Whats in your first aid box/ medicine cupboard???

[furrypig]

Hi

I have really enjoyed coming over to this board and following lots of the threads, you are an amazing bunch of people and very inspiring.....
anyway....

I was wondering how / if you save money in terms of medication/first aid treatments/cold and flu remedies etc etc that you keep in doors.

For example my mum always recommended apple cider vinegar (thought you might like another vinegar idea!!) with a spoonful of honey in a mug topped up with hot water. I have often had it when I have a cold and is easy and cheap, though I also find a hot toddy with whisky, sugar, slice of lemon with cloves in, is equally soothing!!!

Are there any other old fashioned ideas that people use / cheap alternatives to first aid products etc etc. Would love your views and opinions.

thanks

[Bogof_Babe]

I always buy generic medicines like Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, rather than branded products.

I do like waterproof plasters, but get Sainsbury's own rather than Elastoplast.

Can't think of any other savers at the moment - but luckily we don't get ill very often! :D

[furrypig]

I agree I always go for the generic name eg infant paracetomol (often Boots own one as the kids like the flavour still!).

I don't use many plasters (much to the childrens disgust as they want them for everything!).
I keep Arnica cream in my cupboard
paracetomol
infant paracetomol
ibruprofen
my favourite thing is a bean bag filled with cherry pips that you heat in the microwave and it is like a hot water bottle really comforting for tummy pains and all natural stuff!!
we seem to have some vick (?SP) that you can put on your chest but I heard somewhere else that it has loads of other medical type uses but do not know any of them (except as an inhalational thing!)

[Ticklemouse]

I have assorted plasters - got some kids one really cheap at a pound store so they're happy.
Assorted baby nurofen/paracetemol,branded and non-branded alike.
Non branded nurofen/paracetemol for adults
Assorted cough mixtures - mainly bought as part of mystery shopping expeditions.
Arnica Gel - swear by it for kids bumps and bruises. Big bottle off QVC - lasts forever therefore cheaper than stuff from health food shops etc
Lots of digestion/indigestion stuff for Mr TM
Vitamins bought in 3 for 2's
Have cider vinegar, but not used it medicinally yet.

[carpool72]

ditto on the own-brand painkillers.
aloe vera gel (you can get free samples which last ages - have a look at the freebies thread)
lavender & tea tree oil as disinfectant (I also use them for cleaning)
olbas oil for coughs & colds (the baby version has orange oil in it & I sometimes use this with some washing up liquid to clean the floor - smells gorgeous!)
a Mr Bump that you keep in the fridge for calming bumps & bruises (has a much bigger psychological effect than a bag of peas!)

[Lucie]

Are there any other old fashioned ideas that people use / cheap alternatives to first aid products etc etc.

There was a thread on here before christmas about verrucas & someone recommeded covering the verruca with banana skin.
I'll see if I can find it.......

[Lucie]

found it - how to get rid of a verruca (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=5811&page=1&pp=10&highlight=verruca)

[furrypig]

tee hee hee that thread did make me giggle but it is a very good tip for all of us!

[Anne_Marie]

found it - how to get rid of a verruca (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=5811&page=1&pp=10&highlight=verruca)

Cried myself laughing at this. Thanks Lucie, not forgetting 160. Absolutely brilliant!

[Anne_Marie]

Arnica gel (as above from QVC), great for aches and pains and bruises.
Tea tree oil, my remedy for practically everything!
Lavender oil, again multi-purpose but brilliant for burns.
Anti-histamine tablets
Elastoplast, various including padded - all generic
Gauze pads
Gauze
Sterile bandages
Aloe vera gel, great for itchy skin and sunburn.
Menthol crystals - tiny wee drop in bowl boiling water helps clear blocked nose and head when dying with cold.
Milk of magnesia - bought that for clearing blackheads, and it works. Think I got the tip somewhere on this site. Believe it is also useful for upset tummy!
Paracetamol
Cider vinegar - spoonful of this does help stop the runs, and much cheaper than shop bought remedies.
Finger thingy - someone must have had a sore finger at some point.
Scissors - you can never find a pair when you need them, so if these ever go missing, there will be big trouble.
Tweezers
Indigestion tablets.

[Trow]

How do you use milk of magnesia for clearing blackheads? Thats a new on on me!

