First Aid Kit

The following items would stock a home first aid kit, which should be easily accessible but stored well out of the way of small children:

• Paracetamol - Available in tablet form for adults and liquid form for babies and young
  children. Used for relief of pain and fever
• Vapour Rub - Used to ease breathing in stuffy colds and in hot water as a steam
  inhalation to help catarrh and dry coughs
• Antiseptic Solution - Used diluted to clean cuts and grazes
• Antihistamine - A spray or cream to ease insect bites and stings
• Calamine Lotion - To ease itch of bites, stings, chickenpox etc.
• Sticking Plasters - To cover minor cuts etc.
• Dry Dressings - To cover minor wounds
• Cotton Wool - Used to clean cuts and grazes etc
• 3" Crepe Bandage - To hold dressings in place or to support strained or bruised joints.
• Thermometer - To assess fevers
• Tweezers - For removing splinters
• Scissors - For trimming dressings etc.

First Aid Knowledge

Make sure you know the ABC of emergency first aid:

1. Check the person's airway is not obstructed
2. Make sure the person is breathing or start artificial ventilation
3. Make sure the heart is beating or start chest compression

Available From Your Chemist

• Brolene eye ointment for sticky eyes, which are common with a cold
• Gaviscon liquid or tablets for hiatus hernia and heartburn
• Imodium capsules for control of diarrhoea
• Citric acid tablets for relief of cystitis
• Vermox for treatment of worms
• Iron tablets for treatment of low blood count
• Piriton tablets for itch or allergic rashes and hay fever
• Dioralyte or Rehidrat rehydration fluids very useful for children with diarrhoea and vomiting
• Hydrocortisone 1% cream for application to allergic rashes and insect bites
• Cerumol or almond oil ear drops for waxy ears. Please never 'poke' things into your ears
• Canesten cream for athlete's foot
• Nicotine patches and chewing gum to help stop smoking
• Ibuleve gel for relief of muscular pains and sprains
• Paracetamol/paracodal - painkillers
• Cough Syrups for dry or productive coughs
• Laxatives for relief of constipation
• Multivitamins and mineral supplements
• Folic acid for women planning pregnancy