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• New Year's Resolution: Restock That Medicine Cabinet

To get the new year off to a safe and healthy start, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) suggests cleaning out and then restocking your medicine cabinet.

You should do this once a year, at least," said Dr. Nick Jouriles, president of the ACEP. "A year's worth of showers and baths create heat and humidity that can cause some drugs to lose potency. It's good to get rid of them and replace them if they need to be replaced."

If a pill loses potency, you may not be getting the necessary dosage of medication. Holding on to several old prescriptions can also increase the risk of taking the wrong pill, Jouriles said in a news release.

Actually, a bathroom medicine cabinet isn't always the best place to keep medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter. Instead, keep them in a linen closet or a dark area, especially away from children, the release said.

According to ACEP, here are some essentials for your medicine cabinet:

• Up-to-date prescription and over-the-counter drugs
• Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes for minor cuts and scrapes
• Gauze pads for larger cuts and scrapes. And adhesive tape to keep gauze in place
• Alcohol wipes and hydrogen peroxide to disinfect wounds
• Antibiotic ointment to disinfect and protect wounds from infection
• Thermometer, but not a mercury-based thermometer
• Antihistamine for allergic reactions
• Hydrocortisone cream to relieve irritation from rashes
• Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin - aspirin should not be taken by children or teens under age 19