A suggested topic for the next thread is generators.
There’s a mention made about them on this thread. What with the power grid issues we are looking at and whatever natural disasters might throw at us, it seems like a need that would be good to address for next time.
Supply Chain Shortages Making Hurricane Season Even Scarier-(ccp transformers lack off)
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4087567/posts
I’d like to be pinged as well. Thanks!
Please keep me on this list, CB. Thanks!
Interesting,,,
Thanks!
Defrost cycles in a freezer are designed to prevent 'ice-up' on the cooling tubes; the ice on the tubes result in increased need for electric energy.
This increased need for more electrical power during ice build up is offset by the intermittent defrost cycle which dumps into an external pan for ambient evaporation.
As I recall, it was FReeper 'Greeneyes' wh made the observation that frozen meats lasted longer, with no 'Frost Burn' in an older freezer that had no "Defrost Cycle".
However, that situation would necessitate periodic, or semi-annual, manual defrost of that freezer to minimize power consumption.
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/fish-antibiotics-humans/
In general, 1-5 years after expiration date if unopened. “Ideal conditions” are mentioned but not explained. I would think cool, dark and dry.
Each batch of each drug in the SLEP program is tested separately, and the shelf life extended for each batch individually. So, for example, for Ampicillin capsules the range is listed as 22 to 64 months, which means the shortest batch was extended by 22 months, and the longest by 64 months. So the mean, or average, extension across all the batches tested by the program was 49 months.
Category | Drug | Expiration Date Extension (months) | |
Mean | Range | ||
Antibiotics | Ampicillin capsules | 49 | 22 – 64 |
Amoxicillin tablets | 23 | 22 – 23 | |
Cephalexin capsules | 57 | 28 – 135 | |
Ciprofloxacin tablets | 55 | 12 – 142 | |
Doxycycline capsules | 50 | 37 – 66 | |
Doxycycline hyclate tablets * | 27 | 15 – 91 * | |
Tetracycline HCl capsules * | 50 | 17 – 133 * | |
Anti-parasite | Mebendazole tablets | 58 | 28 – 89 |
Pain relief / Anti-inflammatories | Acetaminophen pseudophedrine capsules | 24 | 24 – 24 |
Codeine sulphate tablets * | 89 | 16 – 144 * | |
Naproxen tablets | 52 | 46 – 62 | |
Heart drugs | Enalapril maleate tablets * | 34 | 27 – 42 * |
Stomach drugs | Cimetidine tablets | 67 | 59 – 75 |
Respiratory drugs | Albuterol inhalant** | – | – |
Guaifenesin ER tablets | 85 | 39 – 122 | |
Emergency drugs | Atropine sulfate autoinjector* | 57 | 12 – 135 * |
Diazepam autoinjector* | 63 | 12 – 100 * | |
Eye ointments | Sulfacetamide eye cream * | 39 | 35 – 44 * |
Neomycin, polymixin B, bacitracin eye cream* | 79 | 21 – 115 * | |
Skin medication | Aluminium acetate tablets* | 52 | 16 – 70 * |
Povidone-iodine ointment | 65 | 35 – 134 |
Table adapted from Lyon et al. 2006
* Some batches (<50%) failed and could not be extended, or failed on repeat testing. Reasons for failure included failing chemical analysis, and changes in texture or appearance.
** No batches of this drug could have their shelf life extended.
These expiration date extensions make a big difference to the usable time of a drug. To take Ciprofloxacin as an example: the licensed shelf life is 3 years, and as a result of the SLEP program the shelf life was extended by an average of 4 years, giving a total shelf life of 7 years. Even the batches that were granted the shortest extension still received an additional year on top of the licensed shelf life.
https://www.askaprepper.com/the-real-expiration-date-of-common-drugs-in-your-cabinet/
https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-store-your-drugs-for-an-extended-shelf-life/
Both articles above play it pretty safe but that's not a bad thing. Looks like antiotics are all pretty safe for 3-5 years in a cool, dark, dry place. Second article mentions a 'medicine box' with dessicant used. I would think an ammo box would be ideal. Since an ammo box has seals and you's ideally be using dessicant, a nice cool basement should work. Maybe bring the box upstairs once a year on a day with low humidity and put fresh dessicant in it and then bring it back down to the basement.