First-aid kit - that should be in there

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A first-aid kit belongs in every luggage. What should be in it depends on the destination, the duration of the trip and the type of trip.

First aid kit - general tips

• Choose medicines that have proven their worth and that you tolerate well.
• It is best to put together your first-aid kit before you go. In some countries, drugs are cheaper than in Germany, but the quality requirements abroad are not that high. Above all outside Europe there are counterfeit drugs in circulation which, in the worst case, can put your health at risk.
• Take a look at the drug expiration date. Caution: The date for liquids and ointments is only valid for unopened packages.
• When traveling to warm countries, follow the storage instructions for medication. A melted pain or fever suppository is no longer of any use when needed.
• Do you have to take medication at a fixed time? Inquire about long-distance travel how big the time difference is. The effectiveness of some medications is impaired if the intake rhythm is not adhered to. The contraceptive pill is a well-known example of this.

First aid kit - it should always be there

Individually necessary medication: Do you have a chronic illness? Take enough medication with you in your hand luggage that you need to take every day. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist whether there are any interactions with other medicines. Are you prone to certain complaints? Stock your first-aid kit with medication for allergies, heartburn, fungal infections (vaginal fungus, athlete's foot) or cold sores. It is best to take a supplement that has helped you before.

Wound disinfection: A disinfectant should not be missing in any first-aid kit!

Dressing material: Plasters, sterile wound compresses, gauze bandages, elastic bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, splinter tweezers and triangular cloth are important for treating wounds.

Medical thermometer: Especially in countries with a risk of malaria, it is necessary to record the body temperature precisely. Please note: Glass thermometers are unsuitable as they break easily.

Painkillers and fever killers: Medicines for fever and mild to moderate pain are important for treating fever, headache, toothache and body aches such as colds. Caution: In regions where haemorrhagic fevers such as dengue fever or yellow fever occur that cause bleeding, blood thinning agents such as acetylsalicylic acid or diclofenac are unsuitable. Paracetamol is best suited here. Chewable tablets can also be taken without water.

This is how you can expand the first-aid kit

Medication for nausea: If you are plagued by travel sickness, you may be taking appropriate medication before you travel. Quickly effective chewing gum preparations help with sudden nausea. But be careful: many of these active ingredients make you tired. An exception is the prescription scopolamine, which is stuck to the skin as a plaster. The prescription-only metoclopramide counteracts other causes of nausea.

Medication for diarrhea: You can prevent diarrhea by observing food and drinking water hygiene. Excessive fluid loss is the greatest danger in diarrhea, especially for children and pregnant women. The most important measure is therefore to replace the water and salts that the body has lost with an electrolyte powder. By the way: The old recipe "Cola and pretzel sticks" is unsuitable and can even make diarrhea worse. Better in an emergency: for every half liter of boiled (!) Water, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt and five teaspoons of grape sugar, add orange juice to taste and drink three liters of it a day. Loperamide stops diarrhea immediately. However, it only makes sense to slow down the dangerous loss of water or is used for a short time if, for example, you have to survive a bus trip. As an alternative, preparations for building up the intestinal flora are also suitable for children. Charcoal tablets have lost their importance in the treatment of diarrhea.

Constipation medication: The best way to counteract constipation is to drink enough and eat high-fiber foods. A large portion of fruit with dried plums, figs, melons or ripe papaya tastes good and works. If these simple measures are unsuccessful, a mild laxative may help for a short time.

Medicines for allergies: Insect bites or allergies can cause annoying itching. There is a choice of products for oral use or for rub-in.

Medication for bruises and strains: First and foremost, the right first aid measures are important for bruises and strains. Anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain and reduce swelling. If severe pain and swelling persists, you need to consult a doctor.

Drugs against colds: Air conditioning in hotels and buses makes it easy to catch a cold. If you have a runny nose or sinus infection, you may not be able to equalize the pressure on the flight. Decongestant nasal sprays are then important to prevent ear pain or even inner ear damage.

Medicines for sore throats: Medicines with disinfecting properties can provide relief for sore throats. Often these medications also contain an active pain reliever. If you have severe pain and fever, you should always consult a doctor.

Medication for eye discomfort: Dust, wind or light often cause conjunctivitis when traveling. Sunglasses are therefore a must. Decongestant eye drops have a relieving effect. So-called artificial tears also help with mild irritation and dry eyes. If the eye irritation is allergic, antiallergic eye drops can help.

Sunscreen: You should bring a good sunscreen with you to almost all travel areas. This not only avoids annoying sunburn, you also prevent possible long-term consequences such as skin cancer. You choose the strength of the sunscreen according to your travel destination and your skin type. A good après-cream or an antihistamine, ideally as a cooling gel, can help with minor burns. In the case of severe redness, a thin cortisone lotion or cream will help in the short term.

Insect repellants (repellants): Good protection against mosquito bites is important in areas where, for example, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever or Japanese encephalitis are common. For example, preparations containing the active ingredient diethyltoluamide (DEET) are recommended. Means based on essential oils such as tea tree oil, lemon oil or coconut oil, on the other hand, have a weaker and shorter effect and are therefore not recommended in such risk areas.

Malaria tablets: In most malaria areas it is sufficient to have an emergency medicine with you.

In remote areas with insufficient medical supplies, it makes sense to have syringes and cannulas of various sizes and an infusion set with you. In the case of poor water hygiene, such as on individual jungle trekking tours, river water can be sterilized with silver nitrate tablets.

The most important content for your first-aid kit can also be downloaded here as a list.

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