If eyes are windows to the soul, then medicine cabinets are reflections of the physique.
A medicine cabinet can reveal reams about its owner. From contraception to the heartbreak of psoriasis, constipation to toenail fungus, its contents can read like a virtual “Who’s Who” and “What’s What.”
Ironically, medicine is the last thing that should be kept in a medicine cabinet, health professionals say.
Besides personal items such as deodorant, toothpaste and other dental items, shaving gear and contact-lens solutions, first-aid supplies are what a well-stocked medicine cabinet should have.
And first aid means adhesive tape, individually sealed alcohol wipes, Band-Aids, a commercial cold reliever, gauze bandages, disposable latex gloves, scissors, syrup of ipecac (important when you need to force a child to throw up whatever he or she has swallowed) and a thermometer.
If prescription drugs are in there, get them out and throw them out.
The bathroom’s heat and humidity can cause medications to break down rapidly, the American Medical Association says. Instead, medications should be stored in a place that’s cool, dry and dark, such as a bedroom.
Signs that a medication has gone bad include a change in color or smell and the development of powdering, or a breaking down of the drug’s exterior structure, says Roland Garza, president of the Bexar County Pharmacy Association in San Antonio. Such items should be discarded immediately, he says.
Some medications must be stored in the refrigerator, but other drugs should not. The product label will state if refrigeration is necessary.
It’s vital to check the expiration dates on drug packages frequently and to dispose of outdated medications by flushing them down the toilet and discarding the bottle safely, the AMA says.
At best, an outdated prescription or over-the-counter drug (both of which are required by law to have expiration dates on their labels) will be ineffective; at worst, it could be dangerous, according to Healthwatch, a publication of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
A good rule to follow is to throw away any medication prescribed for a condition you no longer have, officials say.
Vitamins also should be locked up and kept away from children, since the colorful tablets may look like candy, and an overdose of iron supplements can be fatal for children.
Garza says many people stop taking a prescription drug when they start to feel better and then save the remainder for possible future use.
But that practice may do more harm than good because they could fail to get the maximum benefit from the medication in the first place. And they can do themselves greater harm later by taking outdated drugs.
Pharmacists can provide guidance on proper storage of prescriptions and, in fact, that information is required by federal law, Garza says.
“All prescriptions are packaged in light-sensitive, air-tight containers with waterproof seals, but if the consumer doesn’t close the container properly or puts another top on it to avoid using the child-proof top, the medication inside can break down more quickly,” he says.
Kathy Gorton, health and safety services director the American Red Cross in San Antonio, says the organization encourages consumers to keep a well-stocked first-aid kit accessible.
But simply having the necessary items around is not enough; taking a first-aid class helps teach emergency action principles, such as determining how serious a situation is, calling for help, and assessing and acting on the most serious emergencies immediately, she says.
“Statistically, most injuries are small wounds requiring bandages and perhaps some ice,” Gorton says. “The amount of supplies available usually is not a problem, but knowing when to use each item in different situations is vitally important.”
Red Cross officials urge consumers to take a first-aid course every three years and a CPR class each year.
“The benefits of being trained are learning how to stay calm in emergencies and how to make decisions about appropriate steps to take until medical help arrives,” she says.
And before then, it pays to sort through existing treasures in the medicine cabinet, throw away the old junk and stock up on important products. After all, someone might be snooping around in your bathroom, and it could be you, with a middle-of-the-night emergency.
