Chapter 2 · Your emergency kit
2.12 Medications
- Prescription medications: the American Red Cross asks for at least 7 days in the kit. For the two weeks at home, talk to your doctor and pharmacy about how to build a reserve and whether your insurance allows early refills. Rotate: use the oldest and replace.
- A printed list for each person: medication name, prescribed dose, doctor, pharmacy, allergies, conditions. In the wallet and in the kit.
- Medications that need refrigeration (for example, insulin): ask your pharmacist how long and at what temperature they can be out of the refrigerator, and have a cooler or insulated case and cold gel packs.
- Electrical medical equipment (oxygen, CPAP, nebulizer): backup power plan (battery power station) and sign up with your state's emergency assistance registry (chapter 1). Ask your electric company whether it has a registry or program for customers who depend on medical equipment; even so, a registry doesn't guarantee your power won't be cut, so your own backup is essential.
- Over-the-counter: only what you already know and tolerate, and always according to the label.
- Glasses and devices: spare glasses, contact lens solution, hearing aid batteries.
- Heat: medications are damaged by high temperatures. Don't keep them in the car or in a patio closet.
