3. An elastic wrap.
Also called an ACE bandage (based on the best-known brand name), “these are excellent for giving support to a sprained joint,” says Jennifer Zimmer, M.D., an internal medicine specialist at the Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano, Texas.
Just be sure to apply the wrap correctly: If wrapping a foot or ankle, start at the bottom of the foot and wrap it several times around until you reach the ankle, then criss-cross the bandage in a figure-8 pattern behind the heel and secure it at top with some tape.
If it’s too loose, it won’t supply helpful compression; if it’s too tight, it can restrict circulation. (Remove it if the body part feels numb or tingly, gets cold or turns blue.) If you aren’t sure, ask your doctor.
(For minor sprains, also keep an ice pack in your freezer and remember the acronym “RICE”: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.)
4. An accurate thermometer.
You need a good thermometer to monitor fevers, which could indicate infection in a wound or worsening of any illness, Zimmer says.
She recommends digital thermometers because they’re easier to read than ones with mercury. And toss ear thermometers and fever strips – they aren’t as precise.
Remember, it’s not a fever until body temperature goes above 100.5°.
“Everyone thinks that any temperature above 98.6° is a fever,” Watson says. “Some schools send kids home when they have a temperature of 99°, which is perfectly normal.”
5. Emergency contact phone numbers.
In case of a medical emergency, tape the contact information for your doctor, pharmacy and the local Poison Control Center (for ingestion of or exposure to toxins) to the inside of your medicine cabinet or first-aid kit.
Medicine Cabinet Essentials…That Aren’t Medicine was originally published on blackdoctor.org
