I’m planning a vacation on board a cruise
ship. Should I plan on bringing my own medical kit and if so, what
products should be included?
It’s always wise to bring a medical kit with
you on vacation, and especially for extended vacations. Having a few
things on hand can help make your trip more enjoyable and minor
illnesses less inconvenient.
Below are some suggested over-the-counter
items to pack in your medical kit. After looking at these options, each
traveler should personalize his or her own travel kit and decide which
items are the best to carry.
- Antiseptics (eg, betadine, alcohol)
- Antibacterial soap or towelettes, hand-cleaning gel
- Personal toilet tissue (small facial tissue pack works well),
washcloth
- Sterile bandages, ACE (rolled elastic) bandages, cotton
- Scissors, tweezers, teaspoon, tablespoon
- Thermometer – non-breakable digital versions are available
- Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naprosyn
- Motion sickness pills (eg, Dramamine® or Bonine®)--look
for the active ingredient meclizine, which is less sedating
- Sunscreens
- Anti-diarrheal medication (eg, Imodium AD®
[loperamide])
- Antacids, acid-blocking OTC medication (eg, Pepcid®),
and/or Pepto-Bismol®
- Laxatives or stool softeners (diet variances and travel can
cause constipation)
- Over-the-counter vaginal yeast medication, or athlete’s foot
cream
- Over-the-counter sleeping pills
- Salt tablets where excessive perspiration will occur due to
heavy exertion in a tropical area
- Powdered sport drink to make rehydration solution (eg, Gatorade®,
Powerade®)
- Non-sugar sweeteners (eg, Sweet-n-Low®, Equal®,
Splenda®) if medically indicated
- Insect repellent with 30% to 50% DEET recommended (towelletes
impregnated with repellent may be easiest to transport); Picaridin
products are an alternative.
- Common medications and necessities including decongestants,
antacids, antihistamines, condoms, spermicidal gels, other
contraceptives, and tampons/sanitary napkins
- Extra pair of eyeglasses and contacts; hearing aid batteries;
watch batteries
In case of custom inspections, bring
prescription medications in their original containers to avoid questions
related to a mixture of pills in a single bottle. This will also help in
case of emergency refill requests.
If there are too many bottles, the next best
thing is to list medications, including brand and generic names (brand
names often vary overseas) and dosage amounts. Any necessary narcotics
or needles should be carried along with a letter signed by a doctor
explaining why and how they are to be used.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Travelers’ Health. Travel Health Kits.
wwwnc.cdc.gov/.
Accessed January 27, 2012.
- Food and Drug Administration. Health Care Tips for International Travelers.
www.fda.gov/. Accessed January 27, 2012.