Medical Alert

Medications are always in question, but here are some sensible tips in general.  My children (there were 4 of the “little people” at one time) seemed to be needing band aids, a lot.  So much so that I do wish I’d invested in Johnson & Johnson stock years ago.  I never had things at hand when I needed them.  They were always in the upstairs medicine cabinet.  So to save you some steps I’m sharing.

Keep a box handy in the kitchen on a high shelf.  I kept mine in the pantry on a shelf about chest high.  The best container was a hard cardboard box with low sides (like the ones at the big shopping places where you buy in quantity).  It has to be very sturdy so you can whip it out at a moments notice and not have it collapse.  Place things in it by order of greatest importance.  Actually the band aids go in the back as that is the last thing that goes on.

• On a 3×5 card put emergency #’s for poison control and your Dr.’s #
• Red washcloth – no blood, no tears – sometimes!
• Antiseptic wash
• Favorite gels for bee stings, scrapes
• Anti-bacteria spray
• Gauze pads – numerous sizes
• Bandages that self adhere for large problems
• Ace bandage
• Last, but not least, band aids in assorted sizes
• Kisses and hugs

I have found that the material band aid gives more flexibility and is more comfortable, but that is my experience.  Plus I had one child that could NOT tolerate band aids.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Now that same child has pierced ears so go figure.  Anyway, I used a lot of gauze pads and self-adhesive bandaging instead – works great and saved a lot of tears.

The kisses are for making it feel better.  “Let me kiss it and make it feel better, Jimmy.”  That’s for the not-catastrophic type of boo-boos.  My eight year old once explained to me, “But, Mommy, I hate to tell you, but that really doesn’t work.”  I said, “Well, at least it makes me feel better, so have a hug too.”  I think he was suddenly old enough to graduate from the kisses, don’t you?  I still always insisted on hugs though.

Your Coach can also help you in organizing such this as Charts for the fridge when you have everyone on medications from ear infection to the flu.  It’s a simple system and easy to make your own.  Household pets fall into this category sometimes too.

Kisses and hugs