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32 – Use of Medical Kits for Travel!
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SUFFICIENT medical supplies should be carried to meet all foreseeable needs for the duration of the trip.
A medical kit should be carried for all destinations where there may be significant health risks, particularly those in developing countries, and/or where the local availability of specific medications is not certain. This kit will include basic medicines to treat common ailments, first-aid articles, and any special medical items that may be needed by the individual traveler.
Contents of a basic medical kit:
--adhesive tape
--antiseptic wound cleanser
--bandages
--emollient eye drops
--insect repellent
--insect bite treatment
--nasal decongestant
--oral rehydration salts
--scissors and safety pins
--simple analgesic (e.g. paracetamol)
--sterile dressing
--clinical thermometer
--sterile syringes and needle
--condoms
--sedatives
--sun-protection
--flashlight
Emergency medical travel kits should carry sufficient identification to ensure their acceptance by Customs officials but the contents should not be opened until needed. It is also unwise to carry loose syringes or needles unless you have a doctor’s letter explaining their purpose – if, for example, you are a diabetic.
Giving CPR’s
You should have knowledge of how to give CPR’s in an emergency.
When giving Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, follow these procedures
1. CALL
Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is no response, Call emergency and return to the victim. In most locations, the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions.
2. BLOW
Tilt the head back and listen for breathing. If the victim is not breathing normally, pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.
3. PUMP
If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest 1 1/2 to 2 inches 30 times right between the nipples. Pump at the rate of 100/minute, faster than once every second.
Carry all medications in their original containers with clear labels that easily identify the contents, the patient’s name, and dosing regimen information. Although travelers might prefer packing their medications into small bags, pillboxes, or daily-dose containers, officials at ports of entry might require that medications be in their original prescription containers.
Travelers should carry copies of all prescriptions, including generic names, preferably translated into the local language of the destination. For controlled substances and injectable medications, travelers should carry a note on letterhead stationery from the prescribing clinician or travel clinic. Translating the letter into the local language at the destination and attaching the translation to the original document could prove helpful if the document is needed during the trip.
Some countries do not permit certain medications
Travelers with preexisting medical conditions should carry enough medication for the duration of their trip and an extra supply in case the trip extends for any reason.
Travel health kits should also include antibiotics for self-treatment of diarrhea, medications to treat altitude illness, and malaria chemoprophylaxis (anti-malarial drugs).