Essential Medical Supplies

Caring for a loved one at home takes compassion, passion, unconditional love and patience. Often a caregiver is caught unprepared for what medical problem is to come next. This can cause undue anxiety to the family and especially the unwell loved one.

With knowledge and ready information, the caregiver can better equip themselves to carry out the required nursing care with confidence.

It is also good to have Essential Medical Supplies readily available at home if you are caring for patient at home. These recommended supplies are available at most major pharmacy or hospital pharmacy.

General

Antiseptic Wash, Normal Saline, Sterile Gloves and Spirit Swabs.

Bed Sore

	Cleansing Lotion : Normal Saline, Chlorhexidine, Eusol
	Duoderm (Wafer) : Each use can last for 1 wk
	Dressing : Primapore, TG, Dynaderm (Waterproof)
	Plaster : Micropore
	Medication – usually not required. If required, to be prescribed by doctor
	Spirit Swabs, Gauzes, Gloves and Forceps
	Turn the patient : Every 2 hourly in the day and 4 hourly in the night

Post Operation – Wound Care  

	Cleansing Lotion : Normal Saline, Chlorhexidine, Eusol
	Duoderm (Wafer) : Each use can last for 1 wk
	Dressing : Primapore, TG, Dynaderm (Waterproof)
	Plaster : Micropore
	Medication – usually not required. If required, to be prescribed by doctor
	Spirit Swabs, Gauzes, Gloves, Forceps and Scissors (to remove stitches, if any)

Catherization

	Cleansing : Cetrimide, Normal Saline, Chlorhexidine
	20ml of Sterile Water
	Syringes – 10cc & 2cc (min. 1 each)
	Spirit Swabs, Gauzes, Gloves and Forceps
	Lubricant : KY Jelly or any water-based jelly
	Urine bag
	Catheter tube (goes into the urethera); different sizes available, depending on the physical size of the patient

Nasal Gastric Tube Care

	Lubricant : KY Jelly or any water-based jelly
	Tube & Syringes (5cc & 20cc – 1 each)
	Stethoscope – optional but preferred
	Litmus paper
	Plaster : Micropore
	Spirit swabs, Gauzes and Gloves
	Cleansing : Normal Saline or normal clean boiled water

Suction (Phlegm) 

	Suction Pump (can be rented from Hospice)
	Suction Catheter (goes into the throat to suck phlegm); different size available
	Lubricant : KY Jelly or any water-based jelly
	Gloves
	Cleansing : Normal Saline or normal clean boiled water