Heatwave Ahead: How to Store Medicines and Sunscreen Safely

As temperatures and humidity rise in Israel, N12 published a practical guide on how to store medicines, creams and other health products correctly, warning that common habits can make them less effective or even unsafe. The advice comes from Hagit Masad, a clinical pharmacist at Clalit in the Haifa and Western Galilee district, who says improper storage can damage a drug’s active ingredients.

The article says medicines should stay in their original packaging, which protects them from air and sunlight and keeps the name, expiration date and storage instructions visible. The recommended storage place is a closed, dry, elevated cabinet at up to 25 degrees Celsius. Bathrooms, window sills, and spots near stoves or ovens are not suitable because heat and moisture can alter the medicine’s composition.

Refrigeration is not automatic, only drugs specifically marked for cold storage should go in the fridge, usually at 2 to 8 degrees. They should not be kept in the fridge door or put in the freezer. The article gives Acamol syrup as an example of a medicine that should not be refrigerated, even though many parents do so out of habit.

The warning is even stronger for cars: a closed vehicle in an Israeli summer can reach 70 to 80 degrees or more, which may chemically change medicines and make them unsafe. If a drug has been left in a car for hours, the recommendation is not to use it and to ask a pharmacist whether it should be replaced. Travelers are also advised to keep medicines in hand luggage rather than checked baggage, to avoid loss and temperature swings.

The guidance also applies to cosmetics, makeup and sunscreen, which can change in texture, color or smell in extreme heat and lose effectiveness. Before the expected heatwave, readers are urged to check where these products are stored at home and in the car, and to consult a pharmacist whenever in doubt.