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ISMP Canada News

January 18, 2016: SafeMedicationUse.ca Newsletter - 
Misconceptions about Medicines That Could Be Deadly: Part 1

This is the first in a series of newsletters that will discuss three common misconceptions about medicines. These misconceptions were identified in an ISMP Canada analysis that looked at errors with medicines that resulted in death. This particular analysis looked at errors that happened in a person’s home or where medicines were given by a person without professional healthcare training.

Misconception One: It doesn’t matter where I keep my medicines.

Proper storage of medicines is important - most people know that exposing medicines to too much heat and moisture (for example, in the bathroom or some areas of the kitchen) can make them less effective. But proper storage is also needed to make sure a medicine is used only by the person who is supposed to take it. Medicines that end up in the wrong hands may not be used as they were intended and can cause harm. Through work with provincial agencies that investigate unexpected deaths, ISMP Canada learned of an incident in which improper storage of a medicine led to a child’s death.   Read more...