Despite the overwhelming joy and excitement of travel, it does add a layer of uncertainty to our lives, which can give rise to anxiety. Travel stress is, in fact, a pretty common phenomenon, and it is almost always linked with illnesses or injuries that occur while traveling. While not every illness or accident is preventable, there’s a lot that you can do to lower your risk and to prepare for such mishaps. For most of us, simply having such plans in place gives us comfort and reduces the stress of travel.
Creating a travel health kit doesn’t require elaborate planning. You can just include some of these essentials and some optional products, depending on your specific health needs.
What to Put in Your Travel Health Kit
1. Essential Supplements
There’s one deficiency that seems to afflict all of us, making it a good idea to carry high-quality vitamin D supplements – vitamin D deficiency is pervasive worldwide, affecting roughly three in four Americans, including teens and adults. Probiotics are another essential because gastrointestinal infections and digestive disorders are the most common health-related problems in travelers. Probiotics can help cope with such problems and will also lower their risk. You can also include melatonin supplements to help you fix sleep impairments, which tend to occur with jet lag, also increasing the risk of illness.
2. First Aid Supplies
The idea of carrying first-aid kits is something that we’ve all been exposed to from childhood, so this is probably already on your packing list. However, in addition to standard first aid supplies such as Band-Aids, antiseptic solutions, tweezers, and gauze, it would also be a good idea to include some OTC medications such as Advil or Tylenol for pain relief, and Marezine or Dramamine for motion sickness.
Also Read: What to Pack for a Road Trip
3. Anti-Allergy Medications
Avoiding exposure to allergens is fairly easy when you’re at home because you’re familiar with your surroundings, local eateries, and potential triggers. However, when traveling, it can be more difficult to steer clear of allergens — and you might even encounter new ones you haven’t been exposed to before. Certain types of allergic reactions, such as persistent coughing, can also be early warning signs of a problem; it’s helpful to know what different types of coughs might mean. To stay safe, always pack some antihistamines such as Allegra or Claritin. If you’ve experienced severe allergic reactions in the past, be sure to also carry epinephrine along with other prescribed medications.
4. Bug Sprays
Unless you’re an entomologist, insects most likely creep you out. However, bugs can be more than a nuisance, also causing severe allergic reactions and transmitting potentially life-threatening infections. Mosquitoes are particularly problematic in large parts of the world, spreading infections like malaria and dengue, while ticks can spread Lyme disease. You should take precautions by packing insect repellents and body lotions containing active ingredients such as Picaridin, DEET, and eucalyptus oil.
5. Water Purifiers
If you’re traveling to a rural area or developing nation known to have waterborne disease outbreaks such as cholera and typhoid fever, make it a point to carry water purification tablets or portable water filters, which are now widely available. Water safety standards vary across the world, so it’s important to keep in mind that tap water isn’t always safe for drinking.
6. Oral Rehydration Powders
Whether you catch a tummy bug or have a heavy night of drinking, dehydration is a common problem in travelers. In such situations, energy drinks may not be the best choice because they don’t really contain the recommended balance of rehydration salts. Instead, carry a WHO-approved formulation from brands such as Trioral or NormaLyte.
7. Sunscreen
Whether you’re traveling to a sunny beach or a ski resort, sunscreen is a skincare essential that everyone needs. All of us spend some amount of time outdoors, and any exposure to ultraviolet radiation poses a risk. Look for products with an SPF of at least 15 or higher, and consider using UV protective clothing if you’ll be out in the sun for prolonged periods.
8. Insurance & Medical Records
It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for just a weekend or a whole month – your health records and insurance documents should always be accessible. This information is critical when faced with emergencies, and having it with you will give you peace of mind.