Step-by-step

1. 1. For common ailments

   A selection of paracetamol- or ibuprofen-based medicine is the number one piece of kit for any family – not only do they ease headaches, back pain and other ills, they also help to reduce a high temperature. Make sure you have the right strength for all the different ages in your family, and keep an eye on use-by-dates. Keep a couple of measuring spoons in the same place so you don’t have to hunt around for one with a grizzling child on your hip.
   
   Cold remedies usually combine a painkiller with a decongestant, and often some caffeine as well. Make sure you don’t take anything else at the same time or you could risk accidentally over-dosing yourself.
   
   Cough mixtures come in two types – expectorants, usually marked ‘for chesty coughs’ and suppressants, marked ‘for tickly coughs’.
   
   Antihistamines are good to have in stock even if no one in the family has hayfever or allergies – nasty insect bites that are very swollen and painful will react well to a single dose of antihistamine – again make sure you keep a range of strengths appropriate for different ages.
   
   

2. 2. For first aid

   In an emergency, you need quick access to a first aid kit, so make sure your box is well supplied and replenished whenever something is used. Don’t take any chances - major injuries will warrant a trip to casualty or even an ambulance call, as will any loss of consciousness, or temporary confusion which might be a symptom of concussion. But there are plenty of knocks and scrapes which can be treated at home.

   Here’s what every mum should have to hand:

   • Antiseptic cream
   • Plasters in all shapes and sizes
   • Bandages
   • Gauze and adhesive tape, and scissors to cut them to size
   • Heat pack/cool pack
   • Surgical spirit
   • Tweezers for splinters
   • Optrex and an eye bath
   • A torch and batteries
   • Cling film is very helpful in protecting burns from infection and moisture loss