Do you plan ahead for travel? Planning ahead can save your life, especially if you are in a remote wilderness area several days or more from civilization and medical care.
It can also save your trip and precious vacation time.
Imagine being camped with an epic view in the perfect location with it all to yourself. And then having to pack up and leave all because of a lack of basic over the counter medications that could have prolonged your trip by providing relief!
Part of any responsible, clear-eyed travel planning should involve packing first aid kits as well as validating their contents. This includes MEDICATIONS.
The American College of Emergency Physicians and the CDC encourage travelers to pack a first aid kit or a travel health kit for common medical emergencies. Pack the following items in your bag and keep it with you at all times:
2. Make sure children can't get into the first aid bag. Use child safety caps whenever possible.
3. If someone has a life-threatening allergy, carry the appropriate medicine with you at all times.
4. Check expiration dates and discard medicine that is out-of-date. Most medications come with a one-year expiration on the label, to achieve that you must store them in a cool, dark, dry environment - not in a vehicle.
DISCLAIMER: This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. No physician-patient relationship is created by this web site or its use. Neither American Adventurist, it's employees, nor any contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.
It can also save your trip and precious vacation time.
Imagine being camped with an epic view in the perfect location with it all to yourself. And then having to pack up and leave all because of a lack of basic over the counter medications that could have prolonged your trip by providing relief!
Part of any responsible, clear-eyed travel planning should involve packing first aid kits as well as validating their contents. This includes MEDICATIONS.
The American College of Emergency Physicians and the CDC encourage travelers to pack a first aid kit or a travel health kit for common medical emergencies. Pack the following items in your bag and keep it with you at all times:
- Medicines you take on a regular basis at home. Take enough medicine for the planned trip plus extra in case your return home is delayed. Carry all medicine in their original containers with clear labels that identify your name and dosing schedule. If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes, seizures, or allergies, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet.
- Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains
- Antihistamines to relieve allergies
- Antacid medicine for upset stomach
- Anti-nausea or motion sickness medicine. You may also want to include medicine for altitude sickness if traveling to high altitudes.
- Calamine lotion to relieve itching and irritation from insect bites and poison ivy
- Hydrocortisone cream to relieve irritation from rashes
- Sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher
- Aloe gel for sunburns
- Insect repellent. Those appropriate for use on children should contain 10% to 30% DEET. Those for adults should contain 30% to 50% DEET or up to 20% of picaridin. The chemical can cause harm when absorbed through the skin. Don't use insect repellant on infants 2 months of age or younger. Don't use products that combine DEET with sunscreen.
- Medicine to prevent malaria, if needed where you are traveling
- Over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea. Talk with your healthcare provider about a prescription for an antibiotic you can take in case of diarrhea.
- Cough and cold medicines
- Epinephrine auto-injector for people with severe allergies (bee stings, shellfish etc)
- List of prescription medicines and generic names
2. Make sure children can't get into the first aid bag. Use child safety caps whenever possible.
3. If someone has a life-threatening allergy, carry the appropriate medicine with you at all times.
4. Check expiration dates and discard medicine that is out-of-date. Most medications come with a one-year expiration on the label, to achieve that you must store them in a cool, dark, dry environment - not in a vehicle.
DISCLAIMER: This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. No physician-patient relationship is created by this web site or its use. Neither American Adventurist, it's employees, nor any contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.
