Essential Medical Supplies to Have at Home
Being a parent or the head of a household can be stressful at times, but staying prepared can make it that much easier. Every home should have a kit of the necessary supplies you may need in an emergency to protect your family and keep them safe. Here is a list of the essential medical supplies to have at home.
Thermometer
The first piece of medical equipment to have at home is a thermometer. You never know when you could get sick, so it’s helpful to have a thermometer handy to check your and your family’s temperature. In addition, it’s crucial to check the temperature of infants and young children in case of a fever. If a child’s fever reaches a certain degree, it is necessary to get them to a doctor as soon as possible. Therefore, you will want to make sure you have a working thermometer in your home that you can utilize whenever you need it.
Pro-Tip
Contactless thermometers are a fantastic option to avoid spreading illness. These thermometers became very popular during Covid-19 and are great for family use. You are able to take someone’s temperature from a slight distance without making any physical contact with them.
Bandages
The next piece of medical equipment to have at home is bandages. Cuts, scrapes, nicks, gashes, and other injuries can happen anytime; home is no exception. Keeping a supply of bandages in your house will help you stay prepared for any of these incidents. The next time your child comes inside from riding their bike or playing with friends and has a scraped knee or a cut arm, you will be able to clean them up quickly and easily. Bandages are a necessity when it comes to wound care essentials.
Pro-Tip
Cuts and scrapes come in all different shapes and sizes, and luckily, so do bandages. It’s helpful to keep a variety of sizes and shapes on hand just in case. You never know what could happen, and sometimes, you’ll need a bandage big enough for a six-inch gash, while other times, you’ll just need a small bandage for a papercut. If you keep several sizes in your supply, you won’t have to worry about being prepared.
Antibiotic Ointment
It’s important to keep some antibiotic ointment on hand at home as well. Bandages and antibiotic ointment go hand in hand in the healing process of cuts and scrapes. Germs thrive in unexpected places, so it’s necessary to ensure that cuts and abrasions are clean before bandaging them. Apply an appropriate amount of antibiotic ointment to the abrasion after washing it with soap and water, then apply a bandage. Following these steps will keep the cut clean and speed up its healing process.
Pro-Tip
Antibiotic ointment can get a little wet and sticky sometimes during the application process. So you want to apply enough without applying too much. Then, you will also want to wait for the ointment to dry all the way before you apply the bandage to the wound.
Now that you know the essential medical supplies to have at home, you can start making your own kit today. Staying prepared for any incident or emergency will enable you to take the best possible care of yourself and your family and ensure that they are always safe.
Photo – Rodnae Productions
