The first aid kit, the travel essentials

The joy of vacation or the misery of packing! Have you triple-checked your travel checklist? Have you managed to fit your entire wardrobe into a suitcase measuring 80 cm by 40 cm? And have you thought about the first aid kit? Do not panic ! If you are taking a long trip outside Europe, whether in Asia, Africa, Latin America, or even Oceania where access to health can be complicated, here is a list of the essentials for the first aid kit, written in no time. only for you. So enjoy your vacation peacefully!

What to put in your first aid kit for traveling?

During the trip, separate the first aid kit for minor emergency care and first aid kit with medicines may be more practical and efficient depending on the length and location of your stay. There are first aid kits sold ready-made, in pharmacies or supermarkets. As for the first aid kit, there are several things to put in it when you travel. Here is a summary, or checklist, which will help you see things more clearly.

Small tools and accessories to put in your first aid kit:

Thermometer
Pair of small scissors
Tweezers
A tick remover
Venom sucker (small mouth pump which allows you to suck out the venom in the event of a wasp sting, horseflies or snake bite for example)
Hydroalcoholic gel
Safety pin for compression bands for example

This is an essential accessory in a first aid kit in my opinion. It will still be necessary to take into account the duration of the trip and the destination.

What medications are essential when traveling in a first aid kit?

Because the first aid kit is, above all, the one where you will put your medicines, tablets, pills and other tablets, to treat colds and other things. It is therefore important to think of everything, and to carefully bring the bare minimum to handle almost all situations.

Usual treatments

If possible, 3 weeks before your trip, meet your doctor so that he can give you a renewable prescription for your usual treatments (diabetes, allergies, etc.). Please note that legally you cannot have a prescription for more than 30 days of treatment. However, for travel, an exemption may be granted. Your doctor will then simply have to specify “departure abroad”, you can then contact your health insurance fund to obtain your exemption. You can then go to your usual pharmacy to collect your treatment.

Motion sickness

It’s very unpleasant to travel with your stomach upset and your heart in your heels. Remember to ask your pharmacist for advice to avoid nausea linked to travel sickness (whether by car, boat or plane, etc.). You will find tablets like MerCalm, or anti-nausea bracelets.

Pain and fever

These symptoms very often need to be caught in time, so you need to have what you need to treat them immediately:

Analgesic (choose paracetamol over aspirin, but avoid taking it if you have had heatstroke, they make it difficult for the body to adapt to the heat).
Anti-Inflammatory, like Ibuprofen, in case of pain. Or Voltarene tablets for muscle pain.

Transit problems:

You may be subject to traveler’s diarrhea or be constipated during your stay. Sometimes the body has difficulty acclimatizing to the new diet. Here are some treatments that can help you in case of a hard blow:

Antidiarrheal, transit slower, intestinal dressings)
Laxatives (some soften the stools, others change the consistency of the stools and require drinking plenty of water to work, ask your pharmacist for advice on which one is best suited to your medical history).
Anti-spasmodic, like Spasfon, which helps relieve stomach contractions

In a general way :

A broad-spectrum antibiotic may be of interest, it will be useful in the event of suspected infection. To do this, ask your doctor for advice.
You can also take throat lozenges, I take lysopain for myself.
A few tissues, which of course will be useful in case of a cold. You can of course buy some on site.
Vitamins, because you are not immune to a bout of sluggishness, and you may still want to enjoy your day. I take Acerola and Vitamin D with me as supplements.

What other essential products are in a first aid kit?

Now that we have covered the essentials in terms of small accessories and medications, it is time to tackle the “protection” part. Because when traveling we are quite exposed, whether to climate, altitude, weather, insects, etc. Let’s find out together what to add to your first aid kit, always taking into account of course the duration and destination of your trip.

Climate and temperatures

To protect the whole family from heatstroke, think about different protection indices depending on the profiles of the family members. Opt for the highest index (IP 50+) for children. You can add sunscreen, after-sun and cream to soothe possible sunburn.
Lip balm and protective and repairing hand creams for very cold temperatures can relieve tightness and other discomforts of the cold.
For mosquitoes, soothing creams for bites are quite effective, such as Onctose. You can also plan repellent sprays for your clothes and skin creams to prevent risks. Ideally treat your clothes 1 week before. THE mosquito repellent bracelet could be a good alternative.

Water and hydration:

Water purification tablets and filters are essential in some countries to protect you from certain infectious diseases. The most practical for long trips is toinvest in a filter bottle.
To prevent the risk of dehydration in hot countries, especially for young children, don’t forget to find a small place for oral rehydration sachets. For older children, you can prepare your own solution: 1 liter of drinking water, 6 teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt.

Little advice before your stay:

Visit the website of government to best prepare your stay

Think to the bottles to carry small doses.

If possible, choose capsules over tablets which tolerate cold and heat better (avoid lyoc, which melt under the tongue, they react very badly to heat stroke).

Remember to make an appointment with your doctor or at a tropical medicine center at least 2 months before your stay. Certain vaccines such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, meningococcus C, or yellow fever for example are compulsory in certain countries. They must be carried out fairly early before the trip to be effective. Find out very early about the vaccinations to be carried out in the country where you are going to stay in order to do what is necessary to enjoy your vacation with peace of mind. (See my article: Essential Vaccines)

Documents that travel in the first aid kit

In addition to your ID card and passport, and perhaps husband and children, you need to bring a few stowaways

Health book
Up-to-date vaccination record
Blood group card
Remember to apply for your European Health Insurance Card.

Little tip to avoid clutter:

Your medications take up a lot of space, and unlike your suitcase, I do not recommend the technique of sitting on them to succeed in closing the famous recalcitrant zipper! Cardboard boxes are often bulky. To save space and optimize your kit, you can remove the packaging and keep only the plates, making sure to wrap the instructions around each corresponding plate, connected and held by an elastic band or to make a copy, then save it as a photo on a disk, cloud or other.

Have a good trip !

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