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Self-Care Supplies

More of your health care takes place in your home than anywhere else. Having the right tools, medicines, supplies, and information on hand is important for your self-care.

Most of the tools below don't cost a lot. They are easy to use and can be bought at most drugstores and grocery stores.

These are helpful first-aid supplies:

  • Adhesive strips, such as Band-Aids, in assorted sizes
  • Adhesive tape, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide
  • Butterfly bandages
  • Cotton balls
  • Elastic ("Ace") bandage, 3 in. (7.6 cm) wide
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Medical gloves
  • Roll of gauze bandage, 2 in. (5.1 cm) wide
  • Safety pins
  • Sterile gauze pads, 2 in. (5.1 cm) square
  • Tweezers

These are helpful self-care tools to have on hand:

  • Blood pressure cuff
  • Cold pack
  • Dental mirror
  • Eyedropper
  • Heating pad
  • Humidifier or vaporizer
  • Medicine spoon
  • Nail clippers
  • Penlight
  • Pillbox
  • Scissors
  • Stethoscope
  • Thermometer

If you have children younger than age 6, consider adding:

  • Bulb aspirator or syringe.
  • Otoscope, an instrument with a light that you can use to look into the ear canal.
  • Rectal thermometer.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine
Last Revised April 19, 2011

Last Revised: April 19, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine

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