if you live in Florida or anywhere up and down the East Coast as you get your hurricane plan together you may want some advice about what to do regarding your medications and today we have Dr meline kameho Chief Pharmacy officer for Baptist Health and Dr Angelica Bernie director of specialty pharmacy at Baptist Health and we're going to talk about how a little preparation can really go a long way when it comes to keeping you safe and healthy during a hurricane that's coming up next on ask the do send in your questions to questions at allhealth tv.com or allhealth go on Facebook or YouTube or visit the app ask the doc page on our website allhealth tv.com welcome to ask the doc the show that encourages viewers to send us their health questions now let's kick things off with a question from one of our viewers and our first viewer question comes to us from Facebook and kitty asks my husband and I just moved down to Florida and have never experienced a hurricane before we both have severe chronic conditions and take medications for them so how can we protect ourselves make sure we're able to take our medications regularly in the event of a major storm Dr kameho mateline this is a real concern for many people in South Florida right it sure is and kitty that's a great question and thanks for sending it in you know first things first make sure you have an ample supply of medication on hand at least two to three weeks worth and store in a waterproof container in its original packaging in case you have to get out and quickly you have it all together if you don't have enough meds get your medications refilled early before the storm you know some states have emergency prescription refill laws that authorize pharmacies or pharmacist to dispense early of certain medications especially where under an emergency declaration you know the other thing is to create an emergency medication kit or any medical supplies you may have in need and which would include number one make a list keep a list of your medications that you take on paper or on your iPhone or any of your phones where you can easily get to in case you lose your medications the second thing you'd want to do is lose your supply again maintain at least two week supply of each of your medications the third thing you want to do is Safeguard place your medications and Bottles in a watertight container or a bag to keep them from getting damage from Waters and floods and four create a kit that has a first aid kit to include bandages antiseptic Solutions over the- counter antibiotic creams and even eyewash because sometimes after a storm pharmacies are closed and you can't get certain supplies and the last thing is storage have ice or freeze a couple of gel packs available for the refrigerated meds in a small cooler now one thing that's really important if you're insulin dependent it is also recommended that insulin be stored in a refrigerator but during a hurricane if you lose power it's okay to leave the refrigerator I mean the insulin in the refrigerator or in a dry place you know insulin can still be good for 28 days so if you're using ice and you're not at home and you're in a hotel then use uh make sure you don't freeze your insulin don't use insulin that has been frozen because what happens is the molecules break apart and they're no longer viable so that's really important now please don't forget your pets you know my dog Rocky was insulin dependent and I always made sure I had insulin on hand for him many pets take medications to for certain conditions so make sure you also call your vet and fill your prescriptions meds for your pets too thanks mine so much great information and great reminders as well we got another question from Joanne who just reached out to us via YouTube Dr kameho I live with my elderly mother she's not very mobile suffers from a couple of chronic diseases takes medication that isn't available from the local pharmacy and needs to be refrigerated I'd love some advice so Joanne thanks for sharing your story with us you sound like a great daughter and your mom is a lucky woman now Angelica as director of specialty pharmacy that is obviously right up your alley would you mind answering Joanne's questions sure I'd definitely be happy to and provide some advice so it sounds like your mother gets her medication from what we call a specialty pharmacy the reason that it's a specialty pharmacy it's a little different from your traditional Retail Pharmacy that you might see on the corner due to the type of medications that they dispense and that they provide their patients they also usually deliver their medications to patients which is a little bit different so there's a couple of different bullet points that we're going to kind of go over right now to really help prepare so one if you don't hear from your Specialty Pharmacy make sure that you call them it's so important they're going to work with your insurance to get that override so you have enough medication as mine mentioned at least two weeks on hand is key and to make sure that you're also able to get them delivered to the house so make sure someone's home either you or a relative to be able to get that medication into the home before a hurricane next what I would say is if your mom or anyone is on a refrigerated medication make sure to have plenty of Ice Coolers or see if you can stay with a family remember that had maybe some type of generator or somewhere that's going to have backup Refrigeration for you that's going to be also a big piece for preparedness I would say then the next thing is to make sure to keep medications in a safe location so that's going to be especially important when we have these chronic type of medications that may have special handling requirements something like oral chemotherapy or certain medications that just can't be your in your normal shelving area um make sure to keep all those medications together in that sealed tight waterproof container as mine mentioned lastly I would say make sure to always have enough supplies um if you're on a medication that can be considered hazardous as we talked about that oral chemotherapy for example bring a pair of gloves that's going to be great in case someone has to help administer the medication for you if you're unable to also just make sure to have any supplies such as needles sharp containers things to properly dispose of your medication and it's also going to be key to keep those medication supplies close and together with your