Health emergencies can strike at any time, so the following essential items you should carry in your purse or wallet.
Insurance card
This card can be used for more than simply filling out health forms. It's also an easy way for medics to identify your name and call your insurance company for more information in an emergency. If you can't find space in your wallet, snap a picture of the front and back and keep them on your smartphone. Two others are your business card and your doctor's.
Emergency contacts
In an emergency, medics will want to know whom to contact. Along with the phone number of your family member, you can list your medications, allergies, health conditions, and doctor's name in the note section of the contact too.
Water
A study found that women with even mild dehydration experienced headaches, poor concentration, fatigue, and worse moods. So it's a good idea to have some water on you no matter the temperature.
Pain reliever
At the end of the day, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can help you focus more on work projects or errands. The best time to pop a pill would be as soon as you start to feel pain. Just make sure you're taking the medication as prescribed, so read the label.
Antacid
Chest pain after a meal is no fun, especially when you're dining out. If you're going to a restaurant where the food may flare up your heartburn, it's safe to have a chewable antacid on you in case. The medication's main ingredient is calcium carbonate, also used as a dietary supplement for people low on the nutrient. Be wary of how much you take though.
Bandages
Having a couple bandages on you is useful because there's always someone looking for one. You never knew when you will get a paper cut or scrape. Not covering your wound up leaves it vulnerable to bacteria you come across throughout the day.
Tummy reliever
Diarrhoea is an all-too-common ailment you need to be ready to handle. Like antacid, it comes in a compact chewable form. If you're going to a questionable place to eat, take one before you eat.
Tissues
In the season of cold and flu, carry a set of tissues. According to the National Institutes of Health, you can catch a cold if your nose, eyes, or mouth touch anything contaminated by the virus. In addition to stocking up on tissues, you should practice proper hand washing too.
Aspirin
A travel pack of aspirin is great to have around if you or someone you know has heart troubles. During a heart attack, your blood vessels can't supply enough oxygen to the muscle because of a clot that forms and blocks an artery. Aspirin works to inhibit the function of the platelets that help people form clots. As long as you're not allergic, medics will usually give four baby aspirin to the patient to chew.
