, disability (maybe permanent) and mortality (death).

Below are some tips that would aid or ensure proper and safe Medication storage in the home;

• Have a single Drug storage Compartment: Drugs shouldn’t be kept at different points in the home and having a single location (that is Cool and Dry because heat and moisture can damage medications) for drug storage compartment not only helps when one is trying to locate a drug, it helps in accountability and prevents drugs from lying around the house, leaving them “as potential sources of accidental poisoning and intentional misuse”.  Pictures of good drug cabinets are shown below;

                             

                         

• Keep Medications under Lock and Key: Drug storage compartments should be fitted with child latches or locks (see picture above). This prevents unauthorized access whether in terms of misuse by adults or accidental ingestion by kids (safety is paramount).
• Good Lighting: Good lighting near the medication storage area is important to ensure the right drug is picked before use and it aids in identifying damaged or discolored drugs which may be harmful. Remember, several drugs have the same shape, size and color, it takes a well trained eye to differentiate them.

ALWAYS Keep Medications in their original containers, where the containers are changed they should be properly labeled (as illustrated in the picture below) This goes for any coloured/colorless substance(s) [e.g. Kerosene (AGO), FUEL (PMS), Methylated spirit] in the home, they SHOULD be properly labeled. Remove cotton balls from pill bottles and drug containers because they may absorb moisture from the air consequently damaging the drugs, and don’t discard desiccants until all the pills in a pill container are exhausted. Always ensure drugs are given to you in containers with child resistant caps or corks- these are containers with caps that can’t be easily opened by kids.

• Educate children and guests; educate any individual that is old enough to understand medication use and safety; whenever you have a “Full” house e.g. on holidays like these.

For Medications to be stored in the refrigerator (Insulin and Reconstituted pediatric suspensions); Store in a separate compartment, away from edible items/ foods, especially to avoid people mistaking them for edible items that can be used by anyone.
For Unused, expired or unneeded Medications; Discard expired or unneeded medications properly. OR Return to your pharmacist by taking advantage of the “Medication Take Back” campaigns. Whenever you go back to the hospital or community pharmacy, you can take with you, some unneeded/expired medications, ensure you give them to the pharmacist for proper disposal.
P.S - A pharmacist is responsible for your safety when it comes to drugs, poisons and substances.
**Always remember- “Every drug is a potential poison, it just depends on the dose”**
Don’t say “it’s just paracetamol”………. Keep it properly locked away.

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A BLISSFUL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION ……….

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