4 extra items to pack to stay healthy on holidays
There’s nothing worse than falling sick when you’re overseas. The good news is if you’re clever with your packing you can significantly decrease the change of falling ill.
Dr Robert Mathews from Cremorne Medical in NSW says, “It's important to pack your regular medications and also a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to travel with them, especially if you are travelling with strong pain medications or injections.”
Here are four items you might not think to pack (but should).
1. Over-the-counter medications
In addition to any specific medications, Dr Mathews says, “It is also worth bringing some over the counter medications to help manage common travel ailments. These include paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, loperamide for diarrhoea, an antihistamine for allergies, an antacid for when you overindulge, and a tube of 1 per cent hydrocortisone for rashes or insect bites."
2. Rehydration solutions and antibiotics
If you’re travelling off the beaten path, Dr Mathews also recommends bringing some rehydration solutions and antibiotics. Dr Mathews says, “It is also worth taking an oral rehydration solution such as Gastrolyte or Hydralyte to help rehydrate you if you develop heat stroke, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you are going to a developing country you should speak to your GP about getting a prescription for an antibiotic to treat travellers’ diarrhoea.”
3. Additional wellness measures
Aside from the materials already mentioned, Dr Matthews also recommends bringing some additional wellness measures that can get you out of a bind when you’re travelling. Dr Matthews says, “It is a good idea to bring a good quality sunscreen, a small tube of alcohol hand sanitiser and an insect repellent, preferably one which contains 30-50 per cent DEET.”
4. Duct tape
This one might seem a little out of left field, but duct tape actually has some practical purposes when travelling that can get you out of a real bind. At a pinch duct tape can be used to help secure bandages and even as a makeshift splint.
Do you bring any of the above mentioned items with you while you’re travelling? What do you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments.
Related links:
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