1. The Medicine Cabinet

Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with descriptions of their uses. They should be kept in a secure box, and in a safe position, for emergencies or minor illnesses.

Dressings:
Six medium, two extra large sterile dressings, triangular bandages, 3” crepe bandages to keep dressings in place, a selection of 20 plasters in an assortment of sizes, cotton wool for cleaning wounds, two sterile eye pads, together with safety pins, sharp small scissors, and disposable gloves.

Soluble Aspirin Tablets:
For adults and older children. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.

Paracetamol Mixture:
For relief of pain or fever in young children.

Sedative Cough Linctus:
For dry or painful coughs – but not coughs caused by common colds.

Menthol Crystals:
Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

Vapour Rub:
Also for steam inhalations, but also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. To rub in chest or nose.

Calamine Lotion:
Dab onto insect bites, stings or sunburn.

Ephedrine Nose Drops:
For children over one-year old with runny noses. Use before meals and at night, but not for more than four days.

Antiseptic Solution:
One teaspoon diluted in warm water to clean wounds.

Antiseptic Cream:
To treat septic spots, nasal sores and grazes.

Tweezers:

To remove splinters.

Thermometer:

For fevers.

Next: Colds, Sore Throats, and Flu