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Having children means always having to be prepared for every eventuality. For one thing, when children reach the age when they go to school and are spending time with a lot of other kids their age, illnesses spread quickly while their immune system is still developing. Not only that, but children are forever getting bumps and bruises along their way. Therefore, having a few plasters and some other everyday essentials stocked in your home is always useful for surviving every cold, flu and fall that they undergo. So, to help you stay prepared, here are six must-have items which you should always keep stocked in your medicine cupboard.
1. Painkillers
Having a few different forms of paracetamol and ibuprofen in your cupboard at all times is extremely handy in many types of emergency. Paracetamol will reduce pain as well as bring down a fever, and ibuprofen will help to calm any inflammation, whether it’s injury related or as part of an in illness. Have a few different types in your cupboard, including age-appropriate versions for your kids. Just make sure they are kept away from children’s reach, and an adult administers the appropriate doses.
2. A Thermometer
This may seem like an obvious one, but having a thermometer on hand is always useful. It will allow you to monitor your child if they are unwell so that you can make sure that their illness is not progressing, and take the appropriate action if it is. Not only that but if you have some parental intuition that perhaps your child isn’t as ill as they are making out to be, having a thermometer to back up your suspicions with some physical evidence is always helpful for convincing them to go to school when they don’t want to go!
3. Ice packs
While they might not be kept in your medical cupboard, ice packs are still an important part of your first aid essentials. These are great for relieving pain and swelling after a fall, or to relieve aching, sore joints and inflammation. It is important to note, however, that ice packs should never be used on burns.
4. Plasters
Children are curious by nature, and as they learn and grow, they do find themselves getting into accidents from time to time. Having a few plasters on hand is useful for any little cuts and scrapes your kids might get along their journey to growing up, and most kids love to wear them as a badge of honour too.
5. Disinfectant
The easiest way to make sure any cuts and scrapes are sterile before you bandage them up is to have a little disinfectant spray on hand to thoroughly clean a wound. Make sure that you have one which is suitable for kids, as children often have more sensitive skin than adults. It should also be one which is appropriate for open wounds.
6. Sterile gloves
No matter what the emergency, whether you’re bandaging an open wound, or just applying some topical cream to an injury, having sterile gloves on hand is useful. It will help to avoid cross-infection or bacteria entering a wound, but it will save you from having to disinfect your hands twenty-four seven also.
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