The SPICE! Guide to First Aid Kits

First Aid in a Tropical Climate.
Even if you travel in the developed countries of the west, you may have an accident or injury that requires minor first aid. Accessing health care in an unfamiliar country, especially for a minor injury or cut, may present problems…even more so in the less developed world. While Thailand has relatively good health care infrastructure, it is wise to assemble your own travel first aid kit.

In the major centers in Thailand you are always within easy reach of a hospital where the odd, minor injury can be treated. However the further you travel from large population centers, the more difficult it is to find any kind of good health care facilities. This is especially so in the depths of Isaan or in Burma, Laos, and Cambodia where a basic, first aid kit is essential.

First of all, it is unnecessary to buy expensive, pre-packed kits from websites or pharmacies because it is easy to assemble an adequate kit yourself.

What you pack will depend on a number of factors: your destination, your gender and age, pre-existing conditions, length of travel, and the like.

What to pack?
Well there are the obvious items like:
• Assorted sizes of waterproof medical plasters (Band-Aids or Elastoplasts).
• Bandages from ½ to 6 inches (1.25 cm to 15.25 cm) wide both conforming and support, and safety pins to fasten them.
• Adhesive tape like ‘Steristrip.
• Gauze pads.
•Triangular bandages to support injured arms or secure large dressings to cuts and lacerations.
• Sterile eye wash for the removal of grit and dust from the eye.
• Artificial tear eye drops: two bottles, mark one for the left and one for the right eye to avoid cross contamination.
• Eye patches.
• Calamine (or similar) lotion to sooth sunburn, skin irritations, and minor insect bites.

Then pack these:
• Antibiotics for the treatment of mild to moder ate diarrohea (dysentery is very different and needs hospital treatment).
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen in the USA) or Aspirin for aches and pains and to decrease low- grade fevers of 38.5o C (101o F) and below.
• Gut calming tablets from antiacids to Imodium.
•Water sterilizing tablets.
•Mild laxatives.
•Cough expectorant and also a suppressant.
•Strepsils or some other lozenges for sore throats.
•A nasal decongestant spray or tablets.
•1% hydrocortisone cream for stings and skin irritation.
•Antifungal and antimicrobial creams.

Pastes, ointments and gels are considered to be liquid so unless they are absolutely necessary, pack them in check-in bags.

Other items:
Take with you…
• Digital or disposable thermometers.
• Scissors.
• Tweezers.
• Sterile cotton buds to use as applicators.
• Sterile cotton swabs or balls.
• Waterless hand cleaners.
•Oral rehydration tablets/powders.

Reading material
While not the absorbing bodice ripper or murder mystery many of us read in the departure lounge, a good, mini, first aid book is essential. After all if your travelling companion has a motorbike accident, the last thing you want is to make his injuries worse (or causes his demise) by inappropriate care and handling.You will also need to know how to use the things you have brought in your kit.

Personal prescription medicines
When bringing your own prescription medications, keep them in your carry-on bag and make sure that they are in their original packets that include the pharmacy/hospital label. It is wise to include a note or letter from your doctor that should be on his office or the hospital’s notepaper or letterhead, listing your daily requirements.

• Bring an extra supply with you, in your packed bag in case you lose your carry-on luggage or just
in case there is some unforeseen event that will delay your return home.
•Make a complete list of your medications with the internationally approved name and not the company trade name.
For example, the approved name for Glucophage is Metformin Hydrochloride, use this name and not Glucophage.
•As it is important to maintain your usual medication schedule, bring along a second watch and keep it set to your home time zone so you can take your medications at the usual times while you are in transit.
•You may also wish to pack some sterile syringes; 2 ml and 5 ml sizes are adequate, as well as alcohol swabs for cleaning around wounds or injection sites. It is best to get a prescription from your doctor for
the syringes and needles, along with an explanatory note. Also, you should have a copy of the prescription
with you. These items will have to be placed in your check-in baggage.

Declare liquid medications like insulin, and show a medical certificate at the airport security check, or pack in your check-in luggage.

Remember, Thailand, like all its neighboring countries, has very strict anti-drug legislation; follow our advice to avoid misunderstanding and a lot of hassle, as well as to help keep you safe.