HOW TO PACK A EXPERT TRAVELING EMERGENCY TREATMENT SET
I obtain a lot of questions concerning healthcare when traveling. Just how can I stay clear of getting ill? What do you do concerning vaccinations? What takes place when I do get ill? Considering that I'm not a medical professional, I do not such as providing clinical recommendations beyond a couple of basic pointers so I have actually asked Mike Huxley, a signed up nurse as well as writer of the blog Bemused Backpacker to pen a couple of articles on health and safety when traveling. This is the very first in a collection on the topic.
A first aid package is an crucial piece of equipment on any void year or round-the-world experience, but a lot of vacationers aren't certain exactly what they require to take with them. So here is an expert guide on exactly how to pack a first aid set and what to include in it.
I have been taking a trip the world for practically fifteen years currently, as well as in all that time I have patched up much more travelers' scrapes as well as sprains than I can keep in mind. Before I was a registered nurse this normally just included distributing the periodic plaster (adhesive bandage or Band-Aid for you Americans) and also laughing at a fellow traveler's misery, as guys have a tendency to do to every other.
Yet because qualifying to work as a nurse I have actually strapped up a sprained ankle joint or more on jungle expeditions, clothed plenty of little cuts as well as wounds, as well as even as soon as cleaned up and treated a lots small leech bites on the legs of an unlucky traveler, to name a few things.
Luckily basically every one of the occurrences I have actually handled thus far have been minor. Even during my time invested offering as an exploration paramedic in the Sahara, the jungles of Kalimantan and also Borneo, as well as several other amazing places, I have actually been able to take care of the majority of accidents as well as injuries that have crossed my course.
I have actually only been able to do all of this, however, since I have always jam-packed my trusty first aid package. It has developed as well as been refined over the years, yet I have constantly carried one.
As any kind of skilled tourist or wellness expert will certainly inform you, points can and also periodically do go wrong on any trip, and taking a well-stocked package with you is always recommended.
What most of this guidance is missing out on, however, is a note of equilibrium. A well-stocked package is important, but there is definitely no demand to go overboard. You don't need to heft a pack around that the average paramedic would certainly take pride in, as well as you absolutely don't require to lug around the whole supply cabinet of your local pharmacy.
When I first began taking a trip, I did what many sensible people do as well as carried a readily offered emergency situation emergency treatment package. There is absolutely nothing incorrect with these packs in all; in fact they are excellent and in a pinch I would certainly still advise them to any kind of vacationer.
However, over the years, with a great deal of experience as well as my nursing certification behind me, I have actually improved my very own package to show what I will use out on the road and also what I recognize what will certainly create a better emergency treatment package for the average vacationer too.
The most effective first aid sets are simple yet differed and also will have a variety of dressings and also devices to take care of the outright fundamentals. A lot more notably, they can be utilized with little or no training. So what items should you consist of? Right here are my choices for the basics.
1. Plasters (Bandages).
It do without stating that these are an absolute crucial in any emergency treatment set. The most common kind of minor injury is a cut or a graze, so it is constantly a great idea to bring a handful of plasters in a range of sizes.
If you assume you will certainly be doing a great deal of travelling on your trips and also you aren't utilized to that type of workout, after that some sore plasters are a great idea.
It isn't needed to overdo it and also lug numerous you might start your very own little field hospital; just a few of each kind will certainly do, as you can constantly restock when you pass a pharmacy.
2. Gauze.
Gauze is the medical jack-of-all-trades. I never ever bring a first aid kit without a supply of gauze in it, and I can not inform you the number of times it has actually can be found in helpful throughout the years. It can be used to apply stress to a wound, clean an injury, take in blood, aid quit hemorrhaging, and also even create part of a fundamental clothing for small-to-medium injuries.
A clean injury as well as a layer of gauze kept down with either tape or a plaster is frequently sufficient to permit time for you to go and get it took a look at by a specialist.
The best type of gauze to bring in a emergency treatment set is individually wrapped sterile squares. This removes the demand to cut them to size when you require them promptly and also undoubtedly makes it much easier to maintain the injury clean as well as sterile.
