10 Vital Items You Need in Your Medicine Shelf

If you have a medicine Shelf filled with year-old prescription medicines and skin creams, then it’s time to have a sort out. You only need a few vital things kept in the home for those minor bumps and bruises, the headaches and the allergies. We’ve put together a list of the top 10 things everyone needs to keep in their medicine cabinet, to make it easier for you to keep stocked. Print it out and stick it to the inside of the cabinet door, so you’re always fully stocked.

List Of Vital Items You Need in Your Medicine Shelf

1) Ibuprofen

No medicine cabinet is complete without painkillers, and ibuprofen should always be your first choice. Not only does it help relieve pain quickly, but it also helps to reduce swelling. Perfect if the pain is due to toothache or infection.

2) Antihistamines

Not just useful for hay fever, antihistamines are great for allergies and runny noses due to a cold. You can get either a tablet form or cream although we suggest getting one of each. The creams are perfect for stings or bites, whereas the tablets work best for hay fever and allergies.

3) Plasters

You can never have too many plasters in your medicine cabinet, especially if you have children. Remember to clean any cuts or grazes first, before applying a plaster to the affected area. You can even get some rather funky designs to make them a bit more interesting for the kids.

4) Antiseptic

Sticking with those cuts and grazes, antiseptic cream is great for cleaning them up properly. You can also use this clever stuff for burns, stings, bites and even spots. If you’re not a fan of the creams then there are also antiseptic wipes available at pharmacies.

5) Indigestion Treatment

There’s nothing worse than enjoying a great meal and then suffering from indigestion for hours afterward. There’s a whole range of indigestion tablets that will help alleviate the discomfort quickly.

6) Tweezers

Not just for your eyebrows, tweezers are a must-have in your medicine cabinet. If you end up with a splinter or a bit of glass in your toe, then use the tweezers to pull it out. Don’t forget to cover the wound with plaster to avoid infection.

7) Aftersun

You should always keep sunscreen in your home, but not many people remember to keep aftersun too. In the summer months make sure you’re fully stocked up, to ensure those burns don’t become painful or peel.

8) Rehydration salts

All sorts of illnesses can make us dehydrated especially fevers, the flu and tummy bugs. Oral rehydration salts will ensure you don’t lose any of your body’s natural vitamins, minerals or fluids.

9) Cough medicine

Tickly and chesty coughs are not only annoying, but they can be painful too. Make sure, you have a good supply of cough medicine that helps to relieve you from both types. If you have children then it is worth investing in a cough syrup specifically for little ones, too!

10) Thermometer

Last, but by no means least, a thermometer. Checking your temperature is the first step if you think you are becoming unwell. It will also help you decide whether it’s worth a trip to the doctors or if you just need to take it easy. If your temperature hits over 103 F (just under 40 degrees celsius), for more than 24 hours, then you need to see a doctor right away.

To make sure you always have a full medicine cupboard, why not print off this list and stick it to the door? That way you’ll never run short of the things you need again.

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