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FIRST AID KIT FOR TRAVELLERS
Editorial Team
Introduction:
It is important to be prepared for minor medical problems
when travelling overseas. If you are travelling in a foreign
country it may be difficult to obtain simple medical products,
so a small first aid kit is a sensible addition to your
travel luggage.
The items you have in the first aid kit will depend on
where you are going, for how long, and how extensive you
would like the kit to be. This article will make suggestions
for basic items, and more advanced travel kits.
Standard travellers kit:
Aspirin or paracetamol pain killers
A decongestant nasal spray to unblock your ears and nose
(useful for the aircraft)
Skin ointment
Water purifying tablets
Sticking plasters
Antacid tablets
Sleeping tablets and anti-diarrhoea tablets
Anti-inflammatory tablets
Clean needle and syringe for developing countries
Insect repellant
Safety pins
Adequate medication for pre-existing health conditions
Oral contraceptive pill and/or condoms
Women should also carry sanitary pads or tampons because
menstruation can be upset by travel.
Advanced travellers kit:
Apart from the items mentioned above for the basic first
aid kit, the following items may also be included:
Sterile scalpel for wound care
Forceps to help remove splinters and ticks
Oral thermometer
Antibacterial wipes
Antibiotic ointment
Bandages and dressings for larger wounds
Butterfly wound-closure clips which can be used in place
of stitches
Blister padding (can be handy for long treks)
Surgical gloves
Temporary dental fillings
Electrolyte rehydration powdered solution to help treat
vomiting and diarrhoea
Tourniquet for extreme bleeding
Water-proof matches
Whistle
Prescription medicines:
Keep prescription medicines to a minimum to avoid problems with Customs
Officers. They are best carried in the hand luggage in their original
container with your name on the label. It may be useful to get a note
from your doctor about the prescription medicine and what it is prescribed
for.
It is important for travellers with cardiovascular and
respiratory conditions to get the all clear from their doctor
before flying because some uncontrolled conditions can preclude
air travel.
Patients with cardiovascular disease should carry extra
amounts of their regular medication, and carry a letter
from their doctor explaining their condition, medication
requirements and most recent test results including their
ECG results. Contact details for their doctor should also
be provided. It is vitally important that patients with
heart disease also carry health insurance when they travel.
There is now a recognised link between deep vein thrombosis
(DVT) and air travel, and it is recommended people at risk
use support stockings during long flights. Travellers at
risk include pregnant women, those with varicose veins or
a past history of DVT. Women taking the oral contraceptive
pill may also want to use supportive stockings on long flights.
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