Do you have creams, band aids and medicines strewn throughout your home? Or do you have them jammed into a container or cupboard with hose fittings and other weird bits and pieces?
Having an organised and sorted medicine cabinet saves time and aids in treating an injury or condition quickly.
Here are a few tips to having a fabulous medicine cabinet:
• Clear a table and then go through the house collecting every cream, tablet, ointment and medicine you can find and place on the table.
• Check the date on every item and those that have expired put into a bag and take to your local pharmacy for safe disposal
• Those items remaining group “Like with Like” eg First Aid – band aids and bandages, or by person taking the medication. Whichever system makes most sense to you.
• Determine a location that is out of reach of children and pets. A few baskets/containers that can be labelled and easily slide out when needed are perfect.
• If you are permanently on multiple medicines, establish a Medical Folder with your name down the spine and file all your prescriptions in clear loose leaf envelopes. Create an information sheet listing what medicines you are on, the time of day they need to be taken and for which condition. This enables family or your partner to inform medics what medication you require if you aren’t in a condition to inform them.
• If you prefer a paperless system you can log all your information into the Health App on your mobile. Most mobile phones come with a Health App. If you go to it and the last icon down the bottom of the screen is Medical ID. If you enter your information eg medical conditions, medications etc into that section. Emergency doctors can obtain essential information and contact your next of kin without your phone password if you are admitted to hospital and unable to communicate with emergency staff.
