First Aid

Keep Your Medicine Cabinet Stocked

Nobody knows when a crisis or medical emergency will rear its ugly head. The latest Covid-19 pandemic only proves this to be true. When somebody in your household doesn’t feel good or gets hurt, the first place we go to is the medicine cabinet in our bathrooms. In there can be everyday first-aid items that may become essential or necessary at a moment’s notice. So, what first aid supplies should we make sure are in our medicine cabinets and not expired?

Got First-Aid?

During times of a national emergency, the basic first aid necessities can often be overlooked. A great example is the current crisis surrounding the Covid-19 virus. Cleaning items such as bleach, Lysol, and hand sanitizer can be as rare as a yeti sighting. I’m not going to even bring up toilet paper!! While our focus should be on staying safe during this virus pandemic, let’s not forget about everyday first-aid items that we should have in our houses at all times. Some of these basic items can include:

1. Honey Dressing

Don’t laugh!! Throughout history, honey has been used for wound care. Ancient Egyptians used honey to heal wounds and burns. It is also good for treating diabetic ulcers.

2. Gauze

Protecting wounds from dirt and debris can help expedite healing and gauze perfectly fits the bill. It can be used to cover a wide variety of wounds or keep other bandages in place and help prevent nasty infections.

3. Elastic bandages

Minor cuts, once cleaned, should be covered with an elastic bandage or Band-Aid. This keeps dirt and debris out of the wound as well as bacteria which can cause an infection.

4. Antiseptic Spray/Cream

The main focus of any first aid or wound care is to avoid infections and antiseptic cream or sprays can minimize or eliminate this risk. They can be applied in conjunction with elastic bandages and gauze to help create a moist wound bed for optimum healing.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

When cleaning any wound or cut, hydrogen peroxide is a great way to keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective wound cleanser that can have a direct effect on wound healing.

6. Compression Bandages

For sprains or strains, compression bandages such as an ACE bandage can help immobilize injured joints such as the wrist or ankle. They can also be used to administer cold/heat therapy to a body part.

7. Ice/Heat Packs

Ice or heat therapy requires packs applied directly to the injured area. Icepacks can help reduce swelling and inflammation, while heat packs help promote blood flow and can help expedite healing.

8. Antacid

Taking an antacid can help with acid indigestion, heartburn, and upset stomachs. This can relieve symptoms of sour stomach, bloating, and pressure related to gas.

Every day first aid items can be easily overlooked during a public health scare. While first aid items can be easily forgotten and taken for granted, we should periodically check our supplies to make sure what we need is available when we need them. Pick an easily remembered date, such as daylight savings, and go through your medicine cabinet and take inventory of what you have, what is expired, and what you might need. Remember… be prepared!!.

 

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.