[Sarahsaver]

aspirin
b6
folic acid
(all mine)
ventolin
prednisolone
q-var
aciclovir
calpol
antihistamines
tubular bandages
betnovate
dermovate
eumovate
emulsiderm
epaderm
(and countless other bits and bobs - my son)
calamine lotion
bronchial mixture
plasters (useless!)
tweezers
forehead thermometer (also useless)
cough linctus
homeopathic 'mini-pharmacy'
tea tree oil
lavender
also use fresh ginger and lemons for when there are colds/sore throats
a packet of amoxycillin I bought in Bulgaria where you can get it over the counter for £2

[Anne_Marie]

How do you use milk of magnesia for clearing blackheads? Thats a new on on me!

Just dab it on and leave overnight, rinse off in morning, might take several goes, but it did work. Whatever is in the milk of magnesia, must pull out any impurities in the skin. Good on sore spots too, seems to calm them down and draw out any rubbish. Sure I got the tip off this board, will have a rake.

[Anne_Marie]

Trow did find it, but am too thick to be able to do links! Anyway one of Cathy's little pearls, under the heading of blackheads.

[Bambywamby]

I use tea tree oil as a antiseptic and to gargle with (diluted one part tea tree oil 10 parts water) when I have a sore throat.
Clove oil for emergency tooth ache (not that I get this very often)
Aspirin for gargling with when I have a sore throat (will numb localised pain)
Cheap paracetamol (caffeine free tho) as they work just as good as the expensive ones.
Oilibas oil for colds, coughs and headaches(sniffing the oil on a tissue really clears foggy heads).
Witch hazel as a facial cleanser/for stings & bites/bruises/Mild Antiseptic
Large strip of plaster so i can cut my own size rather than a shop bought pack.
Cotton woll by the roll rather than pads or balls as you get more for your money.
Bicarb of soda for indigestion/Constipation/nausea/cysitis.
Live yoghurt for thush.
Aloe Vera Juice for indeigestion/detoxing/constipation/spots/astringent

[furrypig]

What a surprise that this thread has resurfaced after nearly 18 months!
Was actually quite interesting to readit all agian and who knows more people might add to it and I'll get some more ideas!

Thanks Bambywamby

[culpepper]

Those big square dressings are good to have in your first aid box.
Some of that surgical tape too to keep the dressing on.
We have an eye bath in ours and I use a teaspoon of salt in a litre of cold boiled water for an eyewash (you would make it up as needed).
Sting cream is useful.We have an Aloe vera plant on the kitchen windowsill which you can break a piece of leaf off and use the gel on bites , stings and burns.
Mum used to keep a little bottle of olive oil and cotton wool for blocked ears.

[dlb]

Well in mine there is too much too list as my husband is a first aider, and we seem to have everything for any illness / injury possible.

I know there is stuff in there we will never use, but i have used the compound w, for sons verruca, which i never thought we would.

[JoeyEmma]

Ibuprofen gel
*Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
*Red Tiger balm for headaches
White Tiger balm for bites
*Piriton to take as a sleeping tablet (should be used as an antihistamine)
*Clarityn for allergies
Cystitis drink sachets
Thrush cream
*Plasters
Micropore and melolin dressing
Gavison Advance liquid
Honey and glycerine for sore throats
Loads of eczema creams
Asthma inhalers
Diaorylte
Imodium
Witch Hazel
Also always have peppermint teabags in to help digestion
Loads of other stuff, can't be !!!!d to look.

I've starred the ones that I think are most important BTW

[thriftlady]

I always make sure I have a headlice treatment and ovex in my medicine box :rolleyes: Oh, the joys of having kids :D

[Sarahsaver]

valerian
feverfiew
brandy :) mum's only 'cure' for a cold
arnica
(begin to get a picture...)
travel sickness tablets as the boys tend to puke profusely in OH's car and we finally found some that work!
and loads of anti-malarial tablets because they were rather strangely on 3 for 2 at boots
large pack of plasters
ran out of space so DS has his own basket separate from everything else :(

[Eels100]

Just a few essentials :D

Arnica pillules
Lavender oil
Savlon
Plasters
Hibiscrub
Aspirin
Cetirizine (antihistamine)
Loperamide (antidiarrhoea)
If that doean't cure it, nowt will!

[tim_n]

stethoscope
sphygmomanometer
stiff neck collars
Assorted plasters
Assorted bandages (inc triangular etc)
Safety pins
Thermometer
Assorted ambulance dressings
Tape (and duct tape)
Steripads (and tampons)
Paracetamol
Asprin (dispersable)
Pen torch
Sodium solution
CPR bag and mask
BP monitor
Gauze
Icepacks
Tough cut scissors
Nasopharangeal airways
Guedel airways
Alcohol wips
Nitrex xl gloves
Space blanket

Doesn't everyone? = )

[thriftlady]

OK, so what's one of these then - sphygmomanometer ?:D

[JoeyEmma]

OK, so what's one of these then - sphygmomanometer ?:D
Its what you take blood pressure with

[tim_n]

hehe = ) It's not fully stocked to my standards - no hand suction device etc...

