Okay I will hold my hands up, the last thing I used to think about when departing on my holidays was being unwell. But after various holidays and numerous minor medical disasters, experience tells me that this is unwise. Hangover, travel sickness or the raging ad dabs are all ailments that I can talk at length about from bitter holiday experience. Listening to my mum’s advice (which really we should all do more of) has taught me that packing a first aid kit when going on holiday is a very good idea.
The last thing you want to worry about when suffering from ailments such as a headache (hangover) or the repeated and frequent need to use the bathroom (tummy bug) is finding somewhere that has Ibuprofen or Imodium. Better to have them with you in the first place and not need them than to need them and not have them.
My top seven must have items for my home made holiday first aid kit is listed below:
Plasters or Band Aids
Just like with any first aid kit my holiday first aid kit contains bandages and plasters. Don’t get me wrong if a simple sticky plaster or band aid does not do the trick and the bandage is barely stemming the blood flow then of course I scream like a baby and ask for help.
Ideally though I try not to spend my time in hospitals when on holiday so sticky plasters and bandages will hopefully do the trick for any minor injuries so they really are a must have member of my kit.
Pain Relief
Now pain relief really is essential for me when I go on holiday! I work hard all year, as do most people, so when I am on holiday I like to let my hair down. Very often this involves intense social lubrication which as you probably know can have side effects such as memory loss, poor judgement, terrible balance and general clumsiness. In addition to the associated ‘in the moment’ side effects there are usually problems the morning after the night before. Dehydration, headaches and stomach aches. Having pain killers such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen have been a godsend for me on more than one holiday.
Tummy Settlers
I find nothing worse than having a tricky tummy on holiday. Let’s face it you are probably more at risk of getting a bad dose of the trots whilst on holiday than you are at home. I always pack some Imodium before any overseas trip as who wants to get caught short or spend the majority of their holiday no more than ten paces away from the bathroom.
Rehydration Solution
Sunstroke, hangovers, vomiting and diarrhoea all have one common symptom and that is dehydration. Dehydration can have devastating effects and for this reason I always take some rehydration solution with me on holiday.
Insect Repellents
If you are unfortunate enough to be like me than you will understand why I have included insect repellents in my first aid kit! I am one of those people that attract insects, I don’t know what it is but mosquitos love me. I must have really tasty blood or perhaps I have victim written across my head.
Using insect repelling lotion and sprays really does seem to help make me less tasty to the local insect population; I never leave the country without it.
Sun Lotion and Aftersun
Now my mum always used to tell me that prevention is better than cure. How true this is when it comes to sunburn! I hate sunburn; it really will spoil your holiday and is avoidable.
Living in the UK it will come as no surprise to you that the big orange thing in the sky is rarely seen in my hometown (rainy Manchester). Subsequently my usual holiday destinations usually have more sun than I am used to. Needless to say if I am not careful, I burn – badly!
Using sun lotion with the correct factor for your skin and aftersun if perhaps we have overdone it a little (because we all do) will help to prevent sunburn.
Condoms
Condoms in a first aid kit, really? Well as I have already said my mum used to tell me that prevention was better than cure. With this fantastic advice from my mum in mind using a barrier contraceptive will reduce the chances of an STD, AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. Now I know they sell condoms all over the world but what I do know is that when you are in the moment and you need a condom then a trip to the chemist or pharmacist can often be a bit of a mood killer. Best to be prepared!
When I arrive home from a holiday I like to have a bag full of duty free, good memories and some good photos to share with my friends and family. What I don’t want to come with is third degree burns from overdoing the sunbathing, raging diarrhoea, malaria or even worse an STD. Taking a small first aid kit on holiday helps me minimise the chances of my ‘don’t want’ list of holiday take homes!
I am sure there are many other essentials that can be included in a traveller’s first aid kit. Let me know in the comments below as if I have learnt one thing on my travels it is best to be prepared and expect the unexpected.
