Stop whatever you’re doing right now and go take a look at your medicine cabinet. We’re sure that half of the supplies and medicine are either expired with cough syrup having formed into a lump and labels crumpled on bottles. It is time to rethink the medicine and emergency supplies in your medicine cabinet, especially when you have family members that are either over 50 or under 12 years old. Throw out the expired bottles, discard rarely used medicine and make room for more important supplies.
And what are those you ask; here are a few that need to be in your medicine cabinet at all times.
Bandages
If you have kids at home, having lots and lots of bandages in your cabinet is necessary. They tend to run around and will often injure their knees and elbows. Bandages come in handy at these times, when your kids suffer from minor cuts or scratches. The kinds of bandages that you need to keep are 25 to 30 adhesive bandages, gauze pads, compress bandages that are absorbent, roller bandages and sticky cloth tape. These can basically cover any kind of physical injuries and are handy during emergencies. Make sure that you buy various sizes while stocking up. Bandages are so important that if we were given just four options for the medicine cabinet, these would take first place.
Antibacterial ointment
With numerous antibacterial ointments and cream brands available today, you should understand the difference between both and choose a brand that suits your needs. While ointments can be used over water-washed wounds since they are oil-based, creams should only be applied after the water is carefully wiped or dried off the wound since they are water-soluble and avoid staying in areas with higher perspiration, like under the sun. These are helpful to the individual when suffering from burns or minor cuts. Ointments work on open wounds by wet healing them and preventing the occurrence of a bacterial infection. Along with creams and ointments, antiseptic liquids and muscle creams are necessary for cleaning wounds and reducing muscle pulls or cramp pain, respectively.
Pain-killers
Needless to say, painkillers are a necessity for any medicine cabinet as pain and aches can arise at any point. Paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets are the most common painkillers that you need to store. Apart from these, pharmacists at Medicine Direct suggest storing prescribed drugs from your medical practitioners or trusted online prescribers to treat certain kinds of inflammation. But be careful not to consume medicine without prescription as it can cause severe health conditions or may lead to death by an overdose. For instance, the state of Montana noted several deaths since the year 2000 due to an overdose of prescription drugs without an official prescription. Hence, it is necessary to stick to formal prescriptions or use over the counter painkillers.
Thermometer
Commonly used digital thermometers are the best option as they give accurate readings and are cheap. It’s necessary to avoid using the traditional glass thermometers that carry mercury. Your kids are prone to high body temperatures and fevers and thus thermometers are handy at this time. Getting the right body temperature reading is necessary and cannot be made out just by feeling someone’s forehead. A normal adult suffering from 103°F fever or more should be taken to a doctor which can only be detected through an accurate reading.
Sunscreen
We’ve heard about the importance of wearing sunscreen every day before stepping out of the house. With the depleting ozone layer and harmful sun rays that can damage your skin, wearing sunscreen on your face provides a protective layer that doesn’t allow harmful UVA and UVB rays to penetrate. Sunscreen is important for kids, adults and elderly people – basically all age groups. Experts recommend using a sunscreen between SPF 30 to SPF 50 as it provides higher protection. Also, make sure to choose a mineral-based sunscreen that is better for your skin. Always store a big tube of sunscreen in your medicine cabinet and a small bottle in your purse. Whether it’s a day out at the beach or a simple errand run, wearing sunscreen is an absolute must as it can protect you and your family from skin damage and skin cancer.
To sum it up, you can consult your doctor to prescribe certain medicines for basic health problems like constipation, diarrhea, nausea or any particular allergic reactions. Arrange these in your cabinet in such a way that they stay away from your children’s reach. Having these items in your medicine cabinet can ensure total protection for your family.