Pharmacy Essentials For Your Travel Kit

Many of us will be looking forward to a hard-earned break this year, whether here in the UK, or somewhere warm and sunny! Wherever we go, minor ailments or injuries can sometimes strike us down at an inconvenient moment. To make sure that your trip isn’t spoiled by chasing up pharmacy items, here’s some checklist suggestions to take with you.

First aid kit

A travel first aid kit should consist of an assortment of adhesive plasters, blister plasters, an elasticated bandage to support strained limbs, antiseptic wipes, cotton swabs, aloe vera gel (for the treatment of burns), sting relief treatment, tweezers, scissors, and a thermometer.

Larger wounds should be washed out with water treated with a saline sachet, and dressed with a cotton swab, gauze, and fixed with adhesive first aid tape. Don’t be tempted to leave any cuts untreated, as they may become infected.

Digestive relief medicine

It is likely you will be changing your diet while on holiday, which may lead to an episode of heartburn. To help relieve any discomfort, pack some indigestion tablets. If you are prone to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including symptoms of diarrhoea and/or constipation, this may also flare up with a change of routine, so be prepared with some medication.

If you are prone to severe bouts of diarrhoea, pack some oral rehydration salts as well as anti-diarrhoeal agents.

Sunblock

It may be tempting to get a tan on your holiday, but excessive sun exposure puts you at greater risk of developing skin cancer, rashes, sunburn, and premature aging. If you suffer from skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema, they may become worse with increased sun.

Skincare experts recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of 50, and wearing a hat and sunglasses at the hottest times of day, between 11am and 3pm.  If you do get sunburnt, treat it with an aftersun lotion or cooling aloe vera gel.

Painkillers

Headache and pain relief tablets paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin are a staple of any first aid kit. If you are prone to migraines, remember that the stress of travelling, or the change in diet or environment, may bring one about, so it’s best to be prepared for the worst.

Hay fever relief tablets

Allergies and hay fever can soon make your trip a misery if you do not have any effective medication to hand, so make sure your pack a tried and trusted brand of antihistamines to keep those sneezes and snivels under control.

Anti-travel sickness tablets

Travel sickness can strike us down at the worst moments and spoil our plans, so if you or any of your party are prone to it, make sure you are armed with some medication.

Prescription medications

Keep any prescription medications that you take in the original packages, so they can be easily identified, both for yourself and any customs officials.

If you are travelling to remote or high-risk areas, you must seek advice from a medical professional about pre-travel injections, and other precautionary measures you need to take before travelling.