The Family Medicine Chest

Remember to seek advice from your pharmacist about medicines but here is a list of items useful in case of minor illnesses or accidents:

• A selection of plasters in assorted sizes
• A triangular bandage
• Sterile dressings in assorted sizes
• Two sterile eye pads
• Tweezers for removing splinters
• Thermometer for fevers
• Calamine lotion for dabbing onto insect bites, stings and sunburn
• Antiseptic cream to treat sores, spots and grazes
• Vapour rub for steam inhalation or to rub on the chest and nose of a child with a stuffy nose or dry cough
• Paracetamol syrups to relieve pain or fever in young children
• Soluble aspirin/paracetamol/ibuprofen tablets which are good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises
• Menthol crystals to make steam inhalations to treat catarrh and dry or painful coughs
• Sharp scissors to cut dressings
• 3" wide crepe bandage to keep dressings in place or support sprains
• Indigestion remedy
• Mild laxative
• Oral rehydration solution - anti-diarrhoeal