Whether traveling abroad or stateside, getting sick can complicate a trip—especially if you do not have the proper medication to treat your ailments. While it may be possible to pick up items along the way during your journey, there may be instances when a pharmacy is out of the way or inconveniently far from your intended travel route. For this reason, it is best to be prepared with a travel first aid kit that covers the essentials.

First, it is worth noting that a first aid kit covers all the basics. From medicine to minor injuries, there are some items that simply come in handy while you are on the go.

How Do I Prepare Prescription Medicine for Traveling?

Beginning with medication, make sure that you have enough of your prescribed medication to make it through the duration of your trip. Take photos of the bottles and be sure to capture the dosage, the prescribing doctor, and their contact information in case you lose your medicine or carry-on while traveling. Also, be certain to leave prescription and carry-on medications in their original containers; this makes it easier to get through airport security and other customs checkpoints.

For international travel, talk with your doctor about where you are going to see if there are specific medications they would encourage you to bring along. For instance, if you are traveling to a country where malaria is prevalent, a doctor may prescribe Atovaquone/Proguanil.

What Over-the-Counter Medication Should I Pack?

As for over-the-counter medication, carefully consider the most common maladies for yourself and your travel companions. If you are prone to allergies, have trouble sleeping, or have digestive problems, make sure to bring medication that will help to alleviate your symptoms. Be sure to bring along pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to quell achy backs, feet, and legs, as many people do not realize the amount of walking they do on vacation.

If you are taking a cruise or taking to any body of water for an extended period of time, or if you suffer from queasiness while riding in a car for long periods, consider motion-sickness medication, such as Dramamine or Scopolamine transdermal patches.

Other common sickness medications travelers may want to consider are antidiarrheal or anti acid medications. Whether indulging too much in local dishes or the toll contaminated food takes on your body, being prepared with a medication that deals with an upset stomach may come in handy.

Coming into contact with so many people and places also leaves you exposed to countless germs and bacteria, so be sure to pack a decongestant in case you get the sniffles.

If you are traveling with children, consider their needs as well as their most common health issues to ensure you are well-prepared to make the journey as comfortable as possible.

What First-Aid Items Should I Bring?

As for items to treat minor injuries, band-aids in a variety of shapes and sizes, gauze, bandages, and first-aid tape will go a long way in addressing and dressing cuts, scrapes, and small wounds. Also, be sure to pack alcohol or antiseptic wipes to clean wounds before you dress them.

Meanwhile, instant cold packs for bumps and bruises, aloe vera for burns, tweezers to remove stingers or other foreign objects from the skin, and topical corticosteroids to relieve skin irritations should all be considered. Depending on your means of travel, scissors are also recommended but may not be permitted if you are traveling by plane.

Let a Chesapeake Pharmacist at Chesapeake Rx Help You Pack for Your Next Trip

Whether you are hitting the road or traveling on a plane, make the destination the focus instead of an illness. And if you happen to hit a bump in the road and get sick, being prepared can make all the difference. Talk to a Chesapeake pharmacist at Chesapeake Rx about the best items to pack in your travel bag. Call 443-249-3134 or contact us online for more information. Our pharmacy in Stevensville, Maryland proudly serves customers in Chester and all located on Kent Island.