We all do our part to avoid getting sick, but how can you be prepared for the inevitable during cold and flu season? Jennifer shares her ideas on creating a “Sick Stash” to help get her and her family through the sick days.
Cold and flu season, you are so not welcome! We have already had our first big bout of illnesses at my house, and nearly everyone I talk to seems to be coming down with, or just getting over, something. Ideally these things would strike at a more convenient time, right? But you know how it really works. In our case last week, I reached down to detect a feverish forehead just as my husband was packing for business travel. There we were – the children and me – virtually homebound for 4 days. And it’s always the way it goes, isn’t it? You are also sick, or your partner is sick, or everyone is wildly contagious and ought to be quarantined for three weeks… Ah, but I suppose there’s never truly a good time for illness, no matter what.
I did have a bright spot in the week of sickies, though. I didn’t have to text a friend to ask them to please pick up children’s ibuprofen. That seems to be the thing we never have when we need it, which is odd because it’s a medicine chest staple! I’m not the kind of person who can’t ask for help, but it was a relief to feel prepared for the illness at hand. That sense of relief got me thinking about the other things we seem to not have but really, really need when illness strikes. And then… AHA! Why did I never think of this before? If I create a stash of supplies to keep on hand, I’ll be a lot more prepared for sickness even if I am also sick/have a sick or travelling spouse/am required to wear a hazmat suit.
I made a quick list of things we seem to need or need extra of, scrounged up an unused canvas bin, and (as soon as we were well enough to get the store) put it all together. Here’s what I included:
- Chicken noodle soup
- Applesauce
- White soda
- Gatorade
- Children’s ibuprofen
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Cough drops
- Disinfectant wipes
Honestly, this is all stuff that we usually have on hand (unless someone is ill and we actually really, really need it), except for the disinfectant wipes. I generally make my own cleaners and try to avoid commercial stuff. But when I’m up against something like strep or norovirus, it’s chemical warfare time. I also find it easier to grab one of those wipes and swipe over everything my sweet little germ-spreaders touch.
I am certainly not inviting illnesses to visit us again anytime soon, but I do wonder if my Sick Stash will be as handy as I expect it to be. What else would you include? What would you leave out?
Wishing you wellness,
Jen
We have a sick stash too but it’s not as pretty as yours. I do occasionally run out of applesauce b/c we just don’t go through it that fast. I will sheepishly admit that I can’t figure out why there”s toilet paper in the stash (other than the fact that you don’t want to go to the store to buy some!).
@Emily, I’m curious to know what all is in your stash! As for the toilet paper, right — you can’t always get to the store. And if it’s a tummy bug… Well, you just plain need more. 😉 ~Jen
I would add a bin of coke and pretzel sticks which I found are the best remedy in case of trots
a few years ago I was helping a friend get organized. We separated all of this into a number of baskets, and labelled them: “mom, my tummy doesn’t feel so good” for Pepto, etc. Another was “ow! ow!” for Bandaids/gauze, etc. The last was “mom, my XYZ hurts” for throat medicine.
Love this idea! I would add an unopened package of crackers & a heating pad (for tummy aches or cramps).
Late commenting but wanted to add a bag of soup crackers, the small size makes it more appealing for my little one, and a small container of vasaline – why? applying a little bit around the edges of my nose helps to relive the discomfort from all the wiping, and it is good for chapped lips.
Great idea! I had the same thought when I saw the wipes: I make my own cleaners as well but realized being sick would be the one time I would want to use commercial!
@Kerri, it’s so true, isn’t it? And then between all the extra hand-washing and the harsher cleaners, my hands get to be an absolute wreck. Hey, maybe I should add some intense hand lotion to the stash, too! 😉
Lots of vitamin C, for sure! A doctor told me to take 2000mg 3 time a day when I am getting sick.
Vicks vaporub!!!