Travel Health - Packing Medical Supplies
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A medical kit is essential for any pack. Here are some ideas for what you can include. It will of course depend on where you are going and your specific requirements. Make sure you see a doctor who specializes in travel medicine before you go, and get specific medical advice for your particular situation. This is not a comprehensive list and does not replace professional medical advice.
| First Aid Kit | why? |
|---|---|
| cold/flu pills (with decongestant) | You want to feel well so you can enjoy the new and exciting places you are visiting. |
| antiseptic cream | kills bacteria |
| plasters (band aids) | after you have disinfected the area with the antiseptic cream, cover it up so no dirt and bacteria can get in it. |
| laxative, diarrhea blocker | if you are not getting enough fibre. |
| Panadol | for headaches and other pain relief. Often a headache is caused by dehydration, so make sure you have plenty to drink. |
| Gastrolyte tablets | for rehydrating, particularly if you are suffering from severe diarrhea. |
| Hydrocortisone cream (2%) | or something similar - to treat insect bites. |
| syringes and needles | you may want to carry these in case you are taken to a doctor or hospital and you do not trust that they have clean unused syringes. If you do take these, it may be wise to also take a letter from your doctor to indicate why you are carrying these so they don't think you are a 'user'. |
| a needle | for blisters |
| tweezers | splinters and for the girls to pluck their eyebrows. |
| Mosquito repellent | If you are going to a region where malaria, or other mosquito borne deiseases, is a risk you should take tropical strength repellent. |
| Multivitamin tablets | If you are sick, or don't like the local food, you may not be getting a good variety of foods in your diet. |
| Water purifier tablets | You may need them if you plan to go off the beaten track for long periods. We have never used these, as there is usually ample bottled water in the places we have visited. Make sure that the bottles are fully sealed when you buy them, as some people have been known to refill the water bottles with tap water. |
| Yellow Health Cards | To show what injections you have had. The only compulsory one is for Yellow fever in particular areas. |
| sunscreen | On of the most common medical concerns for travellers is sunburn. It can make your travels very uncomfortable. |
| Lip balm | If you suffer from dry lips. |
- see also: avoiding homesickness
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