Hasta La Ideas

Today we welcome guest post author Geralin Thomas, the ideal professional organizer from Cary, NC, and her amazing advice for making a family first aid kit.

Whether it’s a scrape, a sting or a sore throat, being prepared and having the right antidote on hand can soothe almost anything that ails you or your children. Creating a family-friendly first aid kit doesn’t have to be a pain in the aspirin (hee hee hee).

The “kit” can be a backpack, large ice bucket, plastic cooler, metal toolbox, small suitcase or something similar. Look around your home and chances are, you will have a container that can be repurposed and is suitable for the job. The contents of the kit can be purchased from any drugstore. The idea of today’s post is to motivate you to organize, update and/or create a kit so you’re prepared.

Below is a list of possible items to include in your home remedy kit. While this list is far from perfect and won’t be appropriate for all families, it is a starting point. Please leave comments and share suggestions regarding what your own home remedy kit will contain.

• An oral syringe, or calibrated cup and spoon for administering liquid medicines
• Children’s strength liquid acetaminophen or ibuprofen (non-aspirin)
• Pediatrician-approved children’s strength liquid decongestant
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid
• Activated charcoal (use only if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Digital thermometer
• Tweezers and a pair of sharp scissors
• Latex gloves
• Safety pins
• Sterilized needle
• Antibacterial ointment
• Hydrocortisone cream (0.5% for children)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Nasal aspirator bulb syringe
• Variety of adhesive bandage strips
• Gauze rolls, sterile
• Gauze pads, sterile
• Adhesive tape
• Cotton pads and cotton swabs
• Heating pad
• Hot-water bottle and cover
• Ice pack
• Pedialyte Oral Electrolyte Solution

In addition to the store-bought items below, consider including an index card with the following information typed in a large, bold, easy-to-read font:

• Mobile phone numbers of parents and the home address (in the event someone, in an emergency, can’t recall the home address)
• Children’s full names, any known allergies and birthdates
• Pediatrician’s name and phone number
• Pharmacy’s phone number and address
• American Red Cross First Aid — Responding to Emergencies