Medication Disposal
We all think of our homes as safe spaces. However, when we have expired and unused medications in our homes, we have potentially dangerous objects in our home. In 2021, Safe Kids Worldwide reported that “Medications are the leading cause of child poisoning today.” Here are some ways to keep your family safe:
- Keep medications out of reach from children and pets.
- Clean out your medication cabinets regularly and dispose of unused medications, so no one accidentally ingests the expired or unused medications.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the proper way to dispose of medications:
- Mix with coffee grinds or kitty litter then put the mixture in a sealed plastic bag and throw away in your household trash.
- Scratch out all the personal information on the prescription label of your empty medication bottle to make it unreadable.
You can also dispose of medications at a drug take-back event or go to a permanent DEA medication take-back site. Bremo pharmacy is registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for medication disposal. We accept over-the-counter and prescription medications (including controlled substances).
At Bremo, sync patients can dispose of their medications for free. For all other patients, the service is $5 per bucket (12”x8”x100”).
Sharps Disposal
For sharps disposal, the FDA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Equality (DEQ) recommend utilizing an FDA-approved sharps container or a thick plastic container like a laundry detergent bottle. If you utilize a detergent bottle for sharps disposal, then you must
- Properly label the bottle as “Biohazard”
- You can also print a label from the CDC, by clicking here
- Tape the bottle shut
- Throw it in the trash
For sharps disposal, never overfill the container, if it’s ¾ of the way full, then secure the lid and dispose of the container. Overfilled sharps containers are dangerous. This is because the lid will not be as secure making it possible for the sharps to spill out increasing your chances of or accidentally sticking yourself with a used needle.
If you have a household with small children or pets, a sharps container is a safer option because the lid is secure. With FDA-approved sharps containers, the lid is not removable once the sharps container is assembled. However, detergent bottles can be opened, allowing the contents to be poured out.
You can dispose of your sharps container at Bremo Pharmacy for $5. If you purchase a sharps container from us, then we can dispose of the container for free.
Let us do the hard work for you. Bring your medications in and dispose of them safely. Keep your house safe for you and your family!
Senior Safety
As we get older our muscles get weaker making it harder to balance and our vision can decline making it harder to see. This can make it difficult to get around your home or make driving a challenge. The good news is there are things you can do in your home and car to help you safely get around. Leg lifters can help you easily maneuver your legs to get out of chairs, wheelchairs, beds, and even cars. There are other products available to help with getting in and out of a car like hand grips and handles to help grab seat belts. Blindspot mirrors are also options for those who need a little extra help with vision while driving.
At Bremo, we have some of these products to keep you or a loved one safe. See what products we have available here!
Resources:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines
https://www.asthealth.org/medications-leading-cause-accidental-poisoning-deaths-children
