Be it a long-awaited family vacation or an exciting backpacking adventure; a portable first-aid kit is a must for any journey. But when it comes to packing this essential piece of travel equipment, most travelers find themselves unsure what to include in it and what not to. Honestly, there is no need to heft a pack onto your back, holding the entire stock cupboard of your local pharmacy. Instead, a well-stocked travel first-aid kit should have varied yet specific items that will help you deal with the absolute basics with little or no training and let you enjoy your trip in a healthy way. So, here is how to pack a travel first-aid kit like a pro:
1. Regular Medicines
If you are suffering from hypertension, type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, or other chronic medical conditions, do not ever forget to carry sufficient prescribed medications with you. It will keep you well throughout the trip and help you get the most out of it.
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2. Band-Aids
A band-aid is one of the most common elements of a first-aid kit. From a mild scratch to a severe cut – whatever the emergency is, nothing can be better than avoiding infections. So even if your trip is a short one, your first-aid kit should never lack enough band-aids.
3. Plasters
This is another absolute essential that you can never miss packing, especially if you plan to try trekking for the first time. Carrying a handful of blister plasters in a variety of sizes will help you treat cuts or grazes, which are known to be the most common forms of minor injury.
4. Gauze
A supply of individually wrapped sterile square gauze will turn out to be the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ in your travel first-aid kit. Just a layer of gauze is what you need to soak up blood and stop bleeding from a wound. It also works as a primary dressing for minor injuries by cleaning the wound, keeping it sterile, and applying pressure.
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5. Surgical Tape
The surgical tape is an indispensable part of a portable first-aid kit. For example, you cannot secure gauze or a bandage properly to a wound without the help of surgical tape.
6. Crepe Bandages
You may need to handle something more significant than a cut while traveling, and basic crepe or elastic bandages will aid in keeping your small dressings intact until you get some professional help. Just a couple of them is enough to manage emergencies.
7. Pain Killer Tablets
Sitting in the vehicles all the time, walking a long distance, hiking mountains, or riding horses, there is no shortage of reasons behind developing an acute pain or ache during traveling. So, make sure that you have a small pack of pain relief tablets (basic paracetamol) in your first-aid kit. You can choose from ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, and so on. These will also help you get rid of headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle aches, etc.
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8. Antihistamines
If you are prone to motion sickness, these medications are a must for you. There are several drugs available in the market, and you need to choose the right one as per your problems. Just talk to your doctor and follow his/her suggestions. Good antihistamine cream is also helpful to your kit as it keeps away annoying issues, such as sudden rashes, bumps, and itchiness.
9. ORS (Oral Rehydration Solutions)
The most common ailment that we need to be careful of when traveling to a new place is diarrhea. There are oral rehydration solutions under various brand names, which can be used for emergency moments. In addition, some other drugs like loperamide can be taken for short-term relief in mild diarrhea, while ciprofloxacin can work as an antibiotic in emergencies.
10. Water Purification Tablets
Usually, when we suffer from medical conditions like diarrhea or frequent vomiting, our body loses a large amount of fluid. It needs to be replaced immediately to prevent severe conditions. Here comes the importance of water purification tablets. If you keep this in your travel first-aid kit, you do not need to worry about the purity of the drinking water wherever you go.
11. Antibiotics
Infection is another essential concern we should consider while assembling our travel first-aid kit. Several antibiotic medicines (OTC) can cure infections and inflammations effectively. However, you should consult with your physician before purchasing these as they have various functions and strengths.
12. Antiseptic Wipes
Nothing works better than an antiseptic wipe when it comes to preventing a cut or wound from getting infected on the way. Just keep a small handful of wipes in your kit and clean your injury with it right before applying a dressing. You may also keep antibacterial creams handy to heal scrapes faster.
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13. Antacids
Traveling means tasting and enjoying a variety of new and rare food items. But indulging in some mouthwatering dishes can take a toll on your digestive system too. So, if you want to stay away from issues like acid formation in the stomach or frequent heartburn, you have to keep a fair amount of antacids in your first-aid kit.
14. Small Scissors
Check any commercially available first-aid kit, and you will find a small pair of scissors in it for sure. From trimming a gauze to resizing a bandage, it can help you in several ways during your trip.
Keep the first-aid kit in your checked bag while traveling by air. Otherwise, the pair of scissors will be taken off by the airline security.
15. Tweezers
It may sound surprising, but tweezers also make an essential part of your first-aid kit. They turn out to help clean a wound by getting tiny bits of stone or dirt out of it.
Apart from these, you should also find someplace for everyday wellness items and devices such as thermometers, skin-disinfecting agents, antimalarial prophylaxis, etc., in your travel first-aid kit. But, again, consider the type of trip and tailor the kit accordingly to make the most of it during need.
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