“In our holiday luggage, never forget to have a medicine cabinetbecause we can always find unforeseen events that can spoil our days of rest“, he warns us Doctor José Carlos Bastida, President of the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG) of Galicia.
That’s why we asked you to help us prepare this first aid materialto have more guarantees that we will take advantage of these days.
What to put in the medicine cabinet on vacation
As for its content, it is not about leaving with a hospital in tow. First of all, don’t forget the usual medications. In the case of allergies, antihistamines or corticosteroids prescribed by your doctor.
Artificial tears aren’t usually in our medicine cabinet despite eye irritation being common
For the rest, it should cover those setbacks that could happen to us during our trip, and which we can fix ourselves.
- Analgesics (paracetamol), anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen), acetylsalicylic acid: for headaches, muscle aches, menstrual pain and bumps.
- A thermometer.
- healing materials: antiseptic (crystalmine), gauze, bandages and plaster.
- artificial tears. This is a period of easy eye irritation.
- If we are prone to motion sickness, a product to prevent them (hipramine).
- Nail tweezers to remove spikes or other objects that have become stuck.
- products for relieve bites insects or small shots.
what to pack in the medicine cabinet if you’re going on a trip
In summer there is also a series of products that must be included because, depending on the destination, it could be more complicated to buy them with guarantees:
- For digestive disorders: if necessary, antacids and oral serum packets.
- insect repellents.
- Factor 30 photo protectors the superior; photo included lip balms.
- after-sun lotions or moisturizing creams for after sun exposure.
- In these times of pandemic, don’t forget the masks and hydroalcoholic gel.
- In case of insomnia, the jet lag may increase your discomfort, so if necessary we may also include preparations with melatonin that helps us fall asleep.
Don’t forget, while traveling on a plane, keep your medication in your hand luggage essential and that, if the suitcase is lost, you will not be able to buy it at destination because you need a prescription. You can leave the box to occupy less, and only take the assay paper.
“Beware of antibiotics Dr. Bastida reminds us of this, because there are countries where it is easily obtained without a prescription. And never self-medicate; if necessary, consult a doctor.
Also, remember that there are several compulsory or recommended vaccinations for travel to developing countries.
the most common first aid in summer
Anything can happen on a trip, as can also happen to us at home. But what we should hope for the most is that we have new experiences that enrich us as people. So the first thing is learn to have fun without being overwhelmed.
Before a jellyfish sting, always wash the area with sea water, never with fresh water
However, it is worth reviewing a series of typical situations of the summer season And what can we monitor?
- Faintness or syncope. “Son temporary power outagesmost often due to hypotension, due to dehydration“recalls Dr. Bastida.
Workaround: It’s handy drink lots of fluids to prevent them and seek get up slowly if we have been lying or sitting for a while.
- Sudden temperature change. “Pay attention to fast dives in cold watersince they could cause us a hydrocution (commonly known as “digestion cups”)“, Explain. By drastically lowering our outdoor temperature, the body quickly redistributes the blood from our internal organs to the skin.
Solution: we will try go slowly in the waterafter exposure to the sun, so that the body adapts to these temperature changes.
- stings on the beaches: jellyfish and pouts. Always ask before bathing and glasses holder know where you are swimming.
Solution: Always clean the area with seawater or saline (we will never use soft water) and apply cold in the area. You can take painkillers.
What to do in a medical emergency
We may encounter two situations that require specialized carebut in which we can give a FIRST AID.
- heatstroke. “This is a medical emergency, in which our temperature rises above 40 degrees, with failures in the central nervous system, when the body temperature regulation system breaks down“explains the doctor.
It can occur in people who perform intense physical activities in high temperature conditions, or in the elderly during heat waves. “They usually start with cramps in extremities, weakness, increased sweating, nausea, headache“, enumerates the specialist.
What can we do: you must always notify the emergency services and lower your temperature, take the person to a shaded placecool, lying on your back and feet raised about 30 cm. Apply a cold compress on the head, armpits, groin and neck.
Before attempting to resuscitate a drowning person, you must call for help
- drowning. “First, three phases: protect, warn and rescue. It is better to remove the danger than to move the wounded; contact emergency immediately and explain the situation, then help the person trying to save their life“, explains Dr. Bastille.
What can we do: we will first check if the person is breathing, if he responds or not to the stimuli.
- If he’s breathing, we’ll put him in lateral position.
- If not breathing, resuscitation consists in chest compressions hands joined and arms outstretched, at the rate of 100/minute.
The right thing would be to combine 30 compressions and two ventilations. For the mouth to mouthwe tilt the head back slightly to open the airways, pinching the nose and expelling the air into the person’s mouth.