Health

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A very comprehensive list. But I would change the latex gloves to vinyl gloves. They are just as good, and there isn't the allergy issue that there is with latex.

These over-the-counter remedies help you respond immediately to an illness or minor accident at home. For more serious symptoms, contact your family doctor, go to the nearest hospital or call 911.

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.
• 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.

Ingested medications

• 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) (not suitable for children under 6 years of age)
• Dimenhydrinate (prevents nausea/motion sickness)
• 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

Topical applications

• 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)
• 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

Tools

• 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

Dressings

• Adhesive bandage tape
• Butterfly closure bandages
• Compression bandages
• Cotton balls
• Cotton pads
• Cotton swabs
• Gauze
• Metal bandage clips
• Waterproof adhesive bandages

Originally published in Todaysparent.com, August 2009