Travel First Aid Essentials

Take the proper precautions and don’t let the unexpected spoil your holiday. With half term just around the corner, many of you will be taking the opportunity to head away on holiday. And while we all hope that your getaways are fun and accident-free, sometimes the unexpected can happen, and we want to make sure you’re prepared for any minor injuries or illnesses.

We’ve put together the below advice to make sure you can be ready for any surprising bumps, scrapes, illnesses or worse while you’re away. However, you should tailor your travel first aid essentials to your holiday. For example, if you’re off to the beach with toddlers and teenagers you will probably need to pack and prepare slightly differently than if you’re scaling Mount Fuji.

While we’re all super careful that we pack the holiday essentials like passport, flip flops and swimsuit, one of the important items that often gets forgotten is a travel first aid kit. It can be essential to tackling some of the more simple problems you might encounter, these are just some of the things we recommend you include in yours.

● First aid quick reference card

● Disposable latex-free exam gloves

● Adhesive plasters in assorted sizes

● Hydro-colloid blister plasters

● Gauze

● Adhesive first aid tape

● Elasticated bandage wrap

● Thermometer

● Aloe Vera gel for treatment of minor burns

● Topical corticosteroids for symptomatic relief of bites, stings and other skin

irritations

● Steri-strips

● Cotton swab

● Antiseptic and antibacterial (to prevent infection) such as iodine or alcohol based preparations

● Saline sachets to wash out wounds

● Tweezers

● If undertaking remote or high risk travel then consider taking sterile equipment such as: lancets, assorted syringes, needles, IV Cannula, dental needle

Even though this might sound obvious (and isn’t necessarily first aid), you should make sure you have enough of any medication you take regularly. It is best to take more than you need, so that you can avoid any added stress to a delayed journey by having an extra supply. It could prove to be tricky trying to get emergency medication.

When you arrive at your destination it’s a good idea to have a bit of an explore to find out where the nearest pharmacy and hospital are, just in case.

Every single person with TUI Travel Insurance has access to the Doctor Please! app,

meaning an English speaking GP is available to chat 24/7 while you’re abroad. Our doctors can prescribe medication and send it to the nearest pharmacy where you are, or alternatively can recommend the best local over-the-counter medication (e.g. a Spanish brand of ibuprofen).

Any prescriptions or consultations you have over the app are automatically saved, so you can have them for reference when you get home and visit your GP.

We recommend downloading the app before you head off on your holiday so it’s ready to go just in case you need it. You can download the app from one of the links below.

Apple Store:

Google Play (Android devices):

In the unfortunate event that you need more than just first aid, having travel insurance will give you the peace of mind that any emergency medical expenses will be taken care of.

With TUI Travel Insurance you can adjust your cover for the type of trip you’re going on and to the size of the group you’re travelling with.

As we mentioned at the top, we really hope you won’t need to use any of the above advice, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. And we wouldn’t want anything to interrupt your holiday, wherever you may be travelling to.

Safe travels!

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/first-aid

https://insurance.tui.co.uk/