First aid kit essentials for your summer holiday

It’s time to get outside and enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities offered by South Africa’s beach, bush or mountains ­– while wearing your mask and maintaining physical distancing, of course!

However, don’t go unprepared. Clicks Pharmacist Waheed Abdurahman recommends that you keep these items handy so that mishaps don’t put an end to your summer fun. 

After-sun care

The goal is obviously not to get burnt in the first place (wear sun block!), but if you come home finding your skin is red, raw, itchy and hot, you’ll need the soothing care of a moisturising after-sun cream or cooling gel to prevent lasting damage. A recent study has also shown that a compound in aloe vera called aloin has anti-inflammatory benefits, which will help to moisturise the skin and avert the peeling that sometimes happens with sunburns. Aloe-vera gel is a great addition to your kit, and can also help with other skin irritations.

Anti-diarrhoeals

Travelling can bring out the worst in your tummy. Don’t let you or a family member be caught short and keep a supply of anti-diarrhoeals on hand for any unexpected upsets. 

Antihistamine cream

A hydrocortisone cream is an essential item to pack in your medical kit. It’s ideal to help relieve the pain, itching and inflammation caused by insect bites, stings – think blue bottles or jellyfish, if you're planning anytime by the seaside – and nettle rash. Also, if you can stop the itching, you’ll stop yourself scratching the area and possibly causing a secondary infection. 

Antihistamine pills

If your family is prone to allergies, don’t forget to pack some allergy medication, which will especially help with hay fever or other minor allergic reactions. Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation.

Anti-Malaria ABCs

Travelling to a malaria area? The South African Department of Health guidelines advise an “ABC” approach to prevention.
A: Awareness and assessment of malaria risk. 
B: Avoidance of mosquito bites.
C: Compliance with chemoprophylaxis (preventative medication), when indicated. 

To reduce your chances of being bitten, keep insect repellent in a spray or cream to hand for your exposed areas. Natural products containing citronella are great for kids and sensitive skins. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best anti-malarial prophylaxis, depending on which area you are visiting, but the choice is usually between mefloquine, doxycycline and atovaquone-proguanil.

Burn shields

Accidents can easily happen around open fires and braais. Your first best defence is cold running water over the burn, but we also recommend a sterile hydrogel dressing that helps cool and soothe burns and scalds. It’s safe for both children’s skin and facial burns. 

Eye drops

For dusty and dry environments, and to prevent minor infections of the eye, administer some eye drops to help keep your eyes clean and healthy. 

Motion sickness pills

Motion sickness is caused when the movement you sense with your inner ear is different from the movement you picture and can commonly happen when travelling by boat, plane or car. Anybody can suffer from motion sickness so, avoid the headaches, sweating, nausea and vomiting associated with being on the move, by including motion sickness pills in your handy first-aid kit.

Oral electrolyte replacement solution

If you’ve had a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea that has caused dehydration in your body, you will need a few packs of Rehidrat or similar. This contains an optimal balance of sugars, salts and minerals to replenish lost fluids and help prevent and treat dehydration and electrolyte depletion.

Protective gloves

When tending to wounds, it’s safer to do so wearing disposable protective gloves, so keep a few in your medical kit. 

Painkillers

Make sure your kit is equipped with over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Also if you have a family member who needs daily or chronic medication, keep tabs on supplies so you don’t run out. 

Thermometer

It’s advisable, despite being on holiday, to regularly check your and your family’s temperature to track any early symptoms of COVID-19 of any other strain of cold or flu.  

Tweezers

Always keep a pair of sterilised tweezers in your kit. Essential for removing tricky splinters and thorns, and even for tick removal, if needed.

Wound care

Outdoor activities can sometimes result in cuts and bruises. That’s why your first-aid kit should always contain a range of bandages and plasters for various-sized injuries as well as waterproof tape. Include a pack of sterile wipes for the person who’s treating the wound to clean their hands as well as to wipe down the injured area. We also recommend an antiseptic cream for killing the germs that cause infection.

Now that you’ve got your kit ready, you should be equipped for most minor medical eventualities. So relax, sit back and enjoy the summer holiday, safely!