Packing your first-aid kit properly – 5 important questions to ask before the summer holidays

What should every first-aid kit contain?

Regardless of your destination, a first-aid kit should always contain painkillers, cold remedies and medication for common travel ailments such as diarrhoea or nausea.

• For pain relief , I recommend the active ingredient ibuprofen.
• For cold symptoms: paracetamol for a fever, a decongestant nasal spray and throat lozenges.
• For typical traveller’s diarrhoea, loperamide can help to relieve symptoms in the short term. However, the medicine should only be used as and when needed, and not routinely. Motilium Lingual can provide rapid relief from nausea .
• For travel sickness ( for example, nausea when travelling by boat), Trawell chewing gum tablets can help.
• Also worth remembering are good-quality, possibly waterproof plasters ( blisters can quickly form on your feet whilst hiking or in hot weather), some first-aid supplies, a disinfectant such as Betadine, and a cooling gel for insect bites.
• Mosquito repellent is essential for practically every destination, both for the skin and for clothing (for example, Nobite).

How should I store medicines in summer temperatures?

Medicines should always be kept in their original packaging. Protect them from direct sunlight, heat and moisture – the bathroom is therefore not a suitable place to store them. For most tablets, storage at room temperature is sufficient, even if it gets a little warmer in your hotel room in tropical regions.

However, a few medicines must be kept refrigerated at all times. In this case, they should be transported appropriately during the journey and stored in a fridge at your holiday destination, for example in your hotel room. Check the storage instructions for your medicines before you set off.

What should I bear in mind when travelling with a chronic condition?

Medicines that need to be taken daily must be carried in your hand luggage. You should also ensure that you take enough medication to last for the entire duration of your trip. If you use syringes – for example, insulin syringes for diabetes mellitus – you should obtain a certificate from your GP well in advance confirming that these medicines are urgently required for medical reasons.

Which vaccinations are advisable before travelling?

Regardless of the destination, you should have at least valid vaccination cover against diphtheria and tetanus, as well as a basic immunisation against polio, two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and a hepatitis A vaccination.

However, I generally recommend seeking travel medicine advice from your doctor. This involves not only checking your vaccination record but also providing personalised advice tailored to your planned trip and your individual needs.

When should I seek medical help whilst on holiday?

As a general rule, you should not hesitate to seek medical help whilst abroad. Many destinations have international medical centres, and hotel reception staff can often put you in touch with a suitable medical facility.

Urgent medical assistance should be sought in the following situations in particular:

• if you have a fever in malaria-endemic areas
• in general, in the event of unexplained high fever (≥ 38.5 °C)
• if you have bloody diarrhoea, with or without a fever
• in the event of acute breathing difficulties
• if your health deteriorates due to a chronic condition