AS isolation restrictions slowly ease, grandkids will soon be coming to visit.
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And with research showing almost half of injuries in children occurring in and around the home, now is the time to check your first aid kit.
But what should you have in your kit? According to Priceline pharmacist Melissa Gannon, there are a few basics that are a must.
"Personalise your first aid kit to suit your circumstances - consider the age of household members, their interests and hobbies and how far you live to the nearest doctor or hospital to help determine what you'll need," she said.
Every household should have:
- Thermometer
- Electrolyte supplements
- Heat packs and ice packs
- Bite or anti itch cream
- Burn cream
- Drawing ointment to remove splinters or foreign objects under the skin
- Lozenges for a sore throat
- Medicine cups or medicine measures
Families with young children and seniors should also have:
- Antiseptic sprays
- Electrolyte ice blocks
- Syringes for dosing
- Nasal aspirators
- Ensure easy to open packaging with clear labels
- Swap out products for hypoallergenic versions
- Dry eye drops
- Dry mouth spray
- Moisturiser for dry skin
But it's not just enough to have the products sitting in the back of the cupboard for emergencies.
It's critical to check that your medicine is in date. Expired medicine can be less effective or even result in a change in chemical composition that could be harmful to your health. This should be done every six months.
If you find expired medicine, you need to dispose of it correctly. Melissa recommends that all unwanted and expired medication be returned to the pharmacy for correct disposal. This ensures that it doesn't end up in waterways or landfill through household garbage and drains.
It's also important to be mindful of how these items are stored.
Now is a great time to review where you might be keeping your medication. Most importantly, that it is accessible to adults but still out of reach from children.
"Ensure the kit is labelled, is away from heat and humidity and not stored right next to food to avoid confusion. It's also important to keep the whole box or package for all medicines so you can refer to them for correct dosage," Melissa said.
