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When it comes to handling minor injuries and ailments, and keeping good check on monitoring certain health conditions at home, having a few essential medical devices at home can be hugely beneficial.   Of course, it's important to consult your GP or specialist on the medical kit you might need at home to deal with your specific and individual health needs, here are the five common medical supplies & devices that we recommend you have in your home to keep you and your household safe and ready for medical emergencies:  First Aid Kit: A well-stocked first aid kit is crucial for treating minor injuries, cuts, burns, and sprains. Make sure it includes items like adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic solution or wipes, scissors, tweezers & disposable gloves. Having a first aid manual or guide is an often-overlooked addition, but it’s worth having and reading so you know how to handle any medical situation that might arise. Digital Thermometer: A reliable digital thermometer is essential for monitoring body temperature, especially during illnesses. Choose a thermometer suitable for oral, rectal, or axillary (underarm) use. Digital thermometers are quick, accurate, and easy to use for temperature measurement and, depending on your preference, come as either a forehead thermometer, in-ear thermometer or an oral/rectal thermometer. Blood Pressure Monitor: A blood pressure monitor allows you to keep track of your blood pressure at home, which is important for anyone with hypertension, irregular heartbeat and many other cardiovascular conditions. They’re simple to use, most are digital and your readings can be stored for your own records and for use during your GP consultations.  Pulse Oximeter: A pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation levels and pulse rate. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, they have begun to feature more and more in at-home medical kits as they’re extremely valuable devices for monitoring respiratory conditions at home. Monitoring oxygen saturation levels can give accurate signs of physical deterioration and is an incredibly useful action in terms of knowing when to call for emergency support when someone is unwell. Glucose Monitor/ blood sugar monitor: For anyone with diabetes, an at-home or mobile glucose monitor will become an essential piece of medical kit for the regular monitoring of blood glucose levels. Glucometers are incredibly easy to use and require just a small blood sample for testing. Results are instant and they’re perfectly safe to use without medical supervision.  Make sure you stock up on glucose monitor test strips and alcohol skin wipes too. Always follow the manufacturers instructions provided with these devices and regularly maintain them properly. Your GP or health specialist will be able to help you with any concerns.  June 2023

Essential items for your first aid kit With any luck, our at-home first aid kits will mostly be gathering dust in the cupboard but on those occasions when accidents happen at home, it’s essential that your kit is in good condition and filled with the basics required for treating minor ailments on the spot. When was the last time you checked if your first aid kit was fit for purpose should an accident occur in your house? Why not take the time TODAY to follow our check list and get your small emergency response kit ready for action?! Key Essentials to include: Waterproof or Fabric Plasters Skin Closure Strips Antiseptic Wipes Small and Medium gauze sterile dressings Microporous tape Tweezers Small nail scissors Many of these items, and more, will already be found in most ready-made First-Aid Kits which will also include items like cool packs, eye wash vials, triangular bandages and even foil blankets, but these 7 items are the top essentials to keep up to date in your kit.  In addition we’d highly recommend taking your kit to the next level with these extras: Additional Essentials: Thermometer (preferably digital and either the forehead, oral or in-ear type). Always keep spare batteries in the kit too. Painkillers - paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen Antihistamine Cream for stings and bites First Aid Manual - a hugely useful addition to your kit and a potential lifesaver. Teaches you how to deal with minor injuries from splinters to burns, as well as how to respond to life threatening scenarios like heart attacks and strokes.  Oximeter - for measuring blood oxygen levels (particularly useful for monitoring patients suffering from Covid at home). First Aid on the Move Small accidents don’t only happen in the home, and when you have a young family, in particular, it can sometimes feel like you are endlessly dealing with minor issues that require a plaster or more. So we would definitely recommend that you pop a Car First Aid Kit in your glovebox for those emergencies as well as a smaller kit with some plasters, microporous tape and antiseptic wipes in your bag. We can also recommend a Dental First Aid Kit - for dealing with those toothaches and dental issues that will inevitable happen ‘out of hours’. Do an Annual MOT! We recommend that you do an annual check on your home first aid kits to replace any used items, make sure the plasters etc are still in good condition, check that the medicines are still in date and replace the batteries on any digital apparatus. It’s also a very good idea to make sure that you keep your kit somewhere easily accessible (making sure it’s out of reach of very small children) and that everyone in your household knows where to find it and what to do with the items it holds. If you and your household are keen to further your first aid skills, there are some fantastic (and often free) courses available. Take a look at the St. John’s Ambulance or British Red Cross websites for their excellent resources on first aid training.It’s likely that in the ‘panic’ of the moment we might forget the best protocol for dealing with a burn or gash etc, so taking a good first aid course will give you the extra skills you might need to manage any of these small emergencies with confidence. Need more help with buying your first aid kit essentials? We're always here to help. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Photo by Kristine Wook on Unsplash September 2022

Whether you live alone or are part of a large, busy family, you’re very likely to have a first aid kit gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere at home. Or perhaps, you’re unlucky enough to have had to use yours quite often because of a series of minor cuts and bruises or bouts of short illness. Either way, it’s likely that your first aid kit is not properly stocked or that some of the key items have gone ‘out of date’ and are no longer fit for use. So, with Spring approaching and the time to clear out and organise our homes, we’d like to encourage you all to spring clean your first aid kits this month. Read on for our guide to putting together the ideal first aid kit for you and your family. Home First Aid Kit Essentials Buying a pre-packed first aid kit is a great starter for your home first aid essentials. We would, however, recommend supplementing it with one or two key items that you should always have in your home to treat small injuries and ailments. Make sure your home first aid kit includes: Assorted waterproof plasters Absorbent dressings Roll of microporous tape Tweezers Antiseptic wipes (although if this is missing you can clean a small wound effectively with simple soap and warm water) Hydrocortisone or Calendula cream (small tube) for skin irritations/bites etc Skin closures Paracetamol tablets (or infant paracetamol for children) Crepe bandage Blister plasters A digital thermometer - make sure you regularly check the batteries An Oximeter - since the covid pandemic this device is fast-becoming an essential first aid kit item. You can read more now our blog to find out why you need one at home. In addition you might include Ibuprofen and aspirin tablets (not to be given to children under 16) Diarrhoea/Loperamide capsules PLEASE REMEMBER - that if you’re keeping any medicines in your first aid kit it should always be kept out of reach of children, preferably in a locked/secured cabinet. Maintaining Your First Aid Kit Being able to treat minor illnesses, injuries and ailments at home means that you can, hopefully, avoid unnecessary trips to the GP, pharmacist or A & E - services that are already overwhelmed. Where appropriate, and where it’s sensible, many small medical situations can be dealt with easily at home if you have the right kit to hand. So it makes sense to have a well stocked medicine cabinet and first aid kit in your home. Many pre-packed kits will come with a helpful booklet with advice on how to treat smaller ailments like cuts, bruises and even minor burns. You will find it useful to read this regularly so that you’re prepared if/when an incident occurs. However if in doubt always call the NHS helpline on 111 if you’re unsure how to deal with the injury or you think it may require medical attention. In life-threatening situations always call 999. Need more help? We're always here to help so get in touch today. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical, mobility and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice and don't forget to read our other great health blogs! March 2022