The Right Medicine Cabinet

In an emergency, have a painkiller, a cold compress or bandages directly at hand: A well-stocked medicine cabinet can serve you well. But what all belongs in the medicine cabinet? You should consider the following points when setting up a medicine cabinet: Place your medicine cabinet in a light-protected, cool and dry place. The best place is the bedroom. Secure your medicine cabinet from access by children. Keep all medications in their original packaging, including package inserts. This will help avoid mix-ups. Store a cold compress in the freezer. This will help if you sprain your foot or hand.

First date of application

For eye drops, note the first use date. Used drops should be discarded after six weeks. Exception: eye drops in single-use doses.

Expiration date

Pay attention to the expiration date: Medicines with expired expiration dates should not be used. Check your pharmacy once a year. When you do, determine whether the contents need to be replenished or medications have expired, and replace them if necessary.

Our recommendation for a well-stocked medicine cabinet:

Medication Dressings
Flu medication Elastic gauze bandage
Burn and wound gel Triangular cloth
Ointment against sprains Tweezers
Anti-diarrheal agent Bandage pack
Ointment against insect bites 1 plaster roll
Remedy for indigestion Gauze
Disinfectant Clinical thermometer
Wound and healing ointment Leather fingerling
Circulatory Cooling compress – put in the refrigerator
Painkiller Rubber gloves
Individual medicine Bandage scissors
First Aid Guide Emergency address

A few extra tips

  • Some medicines, for example, need to be stored in a cool place – pay attention to the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
  • If you sprain your hand or foot, store a cold compress in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator.
  • The medicine cabinet must take into account the specifics of the family. For example, a household with children will need different medicines and bandages than a household of one.
  • Also, of course, the emergency numbers must not be missing. If really once an emergency situation arises you should know what to do and where to get help.

The most important emergency numbers at a glance

Who. Telephone number
Police + accident 110
Fire department 112
On-call service of pharmacies 0800 / 228 228 0
Central call for poisoning in children 030 / 1 92 40
Burns 112
Telephone counselling (ev.) 0800 / 1 11 01 11
Telephone counselling (catholic) 0800 / 1 11 02 22
Children and youth phone 0800 / 1 11 03 33