Get ready for this year’s sneezes and sniffles by organizing your medications.

First you’ll need a notepad, a pen, and a paper or plastic bag. Gather all of your medications together and start sorting.

If family members take a lot of their own medications on a regular basis, sort those together by person. If the medications are for anyone to use, sort them by type of ailment, such as:
• Fever & Pain
• Digestion, or
• Ear, Nose & Throat

When you find medications that are expired or that you no longer need, put them aside in your paper or plastic bag. Later, when you are finished organizing, take care to dispose of them safely so the medications won’t be accidentally ingested from the trash. You can mix pills with a little water to break them down, and you can add salt or flour to liquids to make them less usable. It’s considered bad for the environment to flush drugs down the toilet or sink.

Make a shopping list along the way for anything you need using your notepad and pen.

Don’t just think of drawer dividers as only for drawers. They are great for storing medication bottles on an open shelf. You can also have a bin or basket for each family member’s own medicines.

For frequently used medications, you can use daily sorting containers to deal out your pills once a week, saving you time each morning not having to open every bottle every day.

View or print a detailed checklist

Medications
(keep both adult and children’s versions when applicable)
�� Ibuprofen/acetaminophen pain reliever
�� Antihistamine (such as Benadryl)
�� Cough syrup
�� Decongestant
�� Anti-diarrhea medication
�� Indigestion medication
�� Activated charcoal
�� Syrup of ipecac

Topical Applications
�� Antiseptic wipes
�� Rubbing alcohol
�� Hydrogen peroxide
�� Calamine lotion
�� Sunscreen
�� Burn ointment
�� Hydrocortisone cream
�� Anesthetic spray
�� Antibiotic ointment

Tools
�� Tweezers
�� Sewing needle for removing splinters
�� Bandage scissors (rounded tips for safety)
�� Thermometer (you can buy single use ones)
�� Latex gloves
�� Disposable razor
�� Hot water bottle
�� Safety pins and Ace bandage grips
�� Medication-dispensing syringes or
spoons for liquids

Bandages and Dressings
�� Adhesive bandages of various sizes tape
�� Butterfly closures
�� Adhesive bandage
�� Ace bandage
�� Gauze bandages and pads
�� Finger splints
�� Feminine pads
�� Sterile cotton balls and swabs

Other
�� Instant cold packs
�� Paper bag for hyperventilation
�� Allergy emergency supplies if someone has severe allergic reactions
�� Emergency phone numbers
�� Copy of this checklist