actual medications Angelica that is great information another thing you might want to consider is finding a small generator that's available at stores like Home Depot Lowe's or even Ace any hardware store they're simple to operate and if the power goes out a small generator may help keep refrigerator running now make sure that when you keep the refrigerator outside the house and run long extension cords never run a generator in the house you can get carbon mon oxide poisoning again so much great information mine and Angelica our next question just came from our website at allhealth tv.com and it's from Tisha and she asked my father has sleep apnea and he uses a CPAP machine I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use that machine if the power goes out what advice do you have should he evacuate to a shelter immediately he really likes staying home meline Angelica I feel like this could be a common question as well what advice can we offer Tisha oh I can think of a couple of things off the top of my head and I bet Angelica can too but uh number one if your machine runs on batteries then make sure you get extra batteries or that they're charged you know two some CPAP machines that need to be plugged in can still last for a number of hours once the power is lost um the third thing I think I we mentioned it before but if you can afford it a backup generator is always a good idea for your medical equipment as well especially ones that you cannot live without so I thought of three Angelica I think it's your turn now yeah so it'll be hard to kind of top those three but I have a couple more I think that will be really important and really help when preparing for a hurricane so I would say the next one is to make sure that you have extra bottles of distilled water on hand that's really the only water that can be used with the CPAP machines this will help prevent the growth of mold and bacteria and having that Supply will help those machines work properly and reduce the risk of other respiratory issues that can actually happen even post hurricane the next thing I would say is to make sure to call your utility company inform them that you have a CPAP machine they actually might be able to add you to a priority list and make sure that you are on their grid so that they can work on repairing and getting power restored quicker if they know that you're on those life um saving type of equipment the next thing too is if you require additional oxygen support make sure to extra tanks additionally if you're on an inhaler um anything even if it's used as as on an as needed basis not something that you use every day it's so crucial to have it on hand because you want to make sure that you're able to have it when it's actually needed there could be debris and other environmental factors that happen and can agitate COPD asthma and other diseases after the fact so having that inhaler is going to be so important during the storm and even after thank you you gave batia and our viewers some great information there especially about the distilled water and the extra tanks So speaking of great information if you miss it the first time here's another opportunity to find out where to send in your questions send in your questions to questions at all Health tv.com or allhealth go on Facebook or YouTube or visit the ask the do page on our website allhealth tv.com we have another question from our website at allhealth tv.com it's from Yousef and he asks my wife has multiple sclerosis and she says she cannot be without air conditioning or she will get extremely sick she's not very mobile so we don't want to travel out of town if a storm hits what should we be considering when choosing a chel a shelter what kinds of medical supplies should we bring thank you so much Yousef and jelica that's an important question everyone should be prepared for a storm but people with special needs have to be ready in advance and make proper Arrangements am I correct you're 100% right Kathy so number one I think everyone has to make sure that they have enough um you know food water medication their medication supplies um but if you have special circumstances as you mentioned there that just adds another layer of complexity to the hurrication preparation plan so there are special need shelters um that should be able to accommodate you and your wife youf in the event of a storm with multiple sclerosis it's not uncommon to be sensitive to heat so there's a couple things I can recommend I would say make sure to stock up on instant ice packs that's going to really help manage that heat sensitivity additionally battery powered fans so either your handheld ones the ones you can put around your neck those are a great option to help with that make sure to have extra batteries as mine mentioned or have them charged up ready to go and then another big piece is staying hydrated that is going to be key drinking plenty of water making sure that you have access to it during a storm even after will really help with that um another big piece I want to mention though is making sure to have all your supplies such as your medications equipments being able to have those together that she uses on a day-to-day basis so that we can keep her as comfortable as possible during that storm absolutely thank you so much Angelica and the questions keep coming in I love it okay here's one from Marisol via Facebook I've had a horrible I've never had a horrible hurricane experience but I take medication for anxiety and as we approach hurricane season my blood pressure goes up and it gets much worse if it looks like we are in the path of a storm what precautions should I take to make sure I'll be able to keep my blood pressure and anxiety under control meline Angelica can you help marou with summon Vice absolutely Kathy marisou I want you to know it is very common for people to be anxious about upcoming storms and so that's not an issue recognize your emotions and trying to keep these tips to alleviate your anxiety one I think is to create a plan I think a well prepared plan for you and your family that can help reduce anxiety and Chaos before during and after a storm make sure you have an evacuation plan and complete a compile of preparedness kits that we've talked about um be sure number two be sure to be informed stay up to date with weather information and warnings making sure you have a portable battery operated radio so that if you're aware of the latest information you may gain a sense of