Building a Summer First-Aid Kit

Summer is here, and warm weather, outdoor barbecues, vacations and travel are in full swing. Minor medical needs may be the last thing on your mind, but summer is as good a time as any to keep your medicine cabinet well stocked. Coughs, nasal congestion and headaches don’t take a summer break and time spent outdoors in the warm weather means more chances for burns, bites, cuts and allergies to flare.

Here are 8 things every medicine cabinet should be stocked with this summer.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen really should be a no-brainer, but just in case you need to hear it again, here it is: be sure to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays with sunscreen. If you are wondering which of the hundreds of brands and types you should use, read Healthline’s sunscreen buyers guide for reviews and advice.

Hydrocortisone Cream/Sprays

While you’re enjoying the weather, try to see if you or a family member can avoid being bitten by a mosquito or some other bug. If you can, more power to you. If you can’t, make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked with a hydrocortisone cream or spray like Cortaid® Sensitive Skin Formula, Cortaid® Spray Maximum Strength, Cortizone for Kids®, Cortizone®-5 or Cortizone-10®.

Antacids and Antidiarrheals

Summer is barbecue season and everything is fair game for the grill including meats, vegetables and s’mores—to name a few. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for that possible stomach upset or indigestion by having some Pepto Bismol®, Tums®, Rolaids®, or Imodium® handy.

Calamine Lotions

For the treatment of itching and skin irritation caused by poison ivy, poison oak, insect bites and sunburn, try brands of calamine lotion such as Calamine®, Calamine-Phenol , CalaminePlain and Aveeno Anti-Itch® cream. You may also want to stock up on these home remedies to treat sunburn.

Allergy Medications

Allergies from pollen and other things don’t end when spring turns to summer. Grass pollen, weed pollen and mold spores are a few of the unpopular guests who hang around for months, so don’t let them ruin your fun. Anti-allergy medications include Benadryl®, Claritin®, Sudafed®, Zyrtec®, Tylenol Allergyand Sinus®, Singulair®, Allegra® and Flonase®. Learn more ways to fight off hay fever.

Headache Medications

For headaches brought on by allergies, sunburn or summer activities, try aspirin, Tylenol®, Advil® or Excedrin®.

Motion Sickness Drugs

With the kids being out of school, many families plan their travel around the summer months. This means time spent in planes, trains, automobiles and even boats. This may also mean an increased risk of motion sickness. Motion-sickness drugs include Dramamine®, Antivert® and Benadryl®.

Insulin and Fast-Acting Carbs

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, then hot weather, outdoor activities, and changes to your diet can change your blood sugar levels. Always test your blood glucose with a metering device, and be sure to take your insulin (i.e. Humalog®, NovoLog®, Apidra®, Levemir® and Lantus®). It doesn’t hurt to have on hand a fast-acting carb source as well for unexpected low blood sugar (i.e. GlucoBurst®, InstaGlucose®, Glutose-15®, Dex-4®).

Your Healthiest Summer

Medications are probably the last thing you want to think about during the summer months. To keep your family feeling healthy all summer long, check out these great tips:

• The Best Sunscreens on the Market
• How to Beat the Heat
• 9 Summer SafetyTips
• Healthy Grilling Recipes