Proper maintenance of your medical supplies in your care cannot be overemphasized. Medical supplies are essential items used to manage various kinds of health conditions. They are designed to perform specific medical functions, and each function is targeted at alleviating a patient’s medical discomfort. As such, proper maintenance of your medical supplies is perhaps the most important way to ensure these products’ functionality, durability, and efficiency. It also ensures that maximum outcomes are derived, and risks are minimized for those utilizing these products.

Five Top Tips to Maintain Medical Supplies

That said, below are five top tips that can help you maintain your medical supplies:

1. Follow Your Healthcare Providers’ Instructions

Perhaps, the most important way to ensure adequate use and proper maintenance of your drugs is to follow the directives of your healthcare providers. Ensure that your doctor or pharmacist is aware of all the medicines you take. This includes prescription drugs, creams, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs. Ensure you obtain adequate information from them on the usage of these substances. It is also advisable to follow the manufacturers’ guidelines while using medical devices such as glucometers, test strips, medical thermometers, and others.

2. Proper Storage of Drugs and Supplements

Unless otherwise stated by your physician, it is always advisable to preserve your medications in a cool and dry place. This is because moisture, air, light and heat can destroy them. For instance, you can store your medications within a storage box, on a shelf, or in a closet. Heat and humidity can easily damage your capsules and pills. Aspirin pills can break down into vinegar and salicylic acid when improperly stored. This irritates the stomach when ingested. Always ensure that you store your medicine in the original container it came with. Remove the cotton ball from the medicine bottles because can absorb moisture into the bottle. Do not hesitate to inquire with your pharmacist about particular storage guidelines.

3. Traveling with Your Medications

While traveling, please avoid keeping your medicines in your car’s glove compartment because they can become too wet, cold, or hot while kept there. Also, while boarding a flight, always keep your medicines within the carry-on luggage. This may be useful if run out of medications, or accidentally damage your drugs. Always ask your health care provider for a copy of all your prescriptions.

4. Sterilize and Disinfect Devices

Medical devices may sometimes malfunction and give false readings. This is majorly due to the dirty and exposed surfaces of the devices. Thus, always ensure to sterilize or disinfect medical devices after every use properly; this will help avoid picking up false readings and the spread of diseases.

5. Carry Out Routine Checks

Routine checks on all medical devices are important in maintaining the appliances and extending their life span. Carrying out regular checks helps ensure that your appliances are in good condition before use and possibly detect faults early. This also allows for quick troubleshooting of faults and prevents further damage.

To ensure the longevity of medical supplies, it’s important to know how to maintain them properly because it will save you from excessive spending and the stress of buying new supplies.