How to Organise Your Home Medicine Cabinet and Keep Your Family Safe | MaxStores Yemen

Having a well-organised medicine cabinet at home makes it easier to find what you need in emergencies and reduces the risk of medicines being used in the wrong way, especially when children or elderly people live in the house. In this article from MaxStores Yemen, we share general tips on how to organise medicines and basic medical supplies safely at home.  
(Note: This article is about organisation only and is not medical advice. Always follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions when using any medicine.)

1) Choose a suitable and safe location  
The first step is to decide where your medicine cabinet will be:
- Place it high enough so that children cannot reach it easily.  
- Keep it in a dry place, away from humidity and direct heat, such as steam from the kitchen or bathroom.  
- A corner in the bedroom, hallway or living room can work well if it is dry and well-ventilated.  

This helps protect medicines from damage and keeps them out of children’s reach.

2) Separate medicines from first-aid supplies  
It is better to divide your cabinet into two main sections:
- One section for basic first-aid items such as gauze, medical tape, cotton, thermometers, gloves and general antiseptics.  
- Another section for medicines that have been prescribed or approved for home use according to your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions.  

Use separate boxes or containers for each part so items do not get mixed together.

3) Use clear boxes and labels  
Good organisation makes it easier to find what you need quickly:
- Use transparent containers so you can see what is inside without opening each one.  
- Add labels to each box, for example:  
 “First Aid”, “Wound Care”, “Thermometers”, “General Supplies”, etc.  
- You can also use drawer organisers to divide tools by type.  

This way, everyone in the family knows where things are, even in stressful situations.

4) Keep medicines in their original packaging  
For safety and clarity:
- Keep medicines in their original boxes with the leaflet whenever possible.  
- Do not transfer tablets or capsules to unlabelled containers, to avoid confusion between different medicines.  
- Make sure the medicine name, expiry date and usage instructions remain visible on the packaging.  

If you are unsure about a medicine, or if the leaflet is missing or information is unclear, contact your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

5) Check expiry dates regularly  
It is important to review your medicines every few months:
- Check the expiry date on each medicine.  
- Dispose of expired medicines safely according to local guidance, and never leave them where children can reach them.  
- Do not use any medicine that has changed colour, smell or texture, even if the printed date has not passed.  

This helps ensure that whatever you keep at home is still safe and suitable for use.

6) Keep medicines away from children and educate them  
Even with a well-organised cabinet:
- Never leave medicines on tables or within easy reach, even for a short time.  
- Use cabinets or boxes that can be closed properly, especially if you have young children at home.  
- Teach children that medicines are not sweets and that they must never take anything from the medicine cabinet without an adult.  

Child safety should always be a top priority.

7) Keep basic monitoring tools and simple supplies  
It can be helpful to keep some general tools in your medical supplies area, such as:
- A digital thermometer for checking temperature.  
- A home blood pressure monitor or blood sugar monitor, if recommended by your doctor, and used according to instructions.  
- A small notebook to write down important notes such as temperature readings or doctor’s instructions.  

These tools do not replace medical visits, but they can support simple home monitoring.

How MaxStores can help  
At MaxStores Yemen you can find:
- Storage boxes in different sizes for your medicine cabinet.  
- Plastic and clear containers with lids to keep medical supplies organised.  
- Drawer organisers to separate items by type.  
- First-aid bags that you can prepare and keep at home, in the car or for travel.  

Organising your home medicine cabinet is a simple but important step for your family’s safety. With the right boxes and organisers from MaxStores, you can arrange everything in a clear, safe and easy-to-reach way when you really need it.