How to pack a first aid box for travel

By Falling sick on holiday is a nightmare from hell, almost always triggered by erratic eating and drinking in unfamiliar places. Add to that fatigue, which brings down immunity, and you have the healthiest of people succumbing to infections such as travellers’ diarrhoea, fever, cough and allergies

By Falling sick on holiday is a nightmare from hell, almost always triggered by erratic eating and drinking in unfamiliar places. Add to that fatigue, which brings down immunity, and you have the healthiest of people succumbing to infections such as travellers’ diarrhoea, fever, cough and allergies.

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Here’s an essential drug checklist
Paracetamol for fever and pain, ibuprofen and aspirin for pain.

Antihistamines such as cetirizine and levocetirizine to treat allergies and prevent motion sickness.

Cold and cough medicines.
Antibiotics. It's best to get your doctor to prescribe a regular five-to-seven day course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, such as ampicillin or erythromycin, for emergencies.

Antiseptic and medicated cotton for cuts and wounds.

Bandages, including crepe bandage for sprains and gauze, and
medicated plasters such as Band-Aid.

Loperamide or diphenoxylate for diarrhoea, such as lopamide and lomotil.

Water purification tablets or iodine, if you are going off the beaten track with suspect water purification facilities.
Prescription medication if needed, such as diabetes and blood pressure medication.

Oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration, especially when travelling to a warm place with young children.

Check for essential vaccinations needed for overseas travel, such as yellow fever vaccination for several countries in Africa and South America.