Tips on Travel Medicines

This seems like an interesting topic to write on !!

Since this is the vacation time, I hope friends find this useful !

DISCLAIMER

All the medicines in the first aid kit may be available as OVER THE COUNTER- but please confirm with your Physician before you take any drugs

Firstly, the type of vacation you are on , makes all the difference, for eg, the type of injuries one can anticipate while on a honeymoon type vacation will definitely be different from a “differently “ adventurous vacation- like a trek !!! One also has to keep in mind the place one is visiting, Geography has a lot of role to play in the kind of health precaution one has to take !

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

1.Keep hands clean ( this will avoid many a infective agent transmission)

2.Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. ( Even if you are used to tap water in your house- the reason being, you have developed immunity to all organisms that regularly bombard you, but there is no immunity against the new organisms that will exist in the unsterilised water of a new place you are visiting)

1. This is the only time I would advocate Carbonated drinks, in case you don’t find bottled drinking water

   
   




2. If the visit is to endemic areas for Malaria-take your malaria prevention medication before, and after travel. (after due consultation with your physician)

   
   

-In tropical areas, jungles, forest expeditions, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants all the time to protect yourself from insects, Sun and plant allergy

5.To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.

6.-Don’t get into street-food adventure in alien places.

7.No drinks with ICE

8.Dairy products unless pasteurized can be major source of infection

9.If you have any food allergies, learn the names of those foods in the languages used in the countries you’ll be visiting. This way you’ll be better equipped to stay on the look out for them.

10.Any vaccinations that need to be taken before visiting a particular country / place should be attended to well before the trip, to get over any side effects before you actually leave for the trip.

11.Make sure you visit your dentist- before you leave for a trip- we don’t want you to be down with toothache while your kids /spouse/ friends are licking on ice cream !

12.All your physicians’/ doctors complete contact details( cellular numbers) must be taken along and your co-travellers informed accordingly, in case of any emergency

13.Use information on the net For eg: My Article and other genuine websites like https://who.int/ith/english/index.htm The World Health Organization’s International Travel and Health web page. This site contains information on recommended vaccinations and general health advice for travelers.

1. Find out about travel insurance from your insurance consultant !

FIRST AID KIT

A first aid Kit containing the following will be of help, but make sure while you travel out of India, you are not violating any regulations For eg. In some countries you cannot even carry homeopathic pills without proper prescriptions and other documents.( The credit for this information goes to a dear friend, who told me that the airport officials even take objection to carrying a RUDRAKSHA mala..there is some major funda behind this too...details of which are beyond the scope of this review )

For minor injuries/cuts/bruises

1. Betadine lotion-1 small bottle –for cleaning wound

   
   




2. Sterilised cotton roll-1 small

   
   




3. Gauze pieces-10

   
   




4. 3M Micropore ½ inch sticking tape

   
   




5. Silver sulfadiazine- for application on cuts /burns/bruises

   
   

For cold / sneezing / allergy

Tab. Cetzine 1 strip

10 mg 1/day

For fever/ flu-

Tab-Crocin/Calpol – 1 strip

1 to be taken SOS

For bodyache/ any pain

Tab.Brufen 400 mg for adults 1 strip

200 mg for kids

Max 3/day

For pain in abdomen

Tab. Buscopam 1 strip

1 SOS

For loose motions

Cap.Imodium 2 strips

2 stat and 1 later on if not under control

Antibiotics must be taken along with this for effective control.

For backache/ calf pain/ cramps/muscular pain

Sensur lotion/oil for local application , to apply gently, no scrubbing

For nausea/vomiting

Tab.Domstal 1 strip

1 SOS

VITAL HEALTH INFORMATION

to be carried in case of prolonged or distant travel –

· Complete personal medical history. It should include:

· Your Insurance Company’s name and address.

· Trip Insurance contact information.

· Contact person in case of emergency.

· Your blood type.

· A copy of your eyeglass prescription.

· A list of current medications with their generic names, brand names can vary in foreign countries.

· A list of allergies, including any known food or drug allergies.

· A list of immunizations with their dates.

A basic description of your past and present medical condition, including past hospitalizations and any current problems.

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Looks like everything basic and necessary has been covered.