Self-care tools

More of your health care takes place in your home than anywhere else. Having the right tools, medicines, supplies, and information on hand will improve the quality of your self-care.

Self-care tools that are useful to have at home include:

  • Blood pressure cuff.
  • Cold pack.
  • Dental mirror.
  • Eyedropper.
  • Heating pad.
  • Humidifier or vaporizer.
  • Medicine spoon.
  • Nail clippers.
  • Penlight.
  • Scissors.
  • Stethoscope.
  • Thermometer.
  • Tweezers.

If you have children younger than age 6, consider adding:

  • Bulb aspirator or syringe.
  • Rectal thermometer.
  • Otoscope, an instrument with a light that you can use to look into the ear canal.


Author: Katy E. Magee, MA
Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Last Updated: May 19, 2006
Medical Review: Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine

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