Household medical aid kit

A friend of mine, who is a GP, recently gave a medical aid kit as a baby shower gift. What a good idea! I asked her to list everything she included and here it is. This should equip you with most emergencies but is not meant as a comprehensive list. Please consult your own medical practitioner or pharmacist to discuss your individual requirements.

All of these are available over-the-counter, except the strips or glue stitch. Remember to double check the dosages of medications; they should always be read carefully. Another good idea is to list your children's allergies on the inside of the kit eg: Iodine (in Betadine)/ Penicillin or Latex allergy (in gloves).

Wounds:

• Bandages and plasters and gauze (including "steri-strips" for small cuts needing to be approximated or "Glue-stitch")
• Antibiotic or Antiseptic ointment
• Sterilising fluid and disinfectant
• Burnshield
• 2,5ml and 5ml sterile syringe for administering medication or washing out small wounds
• Safety pins
• Gloves
• Facecloth
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Earbuds and
• Cotton balls

Pain and Fever:

• Empaped suppositories (125mg or 250mg depending on the age of your child)
• Anti-inflammatory syrup for pain and fever (eg Nurofen or Ponstan etc)
• Paracetamol Syrup or infant drops (eg Panado)
• Saline nasal spray and paediatric decongesting nose drops (eg Iliadin)
• Thermometer
• Eucalyptas linen drops
• Eucalyptas gel/ointment for rubbing on chests (eg Puma)

Tummy:

• Glycerine supps for constipation
• Rehydration Sachets (eg Rehydrat)
• Probiotic for diarrhoea (eg Reuteri or Lactovita)
• Anti-spasmodic syrup

Miscellaneous:

• Emergency sunblock
• Antihistamine syrup and cream