Packing for a healthy vacation: your traveling medical kit

FDA Consumer, May, 1985 by Annabel Hecht

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer "season." As seaside hotels and mountain resorts get ready for the crowds, families around the country are deciding where to spend their vacations and planning what to take along.

One thing that should be at the top of any vacation checklist is a first-aid kit or, better yet, a selection of medical supplies and medicines to meet the traveling family's routine and emergency medical needs. This may seem like excess baggage, particularly if the itinerary includes cities and towns where medical supplies should be readily available. But the may not be a drugstore just around the corner from the hotel or motel, and if there is one, it may not be open when a minor medical need arises.

What goes into the medical travel kit will depend, of course, on who the travelers are, where they are going, and how long they'll stay. Obviously, a family seeing the sights in the nation's capital won't need the same supplies as one heading for the deep woods; and a young couple in good health won't have the medication needs of an elderly pair with one or more health problems requiring chronic treatment. But there are some basic items that virtually any traveler would be prudent to take along.

For starters, a basic list might include: * Cotton balls and swabs * Gauze pads (2 inch by 2 inch, 4 inch by 4 inch) * Roll of 1-inch-wide bandage * Adhesive strip bandages, assorted sizes * Adhesive tape * Scissors * Tweezers * Elastic bandage * Safety pins * Alcohol wipes * Fever thermometer

Among the over-the-counter drugs that belong in the medical travel kit are a pain reliever (such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen), antacid tablets, an antimicrobial sking ointment, a mild laxative, cough/cold medications, and medicine for individual problems, such as hnemorrhoids.

Sunscreens are a must and not only for the beach. That cruise around the harbor or a long wait in line to see a special attraction in a theme park can mean a lot of sun exposure. Be sure to check the SPF (sun protection factor) number on the bottle. The higher the number, the more protection from the sun. A lip balm can help prevent chapping from sun and wind.

Insect repellents aren't just for the deep woods, either. Picnic spots along the highway and even city parks have their share of bugs. And insects at the beach can take all the fun out of sunbathing.

The medical travel kit should also include an adequate supply of prescription medicines that family members take routinely. In fact, it's a good idea to brign a little extra in case there are delays along the way. Take along prescription orders so that they can be filled if needed. (Travelers abroad should be aware that their drugs may not be available or may be sold under a different brand name. Asking the doctor to use the drug's generic name on the prescription may be helpful. Foreign travelers also should check the laws of the countries they plan to visit. Some drugs may not be permitted, even as part of personal luggage, or quantities may be limited.)

An antihistamine should be among the drugs in the medical travel kit, say Drs. W. Robert Lange and Sidney D. Kreidier of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Advisory Service for Travelers. Writing in Postgraduate Medicine (March 1983), they suggest diphenhydramine because it can serve as an anti-allergy medicine as well as a remedy for mild motion sickness and an effective sleep aid. (For more information on remedies for motion sickness, see "When Motion Sickness Goes Along For The Ride" in the March 1985 FDA Consumer.)

While it's unlikely that travelers in the United States will suffer serious diarrhea, they still may want to take along some medicine for this condition. For those who are going to areas where diarrhea is a major problem, experts warn that drugs should not be taken to prevent gastrointestinal problems. (See accompanying articles.)

Rounding out the medical kit should be an extra pair of everyone's eyeglasses or contact lenses, along with the prescriptions, in the event they are lost or broken.

All these medical items do not necessarily have to be packed in a single "kit." Travelers may want to pack first-aid supplies separately so they are handy. Many drugstores sell first-aid kits that are compact and earily carried in the car or in a tote bag. A "retired" school lunch box or a small tackle box also makes a convenient carrying case for first-aid supplies. Keep a small packet of adhesive bandages handy to tuck in your purse, pocket or backpack when hiking or even just sightseeing. Sunscreens and insect repellents also should be carried where they're easy to reach.

OTC drug products and prescription medicines should be packed separately in toilet or cosmetic cases, each labeled for easy identification. If there are young children in the family, be sure that drug bottles have "child-proof" caps. Even with such caps, all medicines should be kept out of the reach of little hands--on a high shelf if the family is staying in one place for a time or in a locked suitcase when on the road.