
No matter how sensible and preventative you are,
sometimes you can still end up sick. As I’m in that boat right now, I decided this was a good time to pass on my organizing ideas related to being prepared for sick ones in the house or while on the road traveling during the holidays.
At Home: Designate a safe spot to store all medicines, try to keep all items to this spot so that you aren’t searching all around to see what you have or find you have 3 of one item and none of another. Check all expiration dates frequently and pitch and replace as needed. Don’t wait until someone is sick to figure out if supplies need to be restored. Make it a best practice in the house to “inventory”and “restock” as kids go back to school each fall so you are prepared as cold/flu season sets in. Don’t forget to keep the non-medicine essentials stocked as well: Lysol or similar spray, sanitizing wipes, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, earloop masks, cough drops, etc. Additionally,
make sure general “First Aid” items are at the ready at all times, band-aids in
several sizes, ointments, ready use ice packs, wound care wipes, liquid bandage, etc. It’s Murphy’s Law at its best…if you have it…hopefully you won’t need it!
Traveling: As kids growing up, we always traveled home to Boston during the holidays from wherever we were living and my Mom has always said…”the only thing worse than being sick, is being sick away from home”. It’s 100% true and she always packed a “portable medicine chest” for when we traveled and I still do it for every trip we take today. A simple large ziplock bag packed with: rolls of tums, immodium tablets, cold/pain tablets, band-aids, anti-nausea liquid, antibiotic ointment, etc. Be ready and it makes for a better trip in the event of issues.
In the car: Always keep a “first-aid” type kit in the car and make it up yourself as it’s cheaper than pre-made. Make sure to have “ready use ice packs” in there as well. You’ll thank yourself –especially when it comes to being at your kids sporting events and realizing how handy having these things are when injuries (hopefully just minor!) occur.
In your purse: For years I’ve had co-workers and friends giggle and tease about my purse/tote bag being like a traveling pharmacy…or at least only teasing until they knew who to come to when something was needed.
Keep rolls of tums/antacids, band-aids slipped into hidden wallet
sections, travel size bottles of cold/pain tablets, a couple of immodium in
blister packs tucked into purse pockets, cough drops, Emergen-C packets, etc. Again, it’s only funny until you’re the one who needs it but doesn’t have it :)
sometimes you can still end up sick. As I’m in that boat right now, I decided this was a good time to pass on my organizing ideas related to being prepared for sick ones in the house or while on the road traveling during the holidays.
At Home: Designate a safe spot to store all medicines, try to keep all items to this spot so that you aren’t searching all around to see what you have or find you have 3 of one item and none of another. Check all expiration dates frequently and pitch and replace as needed. Don’t wait until someone is sick to figure out if supplies need to be restored. Make it a best practice in the house to “inventory”and “restock” as kids go back to school each fall so you are prepared as cold/flu season sets in. Don’t forget to keep the non-medicine essentials stocked as well: Lysol or similar spray, sanitizing wipes, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, earloop masks, cough drops, etc. Additionally,
make sure general “First Aid” items are at the ready at all times, band-aids in
several sizes, ointments, ready use ice packs, wound care wipes, liquid bandage, etc. It’s Murphy’s Law at its best…if you have it…hopefully you won’t need it!
Traveling: As kids growing up, we always traveled home to Boston during the holidays from wherever we were living and my Mom has always said…”the only thing worse than being sick, is being sick away from home”. It’s 100% true and she always packed a “portable medicine chest” for when we traveled and I still do it for every trip we take today. A simple large ziplock bag packed with: rolls of tums, immodium tablets, cold/pain tablets, band-aids, anti-nausea liquid, antibiotic ointment, etc. Be ready and it makes for a better trip in the event of issues.
In the car: Always keep a “first-aid” type kit in the car and make it up yourself as it’s cheaper than pre-made. Make sure to have “ready use ice packs” in there as well. You’ll thank yourself –especially when it comes to being at your kids sporting events and realizing how handy having these things are when injuries (hopefully just minor!) occur.
In your purse: For years I’ve had co-workers and friends giggle and tease about my purse/tote bag being like a traveling pharmacy…or at least only teasing until they knew who to come to when something was needed.
Keep rolls of tums/antacids, band-aids slipped into hidden wallet
sections, travel size bottles of cold/pain tablets, a couple of immodium in
blister packs tucked into purse pockets, cough drops, Emergen-C packets, etc. Again, it’s only funny until you’re the one who needs it but doesn’t have it :)