Pack your bags: The first-aid kit has priority!

Before heading off on the long-awaited holiday, you’ve got to pack your bags. In particular choosing the right clothing causes some people a headache. Do I really have to take these trousers? Will it be cool in the evening, should I bring a jacket? And what about the maximum weight of the suitcase? If you forgot your toothbrush or warm clothes at home, you can quickly replace these items at your destination. However, when it comes to purchasing medication, things are much more difficult. After all, you first have to tell the pharmacist what for you need a certain product and this can lead to serious misunderstandings, if you don’t speak the language. Thus, it is very important to pack your own medication for emergencies!

Checklist for your first-aid kit:

• Pain, fever and cold medication
• Medicine for travel sickness, constipation and diarrhea
• Insect spray and sunscreen
• Wound treatments: scissors, tweezers, plaster, compresses, gauze bandages and sterile dressing
• Disinfectant
• Contraceptive
• Antibiotic and healing ointments

Of course, if you already regularly take medicine, you cannot be without on holiday. All in all, to be on the safe side – and also avoid possibly expired medicine – it is a good idea to buy a travel set in the pharmacy. All above mentioned medicine is usually already included.

Individual first-aid kits

Not every first-aid kit is the same: Medication requirements differ depending on the destination and type of trip. For example, when travelling with children, you should make sure to have medicine that is specifically tailored to their needs. First-aid kits need to be compiled differently for travels to faraway countries than trips within Europe. Remedies for diarrhea, disinfectants and possibly even tablets for water purification should be high on the packing list. When planning to be active on vacation, a primary goal is to treat potential injuries as quickly as possible. For beach holidays sunscreen and insect spay is far more important.

Liquids on the plane

When packing medication for on the plane, you may not carry bottles with a volume greater than 100 ml in your carry-on bag. While medicines in form of tablets are unproblematic, insulin syringes and asthma sprays can cause difficulties at the security gate. In order to avoid this, it is important to get a doctor’s certificate issued – preferably in English. Furthermore, some medication may be licit in this country but not in other countries, which can, in the worst case, prohibit your right of entry and thus stand in the way of your holiday.

Time of ingestion

Taking tablets with a time difference is particularly complicated. Some medication needs to be taken at specific intervals to maintain their effectiveness. In order to stick to the right rhythm, you have to take the time difference into account. For example, if certain medication must always be taken at 8 p.m. at home, it may already have to be taken at 2 p.m. due to the time difference. It is best to check with your doctor in advance on how much the time of ingestion may differ.

Tip: Set an alarm for the time the medication needs to be taken whilst still on the plane.

Conclusion

It is important to acquaint yourself with your holiday destination before the start of your trip. Not only is it fun and increases anticipation, it also makes sure that you are well prepared just in case. It is a good feeling to be prepared for all eventualities.

We wish you a healthy holiday!