Emergency Preparedness
What Consumers Need to Know to Prepare for an Emergency

• Keep a list of all your medications in your wallet.
  • Include lists for your immediate family members.
  • Include drug name, strength, dosage form and regimen.
• Wear your medical-alert bracelet or necklace.
• Store 3-5 days of medications that are important to your health.
  • Include any medications that are used to stabilize a medical condition or keep a condition from worsening or resulting in hospitalization, such as:
    • medications for asthma, seizures, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, psychiatric conditions, HIV, and thyroid disorders.
  • Carry these with you, if possible, in a purse or briefcase in labeled containers.
    • Don’t store in areas that are susceptible to extremes in heat, cold, and humidity (e.g., car or bathroom). This could decrease the effectiveness of the medication.
    • Use child-resistant containers and keep your purse or briefcase secure.
  • Rotate these medications whenever you get your prescriptions refilled, to make sure they are used before their expiration date.
• Refill your prescriptions while you still have at least a 3-5 day supply of medications left. Keep in mind that some sources, such as mail order pharmacies, have a longer lead time to refill.
• If your child takes medications, communicate with the school to discuss their emergency preparedness plans.
• People with complex medication regimens should talk to their physician and pharmacist to help with emergency preparation plans.
  • Such regimens include:
    • Injectable medications, including those delivered by pumps (e.g., insulin , analgesics, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition)
    • Medications delivered by a nebulizer (e.g., antibiotics, bronchodilators)
    • Dialysis