You risk infection—Check 5 meds after flood (Video)

Transcript

Did you know any medicine touching floodwater must be tossed?

Did you know any medicine touching floodwater must be tossed?

Flooded Medicines Guide

Stick around and I’ll walk you through what to do with any medication after a flood, from spotting the risky ones to the quick steps that keep you safe, and I’ll save the most crucial tip for the end, so you won’t miss it.

Flooded medicine definition

Here’s the thing: the FDA says any medicine that has even a splash of floodwater on it counts as contaminated, whether it’s still in its original bottle, a snap-top, or even a pill organizer you transferred it into. The CDC echoes that, so you need to check every container in your house.

Keep or discard?

Now, the part most people miss is the simple visual test: if the pack stayed dry, the label is clear and the container is whole, you can keep it and store it as usual. But if it’s wet, swollen, soft, mouldy, torn or the label can’t be read, you should set it aside and take it to a pharmacist.

Special meds

And this is where it gets interesting: insulin and eye drops deserve a closer look because they’re temperature-sensitive and often life-sustaining. The FDA says you may keep insulin a short while if you have no replacement, but you still need a new supply as soon as possible. For eye drops, call your prescriber right away.

Photo log tip

Try this: before you toss anything, snap a clear photo of each label showing the name, strength and batch number. Save those pictures in a dedicated album called Medicines on your phone. When you head to the pharmacy, you’ll have a quick reference that speeds up the whole process.

High fever threshold

If your temperature climbs to 38 °C or higher and doesn’t improve with home care, that’s a signal to call NHS 111 or your GP for same-day advice. It’s a simple number to remember when a fever could be more than just a chill.

The one rule: toss wet meds

Here’s the one rule you’ll want to remember: any medicine that has touched floodwater, no matter how clean it looks, should be discarded unless it’s insulin or eye drops, in which case you call a pharmacist right away. Don’t gamble on appearance; safety comes first.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.