JoeyEmma - Correct! = ) Much more accurate than the Automated cuffs.

None of it very OS I'm afraid. But if I turned up to a casulty and said 'you may have a pneumothorax but all I've got in my kit is garlic paste' they'd probably be worried about my professional ability!

Actually I guess it'd be illegal for me to use most of the traditional remedies on a patient - certainly in a professional capacity. Before splitting from my ex who was constantly giving me verrucas I used garlic which did work a bit, but bazooka! worked in two days.

(pneumothorax is a collapsed lung btw!)

[JoeyEmma]

hehe = ) It's not fully stocked to my standards - no hand suction device etc...

JoeyEmma - Correct! = ) Much more accurate than the Automated cuffs.
I agree. At work they insist on buying electronic sphygs. I hate them and am tempted to buy a mechanical one of my own but I'm worried about getting it callibrated regularly (not that I've ever seen anybody actually do that but you are meant to)

[tim_n]

I er... borrowed mine and swap it over for new ones occasionally. It's not really borrowing... I like to think of it as 'reallocation of resources' = )

[tim_n]

Everyone and I mean everyone should do at least one first aid course. It's well worth joining the local St Johns and doing an FAW (first aid at work) course. It'll teach you everything you need to know esp. about the care of your own family. You'll feel a little less panicky when they start breaking things or get ill.

Since doing my course however I see casulties everywhere I look - I've been bombarded with everything now (esp since doing my ambulance course). It's also a good CV filler saying 'I feel I cope well under stress because during my weekends I contract work for London Ambulance Service and have to make life or death decisions'. Only two CPR's so far... who knows what next weekend will bring! = )

[Sarahsaver]

Oh yes I have a resuscitation mouthpiece, a sphyg. and a stethoscope too;)
I am sposed to be starting work for St. John's soon as an ambulance escort :)

[tim_n]

Escort? Never heard of that before! Is that similar to the Ambulance Aid 2 qualification?

[Sarahsaver]

THey have just got a big contract here to transport 'vulnerable people' (taking people to daycare, disabled kids to schooll etc) as well as provide ambulances. So I will either be accompanying people in ambulances or in other vehicles.

[tim_n]

ah, so you're 'level 1'. Not sure what they're called these days and our county has apparently disbanded the training for that kind of thing :- (

Good luck! I prefer the driving myself ;- )

[Linda32]

We keep paracetamol, Andrews and Rennie, Plasters, Eye Bath, Tweezers, Muscle Rub, Vasaline. Nothing fancy really.

My cold remedy is paracetamol and Slice of Lemon with Hot water poured over and sweetened with Honey

[Pink-winged]

Hi everyone,

As this thread has become more health orientated than Old Style, I'll move it over to the Health board. Please remember not to ask for or give remedies. See here (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=31048) for more details.

Pink

[kittiwoz]

In my box I have:
bottle of dispersible asprin
bottle of paracetamol
blister pack of ibuprofen (all generic)
some throat lozenges
rennies
germolene
setri-strips
clove oil
tea tree oil
olbas oil
bottle of piriton just in case
zinc oxide tape (mainly used for covering housemates labrette piercing when trampolining but also on small cuts)
deep heat
deep freeze
an ankle support
a crepe bandage and safety pin (all in case of trampolining injury)
I normally relly on honey and lemon with a splosh of whisky for colds but I have some mentholated bronchial balsam and vicks sinex spray left over from when I had a particularly bad one.

I have the rennies over from a few years ago when after trampolining we often went to the pub followed by a late night curry and I used to suffer for it a bit the next day. In fact though the rennies didn't help much, I think they're more for acid indigestion. In the end I found the best thing was to drink a can of pop to make me burp after which I felt much better. Not very nice, sorry, but possibly useful.

[Savvy_Sue]

There's not a lot in my first aid tin, TBH, but does no-one else keep an emergency tenner in there in case you need to get a taxi to hospital? You know, if it's not bad enough to need an ambulance but you either can't drive or don't have a car available?

Whether I'd remember it was there is another matter ...

Although the last couple of times we've been away and left the boys behind I have remembered to tell them it's there in case they have an emergency ...