control over the situation number three talk it out you know share your fears with a family friends or even a counselor others who can offer you emotional support and one of the things number four that I used to love to do is do activities during a storm you know children too can get really anxious and scared so keeping them busy one of the things I used to do with my niece and nephew was build an indoor campsite we would put up tents get in there we would color we would tell stories or even play board games now if you don't have kids as an adult you can also just read a book play cards even clean out your closet you know or simply just cuddle up with your pets and get some rest um Angelica do you like to add anything did I leave anything out that you might can think of you know you mentioned about talking it out and that's definitely my tactic I like to talk things out with my family my friends it's a way to help call me down um but I think just to add you know I would say making sure you're staying in form and prepared in advance which you're already doing by asking these questions which is great right so ensure that you have that safe space to stay in during the storm one of my recommendations too is to practice relaxation techniques try you know deep breathing exercises meditation those will really help but the key is going to be practicing those before the storm and having them done regularly so that when you actually need to use them they're easy to use and right there're on your fingertips thank you both I know that storm anxiety is very common and very real for many people and we're moving on to another question and it's been a while since we had a YouTube question this one comes to us from Hank who writes I know this sounds kind of goofy but I have a reflux disease and have a really hard time if I eat a lot of pizza and other foods like that but the problem is that after a storm that's usually the only food that's easy to get what kinds of healthy foods can I keep on hand that I might actually eat mine what are some healthy foods that Hank and others who may have some dietary restrictions should keep on hand during a storm wow that's a good one um I would say buy some whole grained breads one is really FR fresh fruits vegetables low sodium Cann Meats like tuna and chicken some even low sugar protein bars and cereals um two I would say there's also non-dairy milk Alternatives that are on the shelves that are Staples and that you can also use with Civ and coffee um three I would say canned vegetables also provide essential nutritions they are lower sodium options for those who need to watch salt intake if you have high blood pressure or certain cardiac conditions also four remember herbs and spices can add flavor to meals without relying on salt and sodium sauces or condiments so do that instead um and one important fact I would say five is like before the storm hits turn down the temperature in your refrigerator and your freezer make it extra cold which will help your food lasts longer so if you lose power and last but not least don't forget to go to the storm before this uh before the storm and get foods for your pets too absolutely great information meline and just in case you missed it the first couple of times here's yet another chance to find out where to send in your questions send in your questions to questions allhealth tv.com or allhealth go on Facebook or YouTube or visit the askthe dooc page on our website allhealth tv.com now before we call it a day meline and Angelica would you mind sharing some general information with our viewers about why how they should watch out for after the storm passes we be glad you to do so Kathy I think number one is really stay out of flood waters here especially in South Florida don't drive into flooded areas that one of the things is we have so many canals and you can accidentally drive yourself into a canal or the other thing is you can stall in the moving water so be very careful and the other thing is flood waters contain many things such as germs dangerous chemicals human waste and other contam contaminants that can make you sip especially after a storm make sure that if you come in contact with flood waters wash your hands with soap and water and if you don't have soap or water then use alcohol based wipes or sanitizers second thing I would make you say is stay away from power lines watch out for fallen power lines that may be hanging overhead stay clean and clear of Fallen power lines call the electric company and report them that's really important you don't want to be electrocuted especially when you're when you're outside three stay away from from tap water do not drink or bathe in tap water until local authorities have determined it's safe to do so and last for me is protect yourself from animals and pest when you go outside wear long sleeves long pants socks use any non-toxic in insect repellent especially when you're outside to protect yourself from mosquito bites mosquitoes carry diseases and stay away from any wild or straight animals after a storm and call 911 one on your public health or your Public Health Department Angelica how about you yeah and I would say those mosquitoes can be you know pretty rampant down here in South Florida especially after the storm with that standing water so that's a really good uh piece of advice mateline I would say the next thing is just to really be careful about what you eat when you get back home so we want to make sure that you throw away food that you may have come in contact with flood water or it maybe wasn't properly refrigerated due to the power aages so making sure that you're just checking your food checking the expir ation dates and seeing if it's still viable to eat and if unsure just go ahead and throw it out the next thing too is make sure to clean and disinfect wounds so that helps prevent infections the risk for injury is actually pretty high even after a hurricane so many think it's durring but it's just as much after so other um things is making sure you have some type of antibiotic ointments using those kits that we talked about keeping them close by so you can make sure to disinfect so we don't have any type of infection stemming from any injuries the next is making sure to take care of your emotional health after a hurricane it's so natural to feel those strong emotions right we talked about some of those coping mechanisms like the relaxation methods deep breathing but getting assistance to cope with