Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

FDA Issues Hurricane Safety Resources for Packaged Meds, Food and Water

Uncertain about the safety of your packaged food, water, or medications in the wake of hurricane damage? These agency resources offer assistance.

Uncertain about the safety of your packaged food, water, or medications in the wake of hurricane damage? These FDA resources offer assistance.
Uncertain about the safety of your packaged food, water, or medications in the wake of hurricane damage? These FDA resources offer assistance.

With much of the Southeast U.S. digging out from the destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the FDA has issued Hurricane Safety Resources, which addresses water storage and food as well as medical supply safety due to rain, flooding and power outages.

The public health report also offers the following tips pertaining to drugs exposed to water, insulin storage in an emergency, and medical devices, vaccines, blood, and biologics:

Drugs exposed to water

• Drugs exposed to flood or unsafe municipal water may become contaminated. This contamination may lead to serious health effects. Drugs exposed to unsafe water should be replaced as soon as possible.

Drugs—even those in their original containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers—should be discarded if they came into contact with flood or contaminated water. In addition, medicines placed in other storage containers should be discarded if the medicines came in contact with flood or contaminated water.

If a drug is needed to treat a life-threatening condition, but a replacement may not be readily available, if the drug looks unchanged—for example, pills in a wet container appear dry—the drugs can be used until a replacement is available. If the pills are wet, then they are contaminated and need to be discarded.

For more information, see Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster (en Español).

Insulin storage in an emergency

• It is recommended that insulin be stored in a refrigerator at approximately 36°F to 46°F. Unopened and stored in this manner, these products maintain potency until the expiration date on the package.

Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging
<strong>At PACK EXPO Las Vegas, you’ll see machinery in action and new tech from 2,300 suppliers, collaborate with experts and explore transformative solutions. Join us in September to experience a breakthrough for life sciences products.</strong>
REGISTER NOW & SAVE!
Break out of the ordinary: see what’s new in life sciences packaging
Researched List: Blister Machines for Life Sciences
Need a blister machine for life sciences packaging? Our curated list features companies serving pharmaceutical, medical device, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. Download to access company names, locations, machine specifications, descriptions, and more.
Download Now
Researched List: Blister Machines for Life Sciences