Photo: Mari/iStockphoto
Practise prevention
Drugs decompose quicker when exposed to moisture and heat, so don't store them in a bathroom and keep them away from direct light. You should also keep all medications out of the reach of curious little hands, and always check with your health practitioner before administering medication to a child.
At least once a year go through your medicine cabinet and remove medications that are old (have changed colour, smell or taste), that you no longer take or are past their expiration date.
Do not flush medication down the toilet, pour down the sink or throw in the garbage. Most pharmacies and municipalities offer environmentally-friendly drug disposal programs.
Photo: micro10x/iStockphoto
Ingested medications (A-D)
You should keep the following medications on hand:
- Acetaminophen (pain reliever/treats fever)
- Acetylsalicylic acid: a.k.a. Aspirin (anti-inflammatory/pain reliever/treats fever)
- Antihistamine (treats allergies)
- Calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide (treats heartburn)
- Children's vitamins and adult multivitamins
- Cough suppressant syrup (not suitable for children under 6 years of age)
- Decongestant: pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine (treats colds and flu, but is not suitable for children under 6 years of age)
- Dimenhydrinate (prevents nausea/motion sickness)
Photo: matka_Wariatka/iStockphoto
Ingested medications (E-Z)
Also keep these on hand:
- Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory/pain reliever/treats fever)
- Laxative
- Loperamide (treats diarrhea)
- Nasal saline spray
- Oral electrolytes (replace fluids and minerals lost after vomiting and diarrhea)
- Throat lozenges
Photo: Maya23K/iStockphoto
Topical applications (A-H)
These topical ointments are must-haves:
- Aloe vera gel (moisturizes/treats sunburn)
- Antibiotic ointment (treats cuts/rashes/bacteria-fighter)
- Calamine lotion (treats insect bites/rashes/sunburn)
- Clotrimazole (anti-fungal)
- Eye drops
- Hand sanitizing liquid
- Hydrocortisone cream (treats insect bites/stings)
- Hydrogen peroxide (antiseptic)
Photo: OlgaMiltsova/iStockphoto
Topical applications (I-Z)
In terms of topical treatments, these should also be kept around at all times:
- Insect repellant
- Rubbing alcohol
- Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (do not use on babies under 6 months old)
- Vitamin E (moisturizes/fades scars)
- Zinc oxide ointment
Photo: Magda Rzymanek/iStockphoto
Tools
You should have these tools available to you in your bathroom:
- Cup, dropper, spoon and syringe medicine dosage dispensers
- Disposable face masks
- Disposable latex gloves
- Heating pad
- Hot water bottle
- Reusable hot/cold gel packs
- Scissors
- Multi-purpose (ear and oral/rectal/underarm) digital thermometer (not mercury)
- Tweezers
Photo: sumnersgraphicsinc/iStockphoto
Dressings
These are important dressings to keep in your medicine cabinet:
- Adhesive bandage tape
- Butterfly closure bandages
- Compression bandages
- Cotton balls
- Cotton pads
- Cotton swabs
- Gauze
- Metal bandage clips
- Waterproof adhesive bandages
Photo: Wojciech Gajda/iStockphoto
More health tips
Coming Up Next...
Tips to help relieve your child's fear of the doctor
More from Today's Parent
- Exercise: The secret to success at school
- Family exercise
- How to prevent high blood pressure
- How to safely indulge at the spa while pregnant
- Natural remedies for cold and flu season
Connect with Today's Parent:
