A first aid kit is just as important for any trip as a passport, travel insurance, and money. It can save your trip and prevent illness from ruining your entire journey. Therefore, you need to plan ahead and decide which medicines to take with you on your trip.
Be sure to pay attention to the fact that not all medicines can be transported across borders. Each country has its own list of allowed and prohibited drugs for import and export. Therefore, when putting together your first aid kit, make sure to take into account the permitted medications.
If you need to take a prescription drug, find out whether it needs to be declared at the border. Also, be sure to bring your doctor’s prescription and an English translation if necessary.
A Traveler’s First Aid Kit
A first aid kit on vacation can help with anything from mild illness to more serious medical conditions. However, you should not engage in self-medication. This can worsen the course of the disease and lead to complications. Therefore, always get good travel insurance before your trip to ensure that you receive qualified medical assistance if needed. Don’t neglect travel insurance even if you’re planning a short-budget trip or traveling to a country with which we have a visa-free agreement.
What to Consider When Packing a First Aid Kit for Your Vacation
First, consider the nature of your trip and the location you’re going to. Depending on your travel plans, the contents of your first aid kit may vary greatly.
Second, take into account the age and health conditions of everyone traveling with you. Some people may have chronic illnesses or a predisposition to certain diseases, such as weather sensitivity or susceptibility to colds. If so, pack headache and pressure pills, cold powders, sore throat lozenges, etc.
Third, consider the format of the medication that is most convenient for you to take on the road. Perhaps pills or tablets would be better because sachets may require hot water and the appropriate container, which may not always be available.
Choose lightweight and compact medication packaging. Syringes and glass jars may draw attention and may even be confiscated. Large containers of liquid may raise questions, too. Also, if you’re traveling without luggage, remember the restrictions on liquids.
What Medicines to Pack in Your Travel First Aid Kit: The Essentials
What are the essential medicines to pack for your trip? Here’s a minimum set of medicines to consider:
- Start with the medicines and vitamins you currently take;
- Include medications that help normalize gastrointestinal function. Exotic foods, unfamiliar cuisines, and even changes in water can upset your stomach. Therefore, it’s recommended to carry enterosorbents, anti-diarrheal drugs, as well as tablets for colic and bloating;
- Include antipyretics and painkillers;
- Add plasters, bandages, and disinfectant;
- Include antihistamines for allergies and swelling;
- Bring extra masks.
It’s also a good idea to carry some food and water with you. In case of emergency, a small bar of chocolate or a sip of water can go a long way.
What to Add to Your First Aid Kit for a Beach Vacation
If you’re planning a beach vacation, be sure to add burn remedies, sun cream, and tanning oil to your first aid kit. This way, you can enjoy the sun safely with your skin. When resting on sandy beaches, grains of sand can get into your eyes. Therefore, ophthalmic drops or eye ointments can be useful. However, it’s best to consult a doctor in such cases. A medical travel insurance policy is required for this when traveling abroad. Additionally, you’ll need to bring insect repellent for protection against insect bites while vacationing at the beach or in nature.
Medications for Children
In general, the list of medicines that children need on a trip is not much different from the list for adults. These include antipyretics, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and more. Additionally, you’ll need an electronic thermometer. However, when packing a first aid kit for a trip with a child, it’s important to consider that children’s medicines may have reduced dosages or different compositions and forms. Therefore, buy special medications for children.
If your child takes any medications regularly, don’t forget to bring them with you in the required amount.
How to Purchase Medications in Another Country
The list of medicines that can be purchased without a prescription varies depending on the laws of the country you’re visiting. You can purchase nasal drops, patches, or cotton wool yourself. However, only a doctor can prescribe painkillers or antibiotics.
Additionally, most medications have different names or corresponding analogs abroad. To purchase the necessary medication, show the prescription or the Latin name of the medication to the pharmacist or doctor.
Transporting Medications Across Borders
The list of medications allowed to be transported across borders depends on the laws of each particular country. Before planning the contents of your travel first aid kit, familiarize yourself with the rules for importing medications. Some medications may require a prescription, pharmacy receipt, or declaration to be carried in your baggage.
Additionally, while abroad, it’s best not to throw away the box and instructions for the medication, and avoid keeping pills in blister packs without a name. This may raise suspicions among locals and cause unnecessary problems.
It’s important to remember that medications that are considered harmless in our country and are found in every household, such as heart drops and pills, may be prohibited in other countries. Therefore, even for medications sold without a prescription in our country, a prescription may be required for purchase abroad or when passing customs control. Clarify this point in advance.
