It happens. Whether illness, injury or just annoyance, at some point or another you're bound to find yourself rooting around in the medicine cabinet for supplies. In my case, most recently, it was to find the first aid kit when a friend's kid gashed his head on our brick patio (we are so NOT child proofed).
Make sure you're always well prepared with these ten essentials. This list is based on what I like to keep around. Leave your own suggestions in the comments below.
1. First Aid Kit: A good kit should contain everything you need to properly clean and dress a wound. This is the one I was reaching for when my friend's kid put a gash in his head.
2. Band-Aids: Cover blisters from those new shoes you're breaking in and keep clean any minor cuts or scrapes.
3. Tums: These tablets will soothe your stomach woes, whether you overindulged, over imbibed or are just plain sick.
4. NSAID Pain reliever: Any OTC pain reliever is handy to have in a pinch, whether it's for a pounding headache, blistering sunburn or strained muscle.
5. Cough Syrup/Lozenges: Until they figure out the cure for the common cold, these remedies promise to make things more bearable.
6. Aloe Vera/Sunscreen: Sunscreen to prevent the sunburn and aloe for when you forget to reapply.
7. Bug Bite Relief: While not the most acute of injuries, bug bites are definitely the most annoying. You can purchase convenient medicine "pens" that relieve the itching and stinging, or fall back on the old standby Calamine.
8. Tweezers: To remove any errant splinters. The pointed Tweezerman tweezers are the most precise.
9. Heating Pad/Ice Pack: For sore muscles, cramps, and to reducing swelling.
10. Ace bandage: Let's just say you bought heels that were a couple of inches too tall and you happen to live in a neighborhood that still paves with cobblestones. You might find yourself in need of one of these.
Bonus: If you have kids (or squeamish adults) this post explains why a red washcloth is a great addition.
(Image: Shutterstock)
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This is a great list of traditional medicine cabinet contents. I'd love to see AT do a similar list of the top-ten natural cures for common ailments (for example, I always have tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda around...).
Yeah, you could drop three of those items and replace them with baking soda.
Adding: hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, hydrocortisone or calamine for poison oak/ivy rashes, sterile eye wash.
A must-have in my medicine cabinet: Tiger Balm pain patches. I buy them by the case.
In that first-aid kit, along with bandages: Betadine, antibiotic ointment, scissors (people forget that).
Might want to add these too:
Aspirin - stroke.
Imodium - diarrhea
Benedryl- allergic reaction
Peroxide - clean ears
Laxative - constipation
Natural tears - dry eyes
Neosporin - wounds
Vitamin C and B12 - when you are feeling run down
I work in the medical field and am surprised how few people have these on hand.
I tried having a first ad kit but everything always expires before I even open the box/bottle. (I'm single/no kids)
I do keep band-aids, cotton swabs/tips, vaseline, migrain headaches (my immediate family suffers from them) peroxide and alcohol.
*migrain medication* opps.
There is actually no scientific proof for Aloe Vera on burn. You can just use Vaseline or any simple moisturizer.
You should really include eye wash, I suggest the type that comes with a cup in which you pour 2 spoonful in the cup and put it against your affected eye to flush out any irritant.
Deep Heat, Eulactol Heel Balm, Vicks VapoRub, Sleeping Tablets, Vitamins.
I don't take sleeping tablets and vitamins often, but when I'm in busy mother mode I tend to forget about myself. That said, I have one First Aid for us adults and one for our children.
Imodium is good to have because when you need it... you NEED it.
I prefer hydrocortizone for bug bites and any other itchy/rashy things. You shouldn't apply it frequently because it can thin your skin, but it's awesome for the occational use.
I don't have an ice pack. Only once have I needed one and instead used a pack of frozen peas. I'm sure it was just as effective.
A medicine cabinet should be properly stocked but head injuries (gashes or bashes) should be taken to the ER for treatment, yes? Better safe than sorry.
As for the bag, I got a really great nylon zippered one (bright red with First Aid printed on it in huge letters) at my local Target store. Inexpensive and eye catching.
@COLLEENCATCAT your list is perfect. I have most of those on hand, but lack a few. I'm single, but have house guests often and you never know what will come up! I make typically buy travel sized product when they are on sale to make sure my cabinet stays stocked. There is nothing worse then telling a house guest "sorry I don't have any "fill in the blank"
silver sulfate in cream is so great for burns, i keep one in a kitchen drawer
paracetamol tablets
cream for strained muscles
eucalip balm
a GOOD cream and lip balm
A adress book of restaurants that sell "sick food" and have home delivery (chicken soup, stew....).... when you are sick you dont want to cook... or go shopping.
Honey...
regular Cocacola for low pressure( or when you forget to eat and feel about to passout) It works, and you can get it anywhere..... not ideal, but it buys you time.
I'm with lyonstill here. I have a first aid kit in my survival kit (just in case we should ever have a disaster and have to camp in the woods for a while), but I doubt I can get any of it used up before it expires! I'd rather have the stuff on hand for the what ifs (if there is no disaster than I or my spouse can just hop over the store, right?). Any suggestions? I also don't know what sort of non perishable, lightweight food I can pack that won't expire in 6 months.
Sorry, and I know that I'm tempting fate, but ATers seem to get sick a lot!