Question

A parental medication is to arrive through the label on the box states that the medication cannot be exposed to temperatures higher than 47.8°C. The current outdoor temperature is 100.2°C. Can the medication be safely used?

a) Yes
b) No

Answer 1

No, the medication cannot be used safely based on the incorrect assumption that 100.2°F is higher than 47.8°C. However, when correctly converted to Celsius, 100.2°F is approximately 37.9°C, which is safe for the medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

No, the medication cannot be safely used because it cannot be exposed to temperatures higher than 47.8°C, and the current outdoor temperature is much higher at 100.2°F.

It is imperative to follow storage condition warnings for medications, as exposure to inappropriate temperatures can degrade the efficacy or safety of the medication. The warning on the medication box is clear in stating that it should not be exposed to temperatures above 47.8°C. The current outdoor temperature provided is 100.2°F. It's essential to correctly convert this temperature to the Celsius scale to compare with the provided storage condition. Using the conversion formula (°F - 32) × 5/9, we find that 100.2°F is approximately equal to 37.9°C.

Since this converted temperature is lower than the maximum safe exposure temperature of the medication, the medication can actually be used safely. In the initial question the temperature conversion was not considered, and the unit mismatch between Fahrenheit and Celsius was overlooked, leading to an incorrect conclusion.