In life, one must be prepared for any emergency especially a medical one. You never know when you have to save the life of someone dear to you. For this you need to have these five basic medical tools in your home:

• Thermometer

A thermometer is essential for determining the fever. You can either purchase a mercury thermometer that is cheap and easily available or bit costlier thermal scanner. You need to have a working thermometer ready always as fever is the most significant symptom of any infection in the body. In the case of high-grade fever go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

• Blood Pressure Apparatus

A B.P. apparatus is another quite useful tool to have, especially for people with established blood pressure issues i.e. either chronic hypotension or hypertension. A blood pressure apparatus consists of a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. It can either be taken by a palpatory method or by auscultatory method, ideally by both methods simultaneously.

One should learn to take a BP reading, youtube tutorials can be quite helpful in this regard. For taking accurate     BP readings, all one needs is a bit of practice. In case of a marked increase or decrease in blood pressure levels, contact your family physician as soon as possible.

• First Aid kit

The first aid kit is perhaps the most important medical tool to have in your household. You should always have a basic first aid kit ready at your place of residence at all times. First aid kit can either be bought from the market or can be assembled at home.

A basic first aid kit has antiseptics, bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, antibiotic ointments, painkillers, etc. for wounds, scrapes, and accidents. Other medicines like anti-allergic, antacids, aspirin can also be quite useful in emergencies.

• Glucometer and related apparatus

A glucometer is used to assess blood sugar levels. A disposable lancet and tiny strips are used to take readings via a glucometer. The method is simple, prick a finger using a disposable lancet and draw a couple of drops of blood on a strip. Then insert this strip into the glucometer and press the button to get the blood sugar reading.

• Nebulizer

This medical device is a life-saver for people suffering from respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can be used easily, but you need to be sure of the dose of the medicine you are going to put on the device. Ask your family physician for the prescription and its right dosage. By using the device, medicine is delivered to the airways via aerosol droplets.

Also, remember to clean the nebulizer both before and after using it. If you're using it for more than one person, then you need to use a different mouthpiece for everyone. Keeping the device and its pieces sterile is very important to avoid any infection.