You never know what to expect when you go abroad. Long and often arduous journeys into unfamiliar territories can bring all manner of unforeseen incidence, injury or disease being on the list of possibilities. People will often hurt themselves in remote or isolated areas, far from proper medical care. For this reason, the creation of an easily carried and conventional first aid kit is essential.
Gaining a First Aid Knowledge
In order to adequately carry out first aid on yourself or your traveling companions, it is essential that you have a basic understanding of immediate medical procedures. It never hurts to go for a first aid course, and you may thank yourself when a serious situation can be properly deal by your moderate knowledge. If you do not have the time for a first aid course, there are plenty of excellent guides to be found online or in libraries, written or carried out by professionals.
The Basic Contents
When you build a first aid kit for travel, the first thing you want to consider is just how adventurous you plan on being. You should also consider the most hazardous elements of whichever environment you plan on entering. For example, if the area is known for a particularly aggressive population of wasps, you will want to pack a strong antihistamine. If you plan on sticking mostly to urban areas, you will not need such a developed kit, seeing as medical services will be readily available. In more rural areas, however, you will want a larger and more comprehensive kit.
Once you have identified the potential sources for injury, the first thing to purchase is the actual container. A hard, durable plastic box that is small enough to be easily carried around yet large enough to facilitate all of your needed items. A cloth bag is unsuitable, as the contents can be damaged and cause a nasty mess when you consider how tightly packed your travel pack contents will be.
The Essential Contents
Now that you have the preliminary setup planned, it is time to stock your personalized first aid kit with the essential medical products.
- Antiseptic Wipes: In the event of cuts or scratches, you will need to sterilise bigger wounds with antiseptic wipes before applying bandages.
- Tweezers: These small metal appliances work wonders in the event of being stung by a bee or wasp, and are perfect for getting thorns or other debris out of flesh before cleaning a wound.
- Painkillers: While you may be able to deal with every other issue in the event of an injury, forgetting about pain management can be a real nightmare. Make sure to include your preferred brand of painkillers in your kit, and make sure that the chemicals you plan on bringing in are in accordance with the laws of the country you plan on visiting.
- Plasters and Bandages: The most essential product in the event of tiny cuts and scratches, things you are very likely to endure in the event of a trip through dense wilderness. A sprained hand or ankle can also be nicely supported with a comfortable bandaging.