Ready to winterize? Remember the medicine cabinet.

• Position: Prescriptions - Safe storage guidelines - Brief Article

As Americans get their homes ready for those long winter months ahead, the Council on Family Health reminds them to clean out their medicine cabinets. "Old or expired medicines may not be as effective or as safe, so it's a good idea to look through your medicine cabinet and throw away old medicines at least once a year," advises CFH president Robert G. Donovan.

The beginning of the cold and flu season is an ideal time to check your medicine chest and toss out expired or out-of-date medicines; prescription medicines your doctor has told you to stop taking; any medicine which has a noticeable change in color or smell; and those with illegible or missing labels and package instructions.

"When throwing medicines away, flush the contents in the toilet or wash them down the sink and put only the empty container in the trash. This stops them from getting into the wrong hands," warns Donovan. "Checking expiration dates and properly storing and using medicines are important ways for people to safeguard their own health and the health of their families." Here are some medicine safety and storage tips:

* Keep all medicines in a cool, dry place since heat and humidity can affect their potency. Don't store them...