Although no one wishes for a medical emergency when on a trip, they sometimesarise.
With limited emergency agencies all over Nigeria, having a
First Aid kit to prevent infections or stop an escalating a medical problem is important.
The contents vary depending on your knowledge and location. What a professional medical staff would pack for his kit will be far different from what the layman would pack.
Regardless, the kit should contain the bare basics to stop bleeding, care for wounds/abrasions (i.e. scrapes), blisters, burns, fractures, sprains etc.
Our list is for the average Nigerian traveller.
Items you can include in your First Aid Kit
- A small pair of scissors, tweezers, and maybe a knife.
- A few sachets of Rehydration salt (alsoknown as ORS. Carry along flavoured ones if you are travelling with kids).
- Petroleum Jelly (e.g. Vaseline helps to prevent burns).
- Mosquito net or repellent creams/sprays
- Sterile Bandages and Gauze Dressings
- Different sizes and shapes of Plasters/tapes
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes and sanitizers.
- Medicines like painkillers (paracetamol/ibuprofen), antihistamines (cough, nasal congestion and sore throat medicines), Antacid/Mist. Mag., Pirton, anti-diarrhoea tablets (like Loperamide), etc.
- Antiseptics liquids (like spirits, Dettol etc.) and antibiotic ointments.
- Thermometer and Safety pins.
Don’t forget to include a
First Aid manual or an instruction booklet/card in the kit. The booklet should contain a write up of your medical history and emergency numbers to call. The numbers could be of your next of kin, doctor, or state/national rapid response agencies. It’ll help if you or someone else gets unconscious on a trip and someone searches your bag, that could be of help.
You don’t need a fancy or expensive bag to pack a first aid kit. It doesn’t have to be big or heavy either. A simple nylon bag (like a zip-lock bag) or waterproof purse/container would do. Just make sure the contents are visible so you know what the bag is for.
It is advisable that you pack these items way ahead of a scheduled travel date so that when the times comes, you can simply put your kit in your travel bag.
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This article was first published on 15th April 2018
ann
Ann Esievoadje is a freelance writer who is passionate about encouraging a reading culture and personal development. She has authored two books, The Quilt (fiction) and Being Mummy and Me (non-fiction). She manages Pulchra Publishing which offers a content creation/editing, transcription, different forms of writing (including Ghostwriting) service and her blog, Life Love and Anything Goes at annesievoadje.blogspot.com.ng. You can reach her at annesievoadje@gmail.com
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