Home improvements: Prepare for emergencies with a first-aid kit

Every home should contain a first-aid kit – but when was the last time you gave yours a refresh? It’s easy to forget, until there’s an emergency and you realise that the contents are out of date or you failed to restock it.

Think about where to keep your kit. Will it be easy to find in the heat of the moment? It should be stored in a cool, dry place, but there’s no point keeping it hidden in the bottom of a drawer or at the back of a ­seldom-used cupboard. At the same time, it should be out of reach of younger children. Also think about the container. A transparent, water- and airtight plastic container is far better than a rusty metal box.

Next, think about the contents. Basic items that any first-aid kit should contain include a variety of plasters, sterile gauze for dressing wounds, bandages, safety pins, disposable rubber gloves, tweezers, scissors, antibacterial wipes, a thermometer, antiseptic cream, something to relieve insect bites, painkillers such as paracetamol, antihistamine tablets and distilled water for cleaning wounds. Keep a basic first-aid manual with your kit.

Check expiry dates on all your medication and creams, examine scissors and tweezers for rust and make sure all packaging is intact – particularly items that are supposed to be sterile.