Be prepared for common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
A well-prepared first aid kit can help treat minor cuts, sprains and bruises, and reduce the risk of cuts becoming infected.
The following list, recommended by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, will help you deal with most minor ailments.
It should contain the following items:
- Bandages – can support injured limbs, such as a sprained wrist, and also apply direct pressure to larger cuts before being treated in hospital.
- Plasters – a range of sizes, waterproof if possible.
- Eyewash solution – this will help wash out grit or dirt in the eyes.
- Thermometer – digital thermometers that you put in your mouth produce very accurate readings; an under-arm thermometer or an ear thermometer are good ways to read a baby or young child’s temperature.
- Sterile dressings – larger injuries should be covered with a sterile dressing to prevent infection until treatment can be given by a healthcare professional.
- Tweezers – for taking out splinters; if splinters are left in, they can cause discomfort and could become infected.
- Antiseptic – this can be used to clean cuts before they’re bandaged, and most can treat a range of conditions, including insect stings, ulcers and pimples; alcohol-free antiseptic wipes are useful to clean cuts.