Preparing for a home emergency

Some more tips from MedicAlert...

Besides gathering the aforementioned first aid supplies, some other good tips for being prepared for emergencies at home:

• Have a list of emergency phone numbers posted by the phone, and perhaps duplicated in your first aid kit. Doctor's numbers, poison control (1-800-222-1222), and other emergency numbers if 911 service is not available in your area, are all good ones to have on hand.
• Have medical histories for all family members, including allergies, surgeries, medications, and chronic illnesses. (Include herbal or OTC medications as well.) Be sure to bring these records with you if you need to go to the emergency room.
• You should have medical consent forms completed for each person in your home.

MedicAlert is also available as a service to store all of the above information, if you so desire....

Home First Aid Shopping List

I found this home first aid shopping list in an article by MedicAlert. Some good ideas!

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofin (Advil)
• Aspirin
• Hydrocortisone cream (for rashes)
• Antibiotic ointment
  
• Hydrogen peroxide (to disinfect and clean wounds)
• Calamine lotion (for itching from insect bites and poison ivy)
• Petroleum jelly
• Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes
• Butterfly bandages
• Elastic wraps (ACE bandages) for joint injuries
• Gauze in rolls and 2" and 4" pads for larger cuts and scrapes
• Adhesive tape
• Sharp scissors with rounded tip
• Tweezers
• Thermometer
• Latex-free gloves to protect hands and reduce infection risk
  

Cleaning caution

A clean house is supposed to good for you, right? I read an article today that was called "Spring Cleaning Caution" (I'm a bit behind in my reading, can you tell?!?) that talked about some of the dangers of house cleaning (I knew that there was a reason I don't do it very much :) ).

This article states that one in seven cases of adult asthma may have been caused by weekly use of common pump or aerosol cleaning sprays, including glass cleaners and air fresheners. Sooo, to spare your lungs from the sprayed materials that could bug them, it's best to clean with disinfecting wipes or a cloth doused in a natural cleaning solution, like vinegar and water. When at all possible, avoid harsh cleaning chemicals.

Any other cleaning tips?