How to organise a medicine cabinet

Headache? Cold? Injury? Your home medicine cabinet should be your first port of call when illness strikes. Many people do keep medicine cabinets but find that when emergencies happen, they are without the essentials. A little bit of organisation will have you and your family protected no matter what happens.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Medicine cabinet or chest
• Medicines
• First Aid Materials
• Tools

1. Empty your medicine cabinet and give it a thorough cleaning.
2. Review your medicine cabinet's contents. Look carefully for any products which are expired. These could be a danger to you and your family, so dispose of them safely at a local pharmacy.
3. Ask whether your cabinet suits your family's needs. If you have small children, is there a lock? Is there adequate space for what you need to store?
4. Decide what remedies are called upon frequently and begin compiling a list of what you need. This could include:
   ibuprofen for pain and fever
   cough medicines and flu remedies
   antihistimines for allergies
   topical antihistimines for itching or rashes
   antacids or laxatives for digestive problems
5. To deal with wounds or burns, a good supply of first aid materials are necessary. This should include:
   
   Antibiotic ointment
   Hydrogen Peroxide
   Gauze
   Band Aids (in all shapes and sizes)
   Medical tape
   
   First Aid kits can be purchased from your local pharmacy or online which include all of the above...and then some, as well as instructions for dealing with emergencies.
6. Tools such as scissors, a thermometer and tweezers are essential.
7. Once all of your items have been purchased, it's time to organise! If you have young children, all toxic or dangerous items will ideally be locked up, however if this isn't possible, ensure they are kept high out of a little person's reach.
8. Group like-items together. It is worth investing in some small tubs or boxes so you can group similar things together. Using labels will help you find them with ease.