getting affordable medical supplies for home care

When you think of a first aid kit, certain items probably come to mind: bandaids, antiseptic ointment, gauze, saline solution, and maybe some iodine. In an emergency, these items are likely to come in handy, but there are also some other things to include in your first aid kit if you have the space.

Antihistamine Tablets

Some basic antihistamine tablets with the active ingredient "diphenhydramine" will come in handy if someone gets stung by a bee, rubs against a flower they are allergic to, or otherwise develops allergy symptoms. 

A Tourniquet

You hope you never suffer a cut so traumatic that you're worried about excessive blood loss, but it could happen. If it does, having a tourniquet on hand could save your life. This is a stretchy rubber strap that you can wrap around a limb to reduce circulation and blood loss.

A Thermometer

If someone suddenly becomes seriously ill, being able to take their temperature will give you a good indication of how serious it really is. If a person's temperature is above 104 degrees, you need to get them to the doctor quickly. If it is below 104, you can usually take your time unless there are other serious symptoms like seizures and confusion.

Alcohol Pads

Alcohol pads are not so much for sanitizing wounds. (You can do that with iodine, which stings a lot less.) Rather, they are for sterilizing anything that might come into contact with a wound. For example, if you are going to cut a gauze pad or bandage, you should sanitize your scissors first to avoid contaminating the gauze.

Scissors

There are so many uses for these, from cutting bandages to opening a tough-to-open package of medication. Make sure the pair you choose are sharp enough to cut through cloth, not just paper. Options sold as "bandage scissors" or "fabric scissors" are a good choice.

Ibuprofen

This can come in handy when someone has a headache, slips and twists their ankle, and so forth. The medication can keep inflammation from getting out of control after an injury, and it can even lower a fever.

Disposable Gloves

If you have to clean out someone's wound, having a pair of disposable gloves will really come in handy to prevent contamination. Hand washing facilities are not always available, so you need a way to protect yourself. Even if you are able to wash your hands first, you should always wear gloves when handling someone's blood, as this protect you from blood-borne diseases.