Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0
Being able to take care of yourself and your family can, at times, take foresight. Planning for any eventuality that may arise, so that when you or your child are sick or injured, you can jump straight in there and deal with the problem straight away.
One of the best ways that you can do this is by creating a medicine cabinet and first aid kid in your home.
You probably already have a handful of things in your cupboard from previous times when someone in the family has been unwell or has hurt themselves, but can you honestly say that you have a practical selection of all of the things that you might need in the event of sickness or injury?
Here are some of the things that you should think about buying to keep in your home.
Find a Suitable Place to Keep Your Medicine Cabinet and First Aid Kit
Medicines can be harmful, especially in the hands of small children.
Make sure that you put all of your medicines away from the reach of your children. Ideally, you will want to put them in a high up cupboard.
Any medicines should be in bottles with childproof lids to stop them from being easily opened.
What Should be in the Medicine Cabinet and First Aid Kit?
Inside your medicine cabinet, you should keep a range of different non-prescription medicines that can be bought over the counter. It is important that you don’t give prescription medicines to your children, or take them yourself unless they have been prescribed to you from the doctor.
Medicines that you may want to include:
- Paracetamol- Including children’s flavored paracetamol
- Ibruprofen and ibuprofen gel
- Asprin
- diarrhoea medicine
- Allergy tablets
- Decongestant and cough medicines
- Antacids
You should also include the following:
- Calamine Lotion
- Antiseptic cream
- Adhesive bandages
- A selection of other sterile bandages including eye patches, triangular bandages, a selection of different sized crepe bandages
- Sticky tape
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- A thermometer
- Heart and Ice Packs
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
- Disposable gloves
- Eyewash
Make sure and keep all bandages in their packaging until it is time to use them.
Keeping Your Medicine Cabinet and First Aid Kit Organized
It’s all very well finning your cabinet and first aid kit full of the essentials, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for in a hurry, or the item is out of date, then this is of no use at all.
Keep your cabinet tidy and organized. Think about keeping things in a logical order; for example, keep your painkillers in one place, your medicines in another, and your bandages and plasters together. The tidier you can store them, the quicker you can find them in a rush.
Check the use-by-dates on all of the products. Out-of-date medicines may do more harm than good, so it is important that you replace items as they expire. You should try and check your medicine cabinet every month or so and replace any expired items.
Leave a Reply