Heading out soon for your dream summer vacation? Going somewhere far away this weekend?
Even when you’re just travelling to a familiar location or to the great unknown, packing an all-inclusive travel health kit will help you avoid discomfort and inconvenience if you suddenly need medications while travelling.
Your travel medication kit will depend on your chosen destination. If you’re travelling internationally, ensure that you are well-informed about the extent and quality of health care facilities or institutions in every country you are visiting. Your local government website might contain a wealth of information for those visiting other countries, including information about scouting medical services.
Even if you’ll be staying in another city, you may not feel like spending the entire day or midnight looking for medicine or medical equipment when the need arises. To know the basic minor injuries or illnesses, this post will include items your travel health kit should include:
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Fever thermometer.
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Basic over-the-counter pain reducer/pain reliever (such as codral cold and flu medicines). Based on your individual issue, you may want to discuss the right type of medication with your pharmacy or physician.
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Antibacterial hand sanitizer gel.
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Some adhesive bandages in varied sizes, first-aid tape and gauze pads.
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Steroid cream to treat skin rushes.
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Antibiotic cream for minor wounds and cuts.
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Antidiarrheal medications.
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Oral or topical antihistamines. Choose non-sedating antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratidine.
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Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Try waterproof variety if you expect to sweat or get in the water.
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Lip ointment.
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Burn ointment.
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Any other prescription medications and supplies that you need, packed in their original containers, enough for the entire trip plus a little bit more.
Depending on the location and your travel plans, you may also consider adding some of the following items to your kit:
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Insect repellent.
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Moleskin or other blister relief items if you expect to walk a lot.
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Nasal and/or oral decongestants, particularly if you won’t be able to purchase the same brand from a pharmacy at your chosen destination.
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Insect repellent.
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Dental kits to mend broken teeth, crowns of filling.
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Eye washing solution.
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Elastic bandage.
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Matches or lighter to sterilise instruments – or cauterise during emergencies.
Unless you are expecting to go in a place without access to a pharmacy, taking just enough of everything should be enough. Many pharmacies also sell travel-ready packages of standard common over-the-counter medications and even small travel medical kits. If you or any of your travelling companion needs special medical care, be sure to check with the doctor’s office about other items that you must include in the travel medical kit.
Some more items that you might need in certain circumstances:
Travelling is risking to be outside your comfort zone. Here are other things that might prove useful to you:
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A medicine to prevent altitude sickness.
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Sedative or other sleep aid.
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Latex Water purification tablets.
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Latex condoms (Yes, no kidding).
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Bicycle helmet.
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Child safety seats.
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Commercial syringe/suture kits to be used by a local health care provider. Items like this generally requires a letter on letterhead stationery from your prescribing physician.