Walgreens to customers: Protect your Rxs from Hurricane Earl

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreens is offering safety tips to East Coasters dealing with Hurricane Earl.

Walgreens is a member of ICERx.org (In Case of Emergency Prescriptions), a secure prescription information network available to pharmacists and doctors during a national emergency. As members, Walgreens pharmacists can fill prescriptions and access information for hurricane-affected patients even if the patient normally uses another pharmacy.

The drug store chain also offered the following tips to customers:

• If you evacuate, get to a safe location first and refill your medication at a pharmacy there. This allows you to avoid potentially long lines at your local pharmacy, and you won’t needlessly delay your evacuation. Patients can find the nearest store by calling 1-800-WALGREENS or going to Walgreens.com;
• Take a waterproof bag with your current medication -- even if the bottle is empty. The information on the bottle label will help the pharmacist refill your medicine once you arrive at your destination. Heat, humidity and sunlight can degrade the effectiveness of medicine, so try to protect it from extreme weather conditions;
• Keep a written record of your current prescriptions in your valuable papers file. If you’re taking several prescription drugs, it’s an especially good idea to keep a record of your current dosage and doctor’s contact information. Walgreens patients can register online at Walgreens.com and print out this information directly from their patient profile; and
• Users of Web-enabled cell phones also can register for Walgreens mobile applications to conveniently order prescription refills while on the go and easily locate the nearest Walgreens pharmacy. For registration or more information on Walgreens mobile applications, visit Walgreens.com/GoMobile.