C.G.H. Medical Center issued the following announcement on May 9.
When was the last time you checked your medicine cabinet to see what has passed its expiration date or just needs replacing?
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommends cleaning out your medicine cabinet at least once a year. That's especially true if you keep your medicines in the bathroom. The heat and humidity there can cause drugs to lose their potency. (ACEP suggests storing medicines in a linen closet or other dark place out of children's reach.)
A regular review of your medicine cabinet also might reveal items that need restocking.
Below is a list of items recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians for a well-stocked medicine cabinet. You may not need all or even most of them. Consider what's right for you, your family and your lifestyle. That might include:
Prescription medicines for your family.
Pain relievers and fever medicines. (Remember to never give aspirin to anyone younger than 19.)
Antihistamines.
Nasal decongestants.
Medicine for nausea.
Medicine for diarrhea.
Antacids.
Laxatives.
Over-the-counter medicine for cuts, burns and other injuries.
Calamine lotion for stings or poison ivy.
Hydrocortisone cream or lotion for itching.
Antibiotic ointment.
Sterile eyewash saline.
Dressings and bandages. These include gauze rolls, sterile gauze pads, eye pads, a roll of adhesive tape, elastic bandages for sprains, sterile cotton balls and swabs.
Latex gloves.
Instant cold packs.
Safety pins to fasten bandages.
A suction device—like a turkey baster—to flush out wounds.
An aluminum finger splint.
A thermometer.
Tweezers.
Scissors.
Hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes.
A first aid manual.
It's one thing to have supplies on hand, another to know how to use them. So you might want to also put a course in first aid on your to-do list. The Red Cross offers convenient online and local training options.
Original source can be found here.
Source: C.G.H. Medical Center
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