Stress and Anxiety will really really help to um have your family recover a little bit more and help you put be at ease especially after a storm well you know Angelica one more thing that I would add you know especially after a hurricane uh people like to go out and start to clean up their their yards and things and that's where we see a lot of people come and get injured so I would say make sure if you're going to go outside like I said where the long sleeves wear shoes make you know make sure your toes are everything is actually covered and also the most important thing is wear gloves when you're picking up debris you don't want to cut your hands and end up in our emergency room absolutely and I you know another big piece too is you don't know how long you might be without power how long you're going to be impacted with a storm I remember we had a hurricane several years back and I I can remember not having power for almost two weeks or so so you have to be you know um strategic how are we going to charge some of our electronic devices how are you going to be able to cook certain foods um so you know my family we were going around um Town once the roads were cleared and it was deemed safe and we'd go to restaurants and try to charge at that point we would also make sure that you know if there was dippery it was removed before going out making sure like you mentioned mine we we would not drive if we saw standing water that was I think your number one point that you mentioned on the last um point there but if we didn't know you didn't know how deep it was we didn't want to get stuck we're already having problems with the house we needed to make sure our car was at least functioning so we could have some AC and relief during that time so I remember ladies having to uh lived through Hurricane Andrew in '92 and being a child at that point and so much of what you shared is so useful especially for young children keeping them occupied uh keeping them even as adults we can have that that that sort of sanity and not let our mind run away with us and one of the key things that you have mentioned was the necessity for that clean water we can stress that enough you mentioned it for the CPAP machines you mentioned it just to have at home to take your medicine how crucial that that is uh when we're talking about storm preparation yeah and don't forget the pets mine mentioned it don't forget your pets we hear horrible stories you know pets Left Behind when families may go to a shelter have to to evacuate or um you know making sure that with your pets also you have them um uh you have their um leashes on and all identification because sometimes they get out they're nervous too it's something new and unfamiliar so just something you know to help with that preparedness kit um pets are family at least for you know I know mine had Rocky and and for myself we love our pets and I'm sure many of you do as well so just don't forget about them um in the preparation I have I'm sorry mine go ahead no I I was going to tell you that's really important because pets do get lost during storms so make sure they're chipped make sure they have an identification list on them that's really important I think the other piece to this too is um for families make sure if you're going to have to go to a shelter call ahead of time and make sure that the shelter is able to accommodate your pets sometimes people show up and they can't Co in because they don't take shelter so that they don't take the pets so make sure that's available or you can call your vet sometimes they actually are able to store these uh or actually put them into certain vets will keep your pets for you during the storm too so that's really important as well fantastic feedback meline I think that's that's key we definitely to find out if the if pets are welcome I have one more question actually as a parent I have one more question um in regards to children and how and that is how to keep them calm especially in an age where we are bombarded with news and social media and you know were on text chains and and seeing news stories what is a great way to keep these children calm so want to go ahead mine you can definitely take that one so one of the things I would recommend is again um talk about storms early before the hurricane season so if we get one at least they're kind of prepared and it's not scary the other thing I would definitely say is do those indoor activities with your kids that we talked about earlier um play games play keep them calm I think those are really important things to have make sure you have good food for them to eat and snacks as well um as long as you keep them occupied many times the storms take a whole full day so they'll they'll get to sleep earlier um or don't do a little bit different of a routine if everybody can sleep together that also helps keep people calm you know it's it is a stressful time not just for for for people who have chronic conditions and I need to be looked for but kids do go through a lot of stress during that time Angelica I don't know if you can think of anything else that you would like yeah um I also have two small children and you know one of my things is having hurricane backpacks so I get let them you know go ahead and pack up a little backpack with those activities mine mentioned so I try to make it something fun to try to alleviate and not have them feel that stress um so they get to have a little flashlight in there they get to put little activities in there food that's key right got to have their snacks ready to go um you know they're use a lot of times technology so I try to avoid that because knowing that power might be out you know if I have to turn it take it away from them or I'm not able to power it or I have to pick between maybe a fridge or something else I'm probably not going to power an iPad but I would say just making it a little exciting trying to keep them at you know let them know that it's normal to feel a little anxious if they are and um you know just finding ways to just keep them all to us Al together so yeah if you're calm they'll be calm that's the important thing absolutely these are great tips and thank you for that mine Angelica for joining us because that's all the time that we have for today I'm Kathy buio and I'll see you next time on ask the doc send in your questions to questions at all Health tv.com or allhealth go on Facebook or YouTube or visit the ask the do page on our website allhealth tv.com e