A First-Aid Kit For Summer

Outdoor activities in the summer such as swimming or camping can result in minor medical problems such as sore muscles, bug bites and sunburns.

To prepare for summer accidents, CBS News Health Contributor Dr. Dave Hnida of CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver suggests stocking your medicine cabinet with the following:

Sunscreen

In general, doctors advise that you use a sunscreen with at least a SPF of 15. Remember to apply it for all outdoor activities, not just for the beach. A few minutes of applying it could save you days of uncomfortable pain.

Bug Repellent

This item can make camping trips, hikes, and nightly strolls in your neighborhood much more enjoyable. Sprays or lotions with DEET work best, but make sure that repellents for children contain no more than 10 percent DEET.

Anti-Itch Cream

For the bugs that may make it past the repellent, make sure you have an anti-itch and inflammation cream with 1 percent hydrocortisone to treat the bites. This will also be helpful for poison ivy or poison oak rashes.

Bandages and Ointment

For scrapes and bruises from falls, keep a stash of large gauze pads and adhesive bandages in different sizes along with antibacterial ointment to keep injuries clean.

Painkillers

Keep a supply of acetaminophen or ibuprofin to help relieve pain, fever, or headaches. Stock your medicine kit with both adult tablets and liquid or child-size tablets for kids.

Many people already have most of these items, but it's helpful to stock them ahead of time in your home first-aid kit. That way, you can prevent accidents, or at least get fast relief.

If you have some of these items from last summer, check the expiration date. If the date has passed, toss it out and replace it to ensure that you are using a viable product.