How To Stay Stocked Up For Minor Health Problems

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It’s good to be prepared at the best of times, but given the current restrictions and difficulties with going out it’s perhaps all the more important to have some essentials for minor health problems in case they’re needed. This isn’t about ‘stocking up’ on a few crates of Beechams and paracetamol, it’s about having stock of the basics you need for any eventuality.

Without further ado, here’s a collaborative post on keeping on top of your supplies at home for minor health problems.

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Whether you are just taking care of yourself, or you have a family to think about, being able to deal with someone in your home that is sick or injured is essential. Often, the problems that you may encounter may not be bad enough that they warrant a trip to the doctor or the hospital, but you still need to deal with them. 

Having a stash of handy medicines and first aid essentials can help you manage different minor illnesses and injuries. 

You might already have a few things saved from previous illnesses or injuries, but you may not have a useful selection. You will want to be prepared for every eventuality. 

But, how do you make sure that you have everything that you might need? 

Here’s everything that you need to know about setting up a medicine cabinet and first aid kit in your own home. 

Make Sure Your Medicine Cabinet and First Aid Kit Are In A Safe Place

If you have young children, it is essential that you keep your medicine cabinet and first aid kit in a place that they cannot easily reach. This means finding a high up cupboard to safely store everything. 

If you have younger children, you should also look for medicines that come in childproof packaging that cannot easily be opened. 

What Do You Need For Your Medicine Cabinet and First Aid Kit?

You will want to keep a mix of different medicines and first aid essentials in your home. It is important that you only keep items that can be bought over the counter. You should only have prescription medication if it has been specifically prescribed for you and your current condition. If your child has an illness, you shouldn’t give them prescription medication that has been prescribed for you or anyone else. 

You should include the following in your medicine cabinet :

• Pain relief such as paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen. If you have children, include the children’s versions such as flavoured paracetamol syrups.  
• Diarrhoea medicine such as gastro stop, and antacids 
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants, cough medicines, and cough sweets

You should also consider having the following first aid items : 

• Antiseptic cream 
• Alcohol-free wipes  
• Plasters
• A variety of bandages including triangle bandages, eye patches and a mixture of sizes of crepe bandages
• Tape and safety pins
• Scissors and tweezers
• Heat and ice packs
• Disposable gloves
• Eyewash 
• A thermometer

Keeping Your Medicine Cabinet & First Aid Kit In Order

It’s important that you keep your medicine cabinet and first aid kit in order at all times. When you need items in a hurry, you shouldn’t need to rummage through your cupboard to find them. If everything has its own place, you’ll find things in an instant. 

Make sure that you check use-by-dates on everything on a regular basis. Using expired medicines should be avoided and it’s important that you throw these away once they hit their best before date.

Do you have a first aid kit at home or a cupboard for day to day medical needs? Do you routinely make sure that you have what you need & check the dates?

[ This is a collaborative post & as such the ideas expressed here are that of the author ]