Being sick sucks, whenever it happens. But even worse than being sick at home, where you can just curl up in bed and call a friend, is feeling unwell whilst travelling.
Apart from being super unlucky in terms of timing, you are also going to be feeling pretty rough. However, a few small items can make a huge difference, so packing them before leaving and bringing them along with you can really be a great idea. In particular, if you know you are going to be in places that are somewhat remote or places that lack medical supplies, you may want to bring a few trusty pieces of first aid kit along with you on your travels. They will come in handy if you start to feel under the weather, and you will have some peace of mind even if everything goes well (which hopefully it will!).
Below are the top 9 handy items that you should bring for health care during your travel:
1. Mild painkillers
A mild painkiller can be a wide-ranging and convenient backup for common headaches and pains. Consider some well-known brands such as Paracetamol, Tylenol or Ibuprofen. These are easy to carry, and many people are already familiar with them.
2. Diarrhea treatment and rehydration packets
Travellers’ diarrhea – we’ve all heard of it. When encountering an unfamiliar diet, your digestive system may take a few days to adapt. Check in advance if tap water is drinkable and make sure that food is cooked thoroughly before eating it. Just in case these precautions do not prevent you from a bowel disaster, you may want to bring along some medication such as Immodium – which treats traveller’s diarrhea – so that you can get back on track quickly and get onto seeing those amazing sights. Rehydration packets, most of which come in dissolvable powders, can be mixed into bottled water to help you feel better faster (and has been claimed to reduce hangovers!). Many of these may also provide vitamin supplements that are cheap and easy to bring around with you. If unsure, always check with a professional medical practitioner.
3. Sunscreen and aftersun lotion
You might have seen that person who got burnt by the sun. Don’t be that person. Red, itchy and then peeling skin is something that you want to avoid during your travel! Since precaution is better than cure, you should get some good sunscreen in advance. Excessive exposure to the sun can also leave you dehydrated and lightheaded, so be prepared and don’t underestimate it. Just in case you get caught out and the sun is stronger than you thought it would be, you may want to bring along some aloe vera or aftersun lotion to cool and relieve your skin.
4. Anti-nausea remedies for motion sickness
If you know that you are going on some long bus or boat journeys, you may want to consider buying some anti-nausea remedies. Motion sickness can be a miserable experience, which can have a lasting impact on your long trip. There are many options for those who know that they suffer from motion sickness, such as copper bands, stickers and pills. Research your options before leaving on your trip.
5. Moisturiser
A small tub of moisturiser can do wonders for your hands, face and legs if you suffer from dry skin, especially during your travels. In addition to the different climate in your travel destination, air-conditioning such as those in long-haul flights or buses can dry your skin out! Cheap hotel or washroom soaps can also be unforgiving on your skin, as do scorching deserts! For a quick fix or a luxurious post-shower moment of indulgence, you should always carry moisturiser with you. Moisturisers can also be used as emergency shaving foam or aftersun lotion.
6. Plasters
Plasters are particularly useful if you know you are going to walk a lot during your trip. A nasty blister or small cut can instantly be made less uncomfortable if covered up with a good plaster. Plasters can also keep infections at bay by keeping out sand, dirt or general grime. When purchasing plasters, it is best to choose those that are waterproof! They will save you if you are hiking and haven’t had a chance to break in your shiny new trekking boots yet.
7. Tweezers
Another item that may come in handy are tweezers. They can help keep that monobrow in check and get annoying splinters out quickly. You will definitely want a pair if you are planning to spend much time outdoors or participating in sports such as camping.
8. Sterilised needles (just in case)
Precaution is always better than paying the price later. Hence, you should consider packing the unlikely to be used but good to have sterilised needles. Travellers from western countries are often used to high levels of hygiene in medical situations, and this is sadly not a reality across the whole world. Needles are especially worth taking if you are going to be travelling in remote places, where access to a hospital may be limited. A pack of sterilised needles can be found fairly cheap - you can get a few for under US$10 and it may just give you one less thing to worry about should you become unwell. Alternatively, bring along a sewing kit and lighter.
9. Mosquito repellent
Mosquito repellent can be a necessity depending on your destination. Check before travelling if your destination is in an area known to contain mosquito-borne diseases. If it is, make sure you top up your stock before leaving. For areas of high risk, take brands that include high levels of DEET for extra protection. Even if the area that you are visiting does not have any known infections, fresh mosquito bites can get infected and cause discomfort. The wide range of mosquito repellent comes in the form of sprays, lotions, wristbands, etc. You may also want to invest in some soothing anti-itch cream to offer relief from those pesky itchy bites.
Have a great trip and make the most of every minute!
Getting ill when away from home can really be a huge inconvenience if you are caught short. There are also some measures you can take before leaving, such as making such you have the correct medical insurance cover abroad. Many of the items in the list can be found in standard ‘Travel first aid kits’, which are available at most large pharmacies or online for fairly reasonable prices.
Before you go, look into the mandatory vaccines prior to departure. This is because some countries may not allow you to cross the border without valid certificates of vaccinations. This is relevant even if you are travelling to areas that are disease-free but geographically close to countries that are known to have an outbreak of viruses. You may also want to check with your travel agent or doctor if there are any other items that could come in handy, such as mosquito nets for beds in malaria zones or altitude sickness pills if you are staying above 3000 meters.
When buying travel insurance, read the conditions carefully, as some policies will have very stringent conditions regarding treatment abroad. You may also want to check if your home country has any agreements regarding free healthcare with other places (such as the European Health Insurance Card – EHIC – which is available across most of the European Union for United Kingdom residents). For the extra cautious, you can also research if your travel destination offers free medical care and make sure you bring along emergency numbers that may be handy.
All of these are useful precautions and can offer reassurance, but remember that the likelihood of having an emergency abroad is not high, so enjoy your trip. As long as you use common sense and are careful when participating in any risky activities, you shouldn’t encounter any issues.
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