Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with a description of their uses. All are quite cheap and worth stocking at home in readiness for minor illnesses.
Keep them in a box or cupboard with a lock – or store them well out of the reach of children.

• Soluble Aspirin Tablets – Good for headaches, colds, sore throats (gargle with the solution), and pains in general. Aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16.
• Paracetamol Mixture – For relief of pain or fever in young children.
• Sedative Cough Linctus – For dry or painful coughs – but not coughs caused by common colds.
• Menthol Crystals – Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.
• Vapour Rub – Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.
• Ephedrine Nose Drops – For runny noses in children over one year old. Use before meals and at night but not for more than four days.
• Antiseptic Solution – One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.
• Antiseptic Cream – For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.
• Calamine Lotion – For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites, stings and sunburn.
• Dressing Strips – For minor cuts.
• 3″ Wide Crepe Bandage – To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.
• Cotton Wool – For cleaning cuts and grazes.
• Thermometer – For fevers.
• Tweezers – For removing splinters.

Remember that your local chemist can give you advice about medicines.