Windstorms across Colorado left more than 200,000 customers without power, tens of thousands of whom were powerless for more than 24 hours. Now, health officials are warning Coloradans to be cautious with both refrigerated food and medications. “When dealing with power outages, it is important to be careful with food,” Jefferson County Public Health officials stated in a news release. “Do not taste food to determine if it is safe. Instead, check each item carefully and, when unsure, it is safest to throw it away.” Any refrigerated foods should be thrown away after the power has been out for more than four hours, health officials said. Thawed frozen foods are still safe at that time to refreeze or cook if ice crystals are present. To help keep food fresh during a power outage, residents should set refrigerators and freezers to the coldest setting, place the items inside close together and keep the doors closed, Jeffco officials said. Food will last roughly four hours in a fridge, 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Related Articles Colorado River water negotiators appear no closer to long-term agreement 1 of FBI’s 10 Most Wanted among Tren de Aragua leaders indicted in Denver kidnapping, jewelry store robberies 1 dead, 2 injured in Aurora crash on Havana Street How Trump’s order to reclassify marijuana could affect Colorado’s industry Colorado weather: Strong winds, fire danger continue into Saturday People can freeze containers of water and gel packs to put in with the food to keep it colder for longer, but refrigerators are only safe at 40 degrees or below and freezers should be at zero degrees or below, according to the CDC. Food can also be kept in a cooler with dry or block ice. Medications that need to be refrigerated should be discarded after a day without power, unless the label states otherwise, according to Jefferson County health officials. Life-saving medications may be used temporarily until a replacement supply is available, but all refrigerated medications should be replaced as soon as possible. Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter. ...read more read less