▎WuXi AppTec Content Team Editor
The “October” Golden Week is coming, presumably many of my friends are planning a long-distance travel, and they need to prepare their things and pack their luggage.
During the journey, it is inevitable to encounter physical discomfort or unexpected emergencies, and many scenic spots are far away from the urban area, so there is no way to buy medicine or go to the hospital quickly. So, for healthy people without chronic diseases, what medicines and first aid supplies should be prepared in the bag?
Today, the health press has compiled a dry item for everyone – “The List of Travel First Aid Kits”. Hurry up and take a look, do you have these things in your box↓↓
Basic first aid kits
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1. Sterilization supplies
Soap or antibacterial wipes: Before first aid, be sure to clean first aid kits and hands with soap. If you don’t have the conditions to wash your hands, you can only use this wipes (normal wipes are not effective), but the effect is no better than washing hands with soap. There are many active ingredients in wet wipes, some ingredients can only kill bacteria (such as benzalkonium chloride), and some ingredients can also kill viruses (such as quaternary ammonium salt, ethanol, isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide).
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer: Wash your hands with a 60%-80% alcohol-based hand sanitizer before touching a cut or scrape.
Iodophor swabs: It can disinfect small wounds, is alcohol-free, mild and non-irritating.
Here reminds everyone that if you want to bring alcohol-containing items, you should pay attention to the regulations of the high-speed rail.
For example, alcohol-based liquids cannot be brought on a plane. ≤70% can be checked, and >70% cannot even be checked. Alcohol-containing wipes can be carried on planes in small single packs, but not in large packs.
In train stations and bus stations, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are generally not allowed and will be detained by security.
2. Supplies to detect or relieve symptoms
Electronic thermometers: Safer than mercury thermometers, you can measure your body temperature to see if you have a fever, and remember to clean it with antibacterial wipes after use.
Disposable Instant Cooling Ice Pack: These ice packs cool quickly and are used as a cold compress to relieve the symptoms of bumps, bruises, and minor burns.
Over-the-counter pain relievers: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, which can help with headaches, stomach aches, or pain from an accidental injury; Can play a role in antipyretic fever. Parents with children should pay attention to buying the suspension dosage form and adding it to the children’s formula, so that the children are more willing to eat it.
3. Bandages
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Scissors or nail clippers: You can cut gauze, bandages, or a pill pack. However, if you take a high-speed train by plane, scissors are sharp objects and cannot be carried with you. They can only be placed in checked luggage and cannot be used during the ride. In contrast, nail clippers are more portable and can be sterilized as an alternative.
Self-adhesive medical bandages: When knees, ankles and other joints or other parts are injured, bandages can be used, self-adhesive, no pins or other tools are required.
Gauze: For more serious accidental injuries, a bandage is not enough, a roll of gauze and a gauze pad can be prepared.
Tweezers: Tweezers can pick out stingers, debris, or ticks if they get stuck in the skin.
Motion sickness pills
Even people who are not prone to motion sickness should bring a few tablets just in case. Examples include Dimenhydrinate Tablets (oral, short trips within 6 hours), Scopolamine patches (longer trips over 6 hours).
It is important to note that some motion sickness pills can cause drowsiness and should not be used by people who will be driving the same day.
Image source: 123RF
Aloe Vera Gel: Soothes sunburned and irritated skin.
Topical antipruritic:Calamine lotion relieves prickly heat, hives, atopic dermatitis, and other itching symptoms;1 % hydrocortisone cream for short-term relief of topical dermatitis and itching. In addition, in order to prevent insect bites, you can also bring toilet water or electric mosquito coils containing insect repellent ingredients, such as DEET, DEET, lemon eucalyptus oil, etc.
Topical antibiotic ointment: For superficial wounds, a little antibiotic ointment can prevent bacterial infection. For example, for minor cuts and abrasions, mupirocinointment can be used; for minor burns, erythromycin ointment can be used.
Topical antifungal: If you are concerned about a fungal infection of the skin, such as athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), you can prepare a tube of antifungal cream, such as
strong>econazole or terbinafine.
External medicine for acne treatment: For those who are prone to acne, you can bring retinoic acid cream( Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation), benzoyl peroxide which inhibits Propionibacterium acnes.
External medicine for treating frostbite: If you are going to a place where it is very cold and your hands are prone to frostbite, you can bring the compound cod liver oil zinc oxide ointment for treating frostbite.
Common Medications for Gastrointestinal Problems
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Antacids: such as sodium bicarbonate tablets, aluminum magnesium carbonate, can relieve hyperacidity Heartburn, acid regurgitation, or mild indigestion.
Anti-diarrhea: Some people tend to have diarrhea when they travel to unfamiliar places, which is medically called “traveler’s diarrhea.” For such people, it is recommended to bring montmorillonite powder to prevent diarrhea, and oralrehydration salts to prevent dehydration.
Medications for constipation: Some people, on the contrary, are prone to constipation when they go out, so it is recommended to bring mild laxatives, such as Bisa, which stimulates peristalsis of the large intestine. Codine, Cassel to soften stool, or Lactulose to increase stool water content. But also be careful, these drugs can give you sudden diarrhea or stomach pains.
Common medicines for breathing problems
Take these medicines with you to deal with sneezing, coughing, and runny nose while traveling.
Antihistamines: Relieve allergy symptoms like sneezing and runny nose.
Cold combination: Helps relieve congestion, coughs and headaches. Day and night cold medicines are better. Daily use does not contain chlorpheniramine maleate, which can avoid daytime drowsiness. People who drive should pay special attention.
Image source: 123RF
In addition, the FDA emphasizes that over-the-counter cold medicines are not recommended for children under the age of 4 and contraindicated for those under the age of 2 because of the potential for serious and life-threatening side effects.
Cough and expectorant: Relieve cough and phlegm symptoms.
Saline Nasal Spray: Moisturizes and cleans the nostrils, relieving allergies and nasal congestion.
Vaseline: If you are going to a particularly dry place and your nose is prone to bleeding, you can use a cotton swab to apply Vaseline to the nasal mucosa to moisturize.
Of course, when you have a severe cough or fever, you should go to the fever clinic in time to avoidThere are more serious cases.
What specific drugs do these symptoms correspond to?