First Aid Tips for Family Summer Holidays

Your summer holiday is booked, and you’re looking forward to relaxing with your family, but have you thought about what you’ll do if you or a family member has an accident or requires first aid while you’re away? Whether you’re on a city break abroad or a camping holiday in Ireland, you may need to give first aid or seek medical advice when you’re on holiday, and this will be much easier if you have thought about it beforehand.

A simple checklist can help you to ensure that you are well prepared for accidents or incidents that occur on your holidays, and we’ve provided one here to help you to make the most of your travels. Let’s take a look at some summer holiday first aid tips for families.

 

First Aid Travel Essentials

If you’re a parent, you probably take a small first aid kit with you wherever you go – including on your holidays. However, there are a few things that can be especially helpful when you are travelling and are further away from familiar healthcare or from first aid essentials you recognise.

Before you go on holiday, you are welcome to come in and discuss your travel plans with us so that we can help you to find everything you need for your trip. Some destinations will require a little more preparation than others, and planning will help to ensure that your holiday goes smoothly. We recommend the following for your travel first aid kit:

• Prescription medication. When you are on holiday, you’ll usually need to continue taking your regular medications, including antihistamines – and these are often forgotten when you are packing! It can be difficult to locate specific medications when you are travelling abroad, especially if you require a prescription, and prioritising packing these can be very helpful. Make sure all medications are in their original packaging and well labelled so that they are obvious in security checks, and do not mix medicines in the same bottle or box.

 

• Pain relief. A minor problem such as a headache can be devastating on holiday if you do not have the pain relief you need, and this can be hard to find if you do not speak the local language. Pack your usual pain relief for kids – in the original packaging, clearly labelled – and ensure that you have options for every member of the family, including pain relief for adults.

 

• Insect repellent. Insect bites and stings can be very painful and lead to infection, and a good insect repellent will help you to prevent bites while you are on holiday. You can chat with your pharmacist before you go on holiday to find the best insect repellent for your whole family, and we will help you to ensure you have packed everything you need to keep yourself and your family safe.

 

• Antiseptic creams. Being able to clean a wound properly is vital, and this will help to prevent infection and speed up healing. Antiseptic creams are a basic first aid essential, and you should include them in your travel first aid kit. Remember that using water to clean a wound is only a good choice when you know that the local water is clean and safe for drinking.

 

• Adhesive dressings and bandages. Plasters, adhesive dressings and bandages can all be essential to help manage an injury that has just occurred, and can buy you the time to seek professional medical advice. These are light and easy to include in your first aid kit and can give you the peace of mind you need.

 

• Rehydration sachets. If you or a family member has a sickness or diarrhoea, it is very important to rehydrate the body in order to heal. This is easiest with rehydration sachets that can replace the essential salts and sugars lost from the body, and these are usually mixed with water and sipped at intervals. It can be difficult to find rehydration sachets if you are in an unfamiliar country and do not speak the language, especially if you are unwell, so it is a good idea to include these in your first aid kit.

 

• Mosquito net. If you are travelling to an area in which mosquitoes can be a problem, it is a good idea to take a mosquito net to sleep under, as this can prevent bites at night. This is especially important for children and is always recommended alongside the use of anti-malarial medications.

 

• First aid tools. Your first aid kit should contain small scissors for cutting bandages or plasters, tweezers for removing debris or splinters, and safety pins for fastening bandages. Ensure that these are compliant with your travel operators, as sharp items may be confiscated if not packed correctly.

 

It is also very important to consider sun protection, as sunburn and heatstroke can be extremely dangerous, especially for children and vulnerable people. Ensure that you have packed plenty of high-factor sunscreen, and apply and reapply whenever you are out in the sun. Try to take regular breaks in the shade and wear loose clothing and a sun hat with a wide brim that helps to protect your skin. If you or a member of your family gets burned, you should apply cool water to the area and use aftersun creams only after the skin is completely cool. If the sunburn is severe, you should seek professional medical advice.

 

Protecting Your Family Abroad

Of course, protecting your family while you are on holiday is not just about your first aid kit. You should also take sensible precautions to reduce the chance of injury or illness, and this may mean that you don’t need the first aid kit at all! Our top tips include:

 

• Checking your water supply. You should always find out whether the local water is safe for drinking, and if the locals tend to drink bottled water, make sure that you stick to this throughout your trip. For some destinations, this may also mean avoiding salads or fruits that have been washed in tap water, in order to avoid waterborne diseases.

 

• Understanding your local area. You should familiarise yourself with the area in which you are staying, ensuring that you know how to seek medical care in an emergency situation. Locate your local hospital and pharmacy, and ensure that you know how to ask for help in the local language so that you can seek advice promptly if an accident or injury occurs.

 

• Taking out comprehensive insurance. You must ensure that your travel insurance is up to date and relevant to the area you are travelling to, and that all activities you undertake are covered. If you are planning specific trips or excursions, you should ensure that these are covered under your travel insurance policy and check the conditions and terms carefully.

 

• Researching carefully. Research your travel destinations carefully, ensuring that you have taken medical advice if there are recommendations for vaccinations or specific medications in the area you are travelling to. You can talk to your pharmacist about your travel plans to ensure that you have everything you need.

 

Travel Healthcare at WonderCare

At WonderCare, we know that it can be daunting to take your family on holiday, and we want to help you enjoy the experience! We have the travel first aid essentials you need so that you can make the most of your trip.

We stock an excellent range of skincare, hair and beauty products for all ages, and you can visit us in store or order from our website for delivery to your door.