For people who are constantly traveling, carrying a first aid kit is essential. Amongst the excitement of traveling, safety should always be considered. We will talk about the essential components of first aid kits, and the perfect kit for different kinds of travel according to the duration and destinations. This article will also mention the few things you should look for when purchasing a first aid kit for travel.
Travel Itinerary
Travel kits tend to be different depending on the location you’re traveling to, the distance you intend to travel, and the specific medical considerations. Whether you are visiting family in a different country, or traveling to exotic places, tailoring your first aid kit for travel to your itinerary is a great way to be prepared for any health-related scenarios.
First Aid Travel Kit Must-haves
- Band-aids and Bandages: The first thing you should always have are bandages and adhesive band-aids. They can be used to address minor cuts, blisters, and abrasions.
- Antiseptic Wipes And Ointments: For people traveling through jungles, and other potentially dirty places, antiseptic wipes, and ointments can be used for cleaning wounds and reducing the chance of infections.
- Pain Meds: Most first aid kits include over-the-counter pain meds like ibuprofen for headaches, muscle pain, and pain related to minor cuts.
- Motion Sickness Medication: If you suffer from motion sickness frequently, it is better to purchase a first aid travel kit that provides motion sickness medication for instant relief.
- Prescription Medication: Make sure to bring an ample supply of any prescription medication you currently take and a copy of your prescriptions.
- Tweezers, Scissors, And Thermometer: Look for handy tools that might be able to help you clean wounds, remove any debris from the wounds, and check for temperatures.
- Dressings And Bandages: The few things that are essential for treating wounds and covering them are sterilized gauze pads, medical tape, elastic bandages, and burn creams. These help you secure your wounds and prevent them from getting infected. If you are traveling, you are bound to move constantly, and securing your wound no matter how small is important for healing. This also prevents blood loss and reduces pain.
Personalized Kits
Make sure to include all personalized medications and specific things for your illnesses and allergies. This may include your allergy medication, an epinephrine auto-injector, your personal medication list, insect repellent, personal hygiene products, and sunscreen or lip balm. These specific medications and things might help you in case of an allergic reaction. If you are traveling through unknown areas, it is important to keep your personal medication list in case you need to purchase them. If you intend on traveling to areas where you might not have access to personal hygiene products, keep things like sanitizer, menstrual necessities for women, a toothbrush, some toothpaste, and wet wipes.
Expert Tips To Consider When Purchasing A First Aid Travel Kit
The few things that you need to look at before purchasing a first aid travel kit are the expiry date, if it has all the things you might need for the destination, you’re traveling to, consult a health professional for any additional components you might need to add, learn how to use the travel kit, and if you are traveling in groups, keep any additional medical components in case someone has a medical emergency.
Storage And Accessibility
Protect your first aid travel kit with a waterproof bag or casing to prevent the bandages and medicines from getting wet. Keep items labeled and organized for easy accessibility. Depending on your travel distance, opt for a lighter first aid kit for easy transportation.
Types Of First Aid Travel Kits
If you are traveling to an urban city, a place where you have constant access to a hospital or a place where you can get medical attention, a compact first-aid travel kit is the perfect choice. For a compact first-aid travel kit, you should prioritize adhesive bandages, pain meds, antiseptics, wipes, and bandaids.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast and are planning to travel with adventure, you will need a more robust first aid kit. This should include sterile gauze, adhesive tape, butterfly closures for wound care, and specialized tools to remove splinters. And while considering muscle strains, you should purchase a first aid kit with elastic bandages for pain relief. Considering outdoor situations you should opt for something with a built-in high-power LED flashlight that lights up to help in hard-to-see areas for search, rescue, and treatments.
For long international travels, a more detailed and extensive first aid travel kit is needed. This should include everything from simple adhesive bandages to specific allergic medications. It also has a copy of your prescriptions, any medical specifications, and a multilingual first-aid travel guide.
When you’re traveling with family, your first aid kit should be able to cater to children and elders alike. It should include child-friendly medication, bandages, and care supplies. Moreover, it should have items specific to infants for teething babies who are easily irritable.
Prepare For A Safe Journey
As you embark on your traveling journey, your first aid kit for travel becomes your most trustworthy partner. Make sure to tailor your kit according to your needs, travel distance, and the people you are traveling with, and always consider potential scenarios.
