Your Travel First Aid Kit
by Dr. Stephen Blythe
Unless you simply have no room, you should always consider some sort of
first aid kit when you travel. This can be something very simple, for
example, an old "Altoids" tin containing some Bandaids, some Rolaids,
some Tylenol, etc. Give thought to specific activities, length of your
trip, etc. when planning what other items to bring. A simple laxative
(like milk of magnesia) can be useful - constipation, after all, is the
most common health abnormality related to travel. However, if you are
traveling to an underdeveloped country, take along some "Immodium", as
well as some antibiotic from your doctor to have in case of diarrhea.
If you will be in the wilds, consider extra bandaging materials,
moleskin for blisters, a 3" elastic bandage, etc., as well as a pair of
scissors and splinter forceps. Consider some simple cough and cold
medications, especially diphenhydramine ("Benadryl") - which can be used
for nausea, allergies, rash, or for a sleep aid. I like to buy packages
which contain separate "unit-dose" packets which I can divide up. Some
rubbing alcohol in a dropper bottle to instill in the ears after
swimming will prevent swimmer's ear. Other related items to consider
would be an eyeglass repair kit, a denture repair kit, and perhaps even
an emergency dental filling kit. These are readily available through
the travel supply stores. What to keep your supplies in? My favorite
thing to use is a "Tupperware" type container widely available in
various sizes - these are tough and waterproof.
In some parts of the world feminine hygeine products and contraceptive
supplies may not be available, so plan ahead.
When traveling with medications, make sure that they are in the original
prescription bottles (to avoid hassles in customs). It helps to carry
one set of medications in your carry-on, with a back-up in your checked
luggage. Just in case, you should consider carrying a copy of your
prescriptions - this will assist you should you either need to get more
or should you need to seek health care abroad (make sure the generic
name is used, since trade names vary from country to country). You
might also consider carrying your physician's office number - I have
several times bailed patients out of emergencies (usually involving
stolen carry-ons) from Chicago to Paris.
For questions and comments about Worldtravelcenter.com, its World Travel Health newsletter, or its travel companion jetStream, contact Laura Bauer:
laura@worldtravelcenter.com
Phone: 1-800-234-1862
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