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

For adults and children over 16 years. Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.

• Sedative Cough Linctus

For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.

• Paracetamol Mixture

(Calpol, Disprol etc) For relief of pain or fever in young children.

• Menthol Crystals

Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

• Vapour Rub

(Vick, Karvol etc) Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.

• 3" Wide Crepe Bandage

To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.

• Antiseptic Cream

For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.

• Cotton Wool

For cleaning cuts and grazes.

• Calamine Lotion

For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn.

• Antihistamine Tablets

For nettle rash/hives.

• Dressing Strips/Plasters

For minor cuts.

• Tweezers

For removing splinters.

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