How To Manage Minor Health Issues at Home: A Mom’s Guide
Minor injuries and health issues like cuts and scrapes or food poisoning can happen at home and it is the job of every parent to be prepared for such situations. Healthcare in general is expensive so even a trip to the emergency room can set someone back financially quite a lot. Moms in particular are usually enthusiastic about having a first aid kit or medical box that can cater to a wide variety of minor issues and ailments. Here are a few tips on how to manage minor health issues at home as a mom.
Emotional Health
An area of health that is often neglected or not acknowledged is the area of emotional health. Parents and children can both experience anxiety, depression, loneliness and demotivation. It is therefore imperative to keep children occupied in a range of stimulating tasks and activities and help them build a social circle. Moms and dads should have their own hobbies and support groups to do the same.
When The Common Cold Hits
The common cold is as the name suggests ‘common’ and recurrent. Even with scheduled flu shots it is very easy for the whole house and children especially to come down with the cold. Your home medicine box or kit should include over-the-counter painkillers, lozenges, eucalyptus balms, essential oils, cough and cold medicine, fever reducing pills and syrups and so forth.
If you are not sure about the dose of any medicine or natural product you have, always consult your medical or healthcare practitioner. A common mistake many people make is that they try to use multiple products that all have some paracetamol or acetaminophen content in them. This can be dangerous as this medicine is only safe up to a certain dose so be aware of the content of the pills or syrups you are administering.
UTIs
Urinary tract infections can happen with dehydration in both adults and children. Always use oral rehydration methods as a first line of treatment, followed by fresh juices especially cranberry juice. In some cases a broad spectrum antibiotic may be needed to treat the underlying infection. It is a good idea to keep a few common types of antibiotics at home if possible to treat minor issues like this.
Upset Stomach And Food Poisoning
An upset stomach is a common complaint, and it can happen suddenly if you eat something from outside that does not agree with you or if you consume contaminated water or juice. Food poisoning and nausea can result if the pathogen is serious and in some rare cases hospitalization may be required but generally this issue can be resolved at home easily. Keep some anti-nausea and vomiting meds in your medicine box or cabinet with anti-diarrheal medication, and always be well stocked on oral rehydration solutions. Salts are lost very quickly in the event of an upset stomach or vomiting, and while the latter and former may not seem serious, depletion in your body’s salts over time can even be fatal.
Cuts, Injuries, Wounds
Most first aid kits you can buy in stores or online come packed with items to address cuts and minor wounds. Band-Aids and bandages are an absolute essential that should be present in every home and parents should carry them in their wallets or bags as well when outside just in case. A triangular bandage is a wonderful multi-purpose bandage to have in your kit and it can be used in many different ways including as an emergency sling if there is a broken bone.
A lot of damage can occur to a broken bone or joint in transit such as when you or a loved one are being driven to the ER so the triangular bandage can prove invaluable. Having some gauze (both the roll and stick-on variety) can also prove very handy for cuts and scrapes that are too large for a Band-Aid. Make sure you have good quality and sterilized wound care products at hand for any emergencies, especially since children can be prone to rough play outside and plenty of falls.
Bitten By A Bug
Insect bites are commonly incurred while playing outdoors or traveling, but they can be a problem inside the house as well. Using good quality chemical or natural mosquito and bug repellents is vital along with maintaining good cleanliness in the house. Drain flies, cockroaches and other bugs can quickly become an infestation and they come with their own germs and infections. Keep some bug spray and gel in your home to apply on yourself and the children and keep outside spaces bug and mosquito free by using repellent coils.
Conclusion
Thinking ahead and creating a kit that addresses common issues can mean you and your children can be comfortable no matter the situation, and hospital or ER bills won’t pile up. Treating cuts and injuries with sensible first-aid also means prevention of more serious infections.
