BZNEP2 Importance and Essentials of a Medicine Cabinet
Status: Draft
Version: 1.0
Date: 2026-07-15
Author: Benjamin Zimmermann
1. Abstract
A well-thought-out medicine cabinet can quickly become the cornerstone of an effective everyday medical treatment system.
Whether dealing with a sudden illness, minor or sometimes major injuries as well as maintaining a good health condition – having the proper equipment ready at hand helps greatly to the further advancement into the recovery process.
This document describes one possible approach for planning and designing an individual medicine cabinet.
It is not intended to be a general-purpose packing list.
2. Scope
The medicine cabinet provides required equipment and means to maintain and or treat an individual's physical health condition. It should support:
- Basic medical maintenance supplies
- Means to treat minor illnesses
- Means to treat minor injuries
- Limited means to treat major injuries
3. Use Cases
The common characteristic is the requirement to treat immediate threats to an individuals health condition. Some examples could be:
- Bacterial- and viral infections
- Cut- and scratch wounds
- Burn wounds
- Ongoing health checks
- and many more...
4. General Constraints
The design of a medicine cabinet depends on individual circumstances. The definition of those factors determine size and contents of the cabinet. Relevant factors are:
- Available storage volume
- Availability of medicine
- Medical preconditions
- Theoretical and practical skills
- Number of persons involved
- Children requiring support
- Pets requiring support
- Urban or rural environment
5. Requirements
Respiratory System
Requirement:
Analysis and maintenance of proper breathing conditions.
Constraints:
- Power supply
- Storage conditions
- Precision of measurements
- Misinterpretation of data
Implementation:
- Pulse oximeter
- Inhaler/Nebulizer
- Respiratory mask
- Stethoscope
Bloodstream/Circulation
Requirement:
Analysis and control of the bloodflow.
Constraints:
- Missing training
- Pain factor
- Anticoagulants
- Limited usage of tourniquets
Implementation:
- Tourniquet
- Trauma bandage
- Wound gauze (sterile)
- Compress
- Blood pressure monitor/meter
Rationale:
- Lifeline for severe bleeding
- Compression on anatomic junctionals
- Treatment of planar wounds.
- Constant circulation monitoring capability
Minor Illnesses and Injuries
Requirement:
Support for common medical requirements and minor injuries. Maintaining the status quo. The exact configuration depends on individual requirements.
Implementation:
- Personal medication
- Emergency blanket
- Adhesive bandages
- Eye and nose lubricants
- Pain medication
- Anti-burn treatment
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Electrolyte powder
Additional Equipment
Requirement:
Providing support for the application of proper treatment and aiding in minimizing risks.
Constraints:
- Maintenance
- Quality of equipment
Implementation:
- Tweezers
- Trauma shears
- Saline solution
Rationale:
- Quick wound access
- Extraction of foreign objects
- Ability to rinse open wounds
6. Personal Implementation
The current implementation is based on personal experience and intended use case.
07.1 Boxes
- A set of 3 boxes
- 15 liters storage capacity
7. Design Decisions
Box Size
Decision:
Use of three 15-liter storage boxes
Rationale:
- Stackable units
- Ability to further compartmentalize
- Sufficient storage capacity for combined equipment
Material
Decision:
Usage of polypropylene due to its durability.
Rationale:
- Water-resistant
- Shockproof
Drug Selection
Decision:
Treatment of a variety of symptoms.
Rationale:
- Free availability
- Multipurpose usage
- Ability to deliver a desired effect
- Personal experience
Device Selection
Decision:
Fulfilling certain analysis and/or treatment roles.
Rationale:
- Added support to treatments
- Specific use cases
- Early diagnosis
- Getting a better overview
8. Maintenance
Inspection Points
- Medication shelf life
- Validity of documentation
- Completeness of equipment
- Function and condition of equipment
Inspection Interval
Should be every 3 to 6 months, but depends on individual circumstances.