3. Crepe plasters (ACE or stretchable bandages).
For when you have something a little bit larger than a cut, basic crepe bandages serve for maintaining little dressings tidy and in position till you can obtain some clinical interest.
Bear in mind, you're only mosting likely to use them in an emergency and also ideally only till you can obtain some specialist treatment, so you don't require way too many of these, simply a couple of at most.
4. Surgical tape.
Surgical tape is among those necessary emergency situation things for when you need to use as well as protect gauze or a plaster to a wound, although plasters can do the same job if requirement be.
5. Tiny scissors.
These come conventional in any type of readily offered emergency treatment package (although you can buy them independently also) and are undoubtedly valuable for cutting gauze or plasters to size. Just take care if you do carry scissors to guarantee that your first aid kit goes in your checked bag when you are in transit or else airline security will take them off you.
6. Tweezers.
Tweezers are another item that often come standard in most first aid kits and can be useful for pulling out splinters, getting out little bits of stone or dirt when cleaning a wound, or any number of other practical uses.
7. Antiseptic wipes.
For some reason this tends to be the one thing most people overlook when thinking of first aid, but antiseptic wipes are an absolute essential in any good pack. No one wants a cut or wound to get infected, and antiseptic wipes are perfect for cleaning it before applying a dressing.
Just a small handful will suffice for most packs. Like most basic items, they are easy to replace at any pharmacy when you run low.
8. Click here for more info .
Apart from the obvious benefits (staying sexually safe), these handy little items can be used as emergency water carriers or even filled with ice as an emergency ice pack. I've personally never had any call to use them in that manner, but it is a handy bit of information to keep in mind.
9. Pain relief medication.
A small pack of basic paracetamol (acetaminophen if you are American) or any of the associated brand names is usually sufficient, but ibuprofen or other similar medications are fine too. It doesn't have to be fancy-- basically whatever you normally take for pain relief when you have a headache or minor pain.
10. Loperamide tablets.
Also known under a variety of brand names such as Imodium, this is useful for stopping diarrhea for short periods when you need to catch a bus or train. Remember, these are for those emergency moments only when you are actually in transit, as they do not cure diarrhea and shouldn't be used when you can rest up for a couple of days. (Normally the best way to treat diarrhea is to let everything pass through your system normally and drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids.).
If you use them sparely, properly, and as directed on the pack, loperamide tablets can be useful additions to any travel first aid kit.
11. Antihistamine cream.
It happens to all of us on our travels: we get bitten by some form of insect and end up with a painfully itchy bump or rash. Don't worry, the absolute majority of the time the bumps and stings aren't anything to worry about at all, but they are damned annoying! This is why a good antihistamine cream is a useful addition to help control the itching and swelling.
12. Antibacterial creams.
It's also a good idea to carry antibacterial creams like Neosporin for any cuts and scrapes you get. This will help heal them faster as well as prevent any possible infections.
***.
Obviously this list can be tailored or added to depending on your trip needs (a tropical jungle trek will require different planning than a city break in Europe). Any good first aid kit should also include any specific, individually prescribed medication or antimalarial prophylaxis.
For the majority of travelers, however, the items and kit listed above will cover the absolute majority of basic incidents and accidents. You'll also want to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance as well.
For any injury, illness, bang, or scrape that requires more than the basics and can not be covered by the kit above, you should seek professional medical attention. Keep the weight and bulk in your pack down, and remember that unless you are extremely far off the beaten track, you should be able to seek out professional assistance to deal with medical emergencies pretty easily if something happens you can't handle yourself.
So go pack up your own little first aid kit and keep it stashed in your pack for emergencies. Odds are you will probably never use it-- and I hope you never need to-- but if you have one, at least you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind and be safe in the knowledge that you are prepared.
Important Note: When carrying any generic medication, it is essential that it is kept in its original packaging when you are traveling in case customs officials need to check it. If you have never taken any of the above medications before, check with your physician, nurse, or pharmacist before you do, as you may have a specific medical history, condition, or allergy that general advice can not cover.
The information provided here is for general travel health advice and information only. It is provided by a qualified nurse, but it is not a replacement for a personal consultation with a travel nurse specialist, your GP, or a doctor specializing in travel medicine who can tailor advice to your individual medical history and needs.