We’ve all been there – we’ve all woken up in the middle of the night feeling unwell and stumbled to the medicine cabinet to find it woefully empty, and the chemist long closed for the night. But you can easily keep your medicine cabinet well-stocked for common illnesses and complaints with our handy suggestions.
You’ll be reaching for these most, so it’s best to ensure you’ve always got some to hand for headaches, tummy aches, sprains, and more. Ibuprofen is perfect for calming inflammation and reducing fevers. Still, it may cause side effects, but paracetamol is just as effective at relieving pain and tends to have fewer side effects. Keep stocked in both, so you’re covered in any eventuality.
Whether you have pets or suffer from hayfever, it’s always handy to have antihistamines nearby if you get sniffles and itchy eyes. Some allergy tablets can cause drowsiness, so check the box for this when taking your medicine during the day.
It’s especially important to have medicine for these common complaints in your cabinet if you eat late in the evening or get indigestion and heartburn symptoms after eating certain foods. Indigestion and heartburn can be uncomfortable, but a dose of quick-acting relief will have you feeling more comfortable.
Whether you’re bunged up, or things are too free-flowing, constipation and diarrhoea are common illnesses that can be sorted at home with the help of a simple tablet. Keeping some oral rehydration sachets alongside them might be a good idea to help keep your salts and electrolytes up whilst ill.
If you’re accident-prone or have rambunctious kids, keeping a tub of antiseptic cream in your cabinet could help prevent infection following falls and scrapes. They can also be used on minor burns, scalds, insect bites, and spots to soothe the skin and kill bacteria.
You can assemble your first aid kit yourself or buy a pre-packed one. Whichever you choose, your first aid kit should include the following:
With a simple first aid kit, you’ll be prepared for any minor injuries that occur, or you can start treatment before a trained first aider or paramedic arrives. Replenish the stock of your first aid kit regularly and check what's still in date before use to get the most out of your kit.
If you have a long-term condition such as asthma or diabetes that requires specific medicines or treatments, keep your inhalers and other medication with you, but also place a few spares in your medicine cabinet in case you run out before your next prescription comes in or you lose some.
Remember to keep your medicine cabinet high and locked, out of the way of children. You should also do a semi-regular cleaning of your cabinet, removing any medications past their best-before date or not required anymore (such as iron tablets when you’re no longer anaemic). This way, your medicine collection will be up-to-date and most effective.
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