Spring Cleaning

As you’re doing your spring cleaning, how about taking inventory of your family’s prescription medications: Do you have expired prescriptions you no longer need? Many fire and police stations will accept medications for safe disposal.

It’s also a good time to organize a list of the medications in your family’s medicine cabinet, in case there’s a medical emergency, according to Danelle Readinger, Emergency Services Director at Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear.

“What if you or a family member were rushed to the hospital, would a loved one be able to provide a current list of your medications to first responders or the Emergency Department? What if it was your child or parent? Would you know the names and dosages of their prescriptions? How about any non-prescription medications?” she asks.

“It’s important to know, because not having this information may cause a delay in care, as paramedics or hospital staff try to confirm current medications before providing that information to the physician. A lack of up-todate medical information may lead to avoidable medication errors or adverse drug reactions,” said Readinger.

Health care professionals from Abrazo hospitals throughout the Valley say that keeping your list of medications and health history up to date can help patients avoid adverse effects from dosing errors, omissions, duplications and drug interactions. This applies to you, along with your spouse and children, and it’s a good idea to ask your parents to do the same, especially if you may be called to assist them with a health crisis.

Some of the important things to keep track of include:

· Medications, including name, dosage and whether it was completed or is ongoing.

· Medical history. This may include chronic conditions or recent illnesses.

· Allergies to medications and foods and the type of reaction.

· Vitamins, supplements, and other overthe-counter items, and dosage.

· Other pertinent health information, including immunizations.

There are some common sense ways to help keep this information: Each time you make a change, note the date. Ask your pharmacy (or pharmacies) to print out a list of medications filled in the last year. And make sure someone in your family or circle of friends knows where you keep your medications list.

Submitted by Abrazo Health