Having a stockpile of food, water, and medicines is only the first step to preparing for SHTF. It is also important that you store these items properly. This is especially true for medications because if they are store the wrong way they may not work. If you know how medications should be stored, you just might prevent medical emergencies when a collapse occurs.

The factors you need to consider when properly storing medications include: 

Heat: Most medications are meant to be stored at room temperature. Insulin and some antibiotic elixirs are an exception, and should be stored in the refrigerator. A good rule of thumb is that, unless the bottle contains labeling that says otherwise, it’s unnecessary  to freeze or otherwise diverge from the advice given by the manufacturer.
Given the choice, somewhat cooler is probably better than hotter.
Moisture: Most folks store medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet, but you might be surprised to know that the moisture from showers and baths can degrade the drug significantly. Instead, consider a high shelf in a closet or a dedicated storage box.
Light: Light sometimes could have an ill effect on certain drugs. These meds are commonly stored in brownish-colored bottles. Keep all medicines in their original containers. It might be a good idea, however, to remove the cotton ball commonly placed with the drug as it could pull moisture into the container.
Many times, it might be hard to tell if a drug has been affected negatively, but some others are pretty obvious. Aspirin pills, for example, can develop a vinegar-like smell. Besides smell, a change in color or consistency may signal that a medication has degraded. If pills or capsules are harder or softer than normal or stick together, be wary.

Consider storing all meds in cool, dark, dry conditions.

No one wants to be in the middle of a collapse only to discover that their medications are no longer working like they should. Having expired medications can potentially lead to other problems and not having medical attention available will make these problems even worse.

This is why knowing what impacts a medication's effectiveness and how to properly store them is so important. It just might save your life or the life of someone in your family.

To learn more about the proper way to store medications for when SHTF, please visit Doom And Bloom.