Some headache tablets, a first aid kit, a plaster or two, tubes of ointments, some leftovers from previous illness or could you help out anybody, with any kind of illness at any time?

Tossing outdated medicines that are crowding your cabinet can be good for your health!

 Getting started:

• Take time to sort the supplements, medicines, homeopathic and herbal remedies.
• Look out for expiry dates. Be mindful of what your keep.
• Take outdated medication to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Don’t put them in the garbage where they can be found by children.
• Organise your medicines and supplies into zones. Store like items together.
• Keep prescribed medicine accessible, where you will not forget to take them.
• Resist the temptation to open a new box or bottle because you can’t find the opened one. This will lead to opened and half used medication throughout the house.
• Don’t store medication in full view of everyone, it looks untidy and is dangerous.
• Keep medication out of reach of children in closed cupboards, they cannot distinguish between multi-coloured tablets and sweets.
• Use small baskets or containers to store each family member’s special medication or dietary supplements.
• Keep a first aid kit that is easily accessible from any area of the house in the case of an emergency. Remember to replace any used or expired items.
• Ensure that your domestics and au pairs have first aid training to be able to assist if you are not around.
• Get to know your neighbours; you never know when you might need them.
• Keep Emergency Telephone numbers next to the phone. 

Emergency Numbers:

 What medicines and supplies should one keep?

It is recommended that one should keep the medicine chest and first aid kit separately. Ideally there should be no medicine in a first aid kit at home.

1. Prescription medicines. Ensure that these are taken according to the doctor’s instructions. Never offer any medication, homeopathic or herbal remedies to someone else – you don’t know their condition.

2. Medicine Chest: (Over the counter medicines)

3. First Aid kit:

 TIPS:

Store medication in a cool, dry place at room temperature and shield them from heat, humidity and sunlight which might damage the chemistry.

If medication needs to be refrigerated, keep it in the fridge.

Always keep medication in its original packaging.

When going on trips take a Travel First Aid Kit which is a combination of your normal First Aid kit and over the counter medicines.

• Always read instructions before taking or administering any medicines.
• Don’t try to get children to take medicine by telling them they are sweets.
• Never administer medicine in the dark, as one bottle could look very much like another.

Fortunately we have 24hr Emergency rooms and Pharmacies available and we do not need to stock up for every eventuality. Remember that if a condition persists after home treatment, make an appointment with your doctor.

Heidi Meyer

Professional Organiser

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