New research recently released reveals some shocking findings about the way we use and store medicines in our homes. Nearly half (48%) of those questioned said they’d give their own prescribed medicine to someone else and 14% would consider taking medication prescribed for someone else.

One in ten homes with at least one child admits that medicines are within the reach of children and one in 30 people say they’ve given adult medicines to children.

When it comes to storage, 10% of us have no idea of what medicines we have in our cabinets. A third of those questioned only clear out their cabinet once a year or less.

One in seven never clear out their old medicines. The research, commissioned by Tesco Pharmacy, also shows 19% of us keep unused medicines for possible future use, although 16% don’t know how long they can be kept.

So what are the golden rules?

• Always finish prescribed courses of medicine, or dispose of any left-overs safely (take them to the local pharmacist if you are worried.)
• Never take medicine prescribed for someone else.
• Make sure your cabinet and its contents are safe especially from small children (place it high up, lock the doors, ensure proper childproof caps are used etc.)
• If you don't know what something is for, get rid of it.
• Don't keep medicines past their use-by date. It's unlikely that they will "go off" or be harmful but they may lose any therapeutic effect.

What could you usefully have in your medicine cabinet?

• Paracetamol.
• Aspirin (not for under 16's because of the potential for a rare but serious complication called Reye's syndrome)
• Keep childrens’ versions of painkillers so you’re not tempted to give adult doses.
• Ibuprofen (as an anti-inflammatory this may be better for soft tissue injuries like torn muscles)
• Antihistamines. Sedative ones, e.g. Promethazine or Chlorpheniramine, may be useful for treating itchy conditions, stings, sunburn, etc. and can have useful sedative effects in small children. Keep some of the newer non-sedative versions for adults with hayfever.
• Sore throat sweets or a spray, containing local anaesthetic.
• Loperamide to slow the bowel down in gastro upsets.
• Indigestion medicines.

A simple first aid kit

As well as medicines, keep a first-aid kit in the house. You can buy ready-made ones, but it's much cheaper to put your own together. Good items include:

• Two cotton bandages and 2 crepe bandages of different widths.
• Wound dressings and a pack of gauze swabs.
• A variety of plasters including some for children.
• An ice pack.
• A thermometer.
• Safety pins.
• Surgical tape.
• Scissors.
• An eye patch.
• A large triangular bandage (which can be used to make a sling.)
• An eye bath and eye wash.