MEDICINE CHEST

Home healthcare guide

What should you include in your medicine cabinet?

Why not learn first-aid?

St Andrew's Ambulance Association offers a wide variety of courses.

For information on conditions and treatments please see the NHS Direct website.

* Please note that the NHS Direct telephone information and advice service is not available in Scotland. However, if you wish to receive information via the telephone about health matters and health services in Scotland, you can call the freephone NHS Helpline seven days a week on 0800 22 44 88 between 8 am and 10 pm, where an operator will be happy to help you. This service does not provide advice on symptoms.

The following items listed help you cope with most minor ailments and injuries. These items should be kept in a secure place, clearly labelled and out of the reach of children.

Click on the available links to find out more information regarding dosage, contraindications and adverse reactions. Information is provided by netdoctor.co.uk.

Paracetamol
Soluble Aspirin (not suitable for children under 12 and asthmatics
Ibuprofen
Decongestant (eg. Sudafed)
Anti-diarrhoeal (eg. Imodium not suitable for children under 12)
Re-hydration mixture
Indigestion remedy (eg. Pepto-Bismol)
Antiseptic
Topical anaesthetic treatment
Sunscreen - SP15 or higher and sunburn treatment
Travel sickness tablets (eg. Kwells)
Antihistamines (eg. Benadryl Allergy Relief)
Selection of plasters, sterile dressings, elastic bandages, nonabsorbant cotton wool
Tweezers,
Sharp scissors
Thermometer

First Aid Kit

In addition to your medicine cabinet contents, it is also advisable to form a basic first-kit. The items listed should be replenished regularly and readily accessible in case of emergency.

Basic materials

Easily identifiable watertight box
20 plasters in assorted sizes
6 medium sterile dressings
2 large sterile dressings
2 extra-large sterile dressings
2 sterile eye pads
6 triangular bandages
6 safety pins
disposable gloves

If you are interested in learning first-aid please see the St Andrew's Ambulance Association website for courses on offer.

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