Top 5 things to take on a trip to A&E

Oh no, the inevitable’s happened and you’re off to A&E with the kids.  Here are the top 5 things you should remember to put in your bag…

Calpol

If they’re in pain, give them Calpol before you set off, and take it in your bag with you.  You might be there a long time.  They have painkillers there, but they taste disguting, plus you don’t know how long you will have to wait until you are seen.

Antibacterial wipes

You go into A&E with a child with a broken arm.  You come home from A&E with a child with a plaster cast and a vomiting bug.  Believe me, a child with a plaster cast and a vomiting bug is MUCH, MUCH WORSE than just a child with a plaster cast.  Wipe EVERYTHING.

Screens

Which brings us on to… Toys.  Many A&E departments have toys.  And those toys have bugs.  Which you don’t want to take home with you.  In fact, you don’t want your kids touching anything in there at all.  So, take your own entertainment with you (as you will probably be there for a very long time).  This is the one time when letting them play on a tablet for hours on end is to be actively encouraged.

Cash

And in particular, lots of change.  Going to A&E is expensive.  There’s the parking, and the drinks machine and the snacks machine.  If you have time, you can take your own drinks and snacks, but it’s probably an emergency, so grab anything healthy to hand, and take lots and lots of cash.

Teddy

Anything to help you get through the next few hours.  Just remember not to leave him behind…