First aid supplies

Stock your medicine cabinet with a few first aid essentials so you will be prepared for an unexpected illness or injury.

Most households keep a medicine cabinet supplied with over-the-counter medications for treatable injuries and illness. If yours has not been cleaned out for some time, or if you are a new home-owner and need to stock up, here are a few tips that can help:

1. Buy bandages. Keep standard and non-standard plastic bandages on hand for occasional cuts, scratches, and insect or animal bites. If you are sensitive to latex, get the latex-free kind. Some people with sensitive skin experience a reddening of their skin or a mild rash around the site of the bandage application. If so, consider using the kind that sticks with paper tape, or use the winding cotton strips. Bandages come in a variety of styles, such as waterproof or transparent, and design, which include many colorful children's favorites like Sponge Bob.

2. Get antibiotic ointment. A topical cream helps to reduce the risk of infection on minor wounds. Follow directions to apply a thin ribbon of ointment to a scratch or cut unless the wound is serious, in which case you should consult a doctor. Check the expiration date on the tube to be sure the product is still usable. Find out whether the intended user is allergic to any of the ingredients in the cream, and if so, do not use on that person.

3. Keep tweezers and manicure scissors. Always sterilize these tools before attempting to remove a splinter or another foreign object embedded below the skin's surface. You can sterilize them by immersing the tools in boiling water for three minutes or soaking in rubbing alcohol. These should be used only for simple injuries, but never to remove large or deeply-embedded objects.

4. Include alcohol and peroxide. These products help to eliminate or reduce germs on contact. Alcohol typically burns when applied, so use it only to clean unbroken skin before applying tweezers, for example. Peroxide is useful for skin eruptions such as pimples or blackheads. Be careful to follow package directions and use these products in their recommended dilution strength. Don't put objects like tweezers or cotton swabs into the containers for use, as they can contaminate the products. Instead, pour a little into a separate container like a cup before moistening the intended swab or tweezers.

5. Buy a digital thermometer. These are easy to read and don't take long to use. They are fairly accurate and operate by battery. Avoid the old-fashioned glass kind with mercury inside, which is toxic if broken. You may be able to buy disposable temperature strips, which are especially helpful for squirming young children.

6. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen come in handy when someone gets a headache, a mild injury, or even menstrual cramps. Give only the recommended dose as outlined on the package. An overdose, even if no symptoms appear, can lead to permanent liver damage and must be reported to your doctor immediately so treatment can be administered.

7. Hydrocortisone cream may be useful in the event of an allergic skin reaction, insect bite, or exposure to a toxic plant that produces welts or hives. As with all other medications, check the package's expiration date to be sure the product is still good.

Shop the health and beauty section of your supermarket or department store to locate other medicinal items that may become useful assets to your medicine cabinet.