Travel Health Essentials

Travel Health Essentials: Staying Healthy on Your Summer Adventures

The weather is warming up and we’re getting excited about summer adventures. Staying healthy while you travel means you can make the most of the experience and planning can help you to maintain your health while you are away from home. Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we are always on hand to help you with your healthcare decisions and we stock all the products you need to make your life easier, at home and while you are travelling.

Read on to find out more about our recommendations for the travel health essentials that will keep you healthy on your summer adventures and share our top tips. We want to help you to enjoy your summer holidays and day trips and our friendly team will be happy to help with any aspect of your healthcare planning.

Take care of your health as you travel

Travelling can be great fun but can also be stressful and it is vital to take care of your health while you are away. Preparing in advance means you will be able to handle any healthcare emergency, accident or injury while you are away, and we recommend the following:

1. Pack a first aid kit. Preparing for all eventualities means carrying a first aid kit that will enable you to deal with any health emergencies or situations while you are away from home. You can choose a pre-packaged first-aid kit that will contain a selection of products to help you manage first-aid situations, or you can build your kit with the specific requirements of your family in mind. This can be a useful option since it allows you to personalise your kit to suit the type of trip you are taking and any individual healthcare needs. Later, we’ll provide more information about what to include in your travel first aid kit.
2. Eat well. Eating well and keeping to a fairly regular schedule with your meals can help avoid disruption to your digestive system and this can reduce stress. We recommend eating a balanced diet whether you are at home or travelling, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, proteins and whole grains. It can be tempting to indulge in a lot of sugary snacks while you are on holiday but this can be a great opportunity to explore the fresh produce locally and you will find that children will be delighted by a selection of exotic fruits that will keep them healthy and help them to stay hydrated, too. Having a selection of healthier snacks will help to reduce the need to buy fast food options, and you can ensure that you have more filling options such as nuts and dried fruit to keep your energy levels up.
3. Drink plenty of water. When you are on holiday or travelling in a warmer climate, it is easy to get dehydrated and you should ensure that you drink plenty of water while you are adventuring. Travelling can involve exposure to dry environments such as airplanes and buses so it is essential to drink a lot while you are in transit, too. Reusable water bottles are very helpful here and each family member can take responsibility for their drinks, refilling at water fountains and cafes whenever necessary.
4. Protect yourself from the sun. Sun exposure can cause lasting skin damage, including skin cancer, and can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It is vital to protect yourself and your family from the harmful rays of the sun by using sun cream or lotion with a high SPF every day, especially in hot weather. Wearing thin, cool clothing will help to protect you against sunburn, as will a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
5. Be aware of good hygiene practices. You should encourage good hand washing and sanitising practices when you are travelling or at home and this includes washing hands frequently, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. You should ensure that you and your family use soap and water to wash your hands wherever you can and use hand sanitiser when running water is not available. Check whether the tap water is suitable for drinking at your destination, and be prepared to buy bottled water if not. If you are in a location where tap water is unsafe, you might consider whether salads and other fresh options may carry bacteria from being washed in this water.
6. Sleep well. It can sometimes be difficult to sleep when you are on holiday and this can increase stress and make accidents and illness more likely. Take any sleep aids you find helpful with you on your travels, including earplugs, eye masks or white noise devices, and use these to help you relax and sleep well while you are away. Sleeping well will support your immune system and help you to enjoy your adventures, so it is worth experimenting with relaxation tracks and relaxation products before you go away. Physical activity promotes healthy sleep so make sure you and your family get out in the fresh air every day, swimming or spending time exploring the local area.
7. Check local health information. When you are planning a trip abroad, it’s essential to check whether your destination has any particular health risks. You may find that certain travel vaccinations are mandatory at your destination, or that you need to take extra precautions such as anti-malarial medication or a mosquito net. Talk to a healthcare professional or doctor if you have any questions, and find the relevant information for your destination online from a legitimate source. Research local health facilities and check whether your health insurance and travel insurance will cover emergency treatment and the cost of repatriation should a medical emergency occur.
8. Prepare as much as possible. Being prepared means you are less likely to be surprised by difficult situations while you are away from home. This includes all of the above, such as preparing a first aid kit and finding out where to get medical help while you are away, but also involves researching your travel plans carefully to minimise stress. Knowing how to get from the airport to your destination or how to hire a car, for instance, can save you hours of time and stress and help to keep you feeling great.

These simple tips can help you to protect your health while you are travelling so that you can make the most of your trip or holiday, wherever you are heading!

Your travel first aid kit

Your travel first aid kit will contain all the basics you need to deal with injuries and accidents, as well as some travel-specific medications such as insect repellents and motion sickness remedies. Products we recommend include:

• Wound dressings. Wounds should be dressed to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering them and to help promote healing, so these are a must for your first aid kit. We like the Medisite Transparent Dressing with Grid to make it easy to monitor the healing process.
• Plasters. Plasters are a first aid kit essential, wherever you are in the world. We recommend having a range of sizes to ensure that you have the appropriate option to hand whether you are dealing with a grazed knee or a broken fingernail!
• Alcohol swabs. Alcohol swabs or antiseptic wipes are essential to clean wounds and to clean your hands before administering first aid. Elastoplast wound spray is another great option, an easy-to-use antiseptic spray that is great for cleaning wounds before applying dressings.
• Support bandages. A sprain or strain injury can stop you from enjoying your travels and a support bandage such as this Elastic Tubular Support can be the perfect solution. It’s suitable for joint and muscle injuries and can be used on the wrist, leg, ankle or arm so you can just choose the size you need.
• Insect repellent. Depending on where you are travelling, insect repellent can be a very important item to pack! Check the ingredients carefully, especially if you plan to use an insecticide-based product around children.
• Anti-sickness solutions. If anyone in your family suffers from travel sickness, this can make holidays hard work! It’s a good idea to include some options in your first aid kit, such as Kwells, which are a fast-acting remedy for travel sickness.

Visit Gray’s Pharmacy Today

Here at Gray’s Pharmacy, we work hard to support families in our local community and our experienced Pharmacists can help you with all your health-related queries. We offer online prescription services, online doctor feedback and online shopping and delivery options, as well as an extensive face-to-face services in store, and we can help you with dietary and lifestyle advice as well as finding the medications you need.

We have a wide range of healthcare and personal care products available online and in-store, as well as an excellent selection of hair and beauty products and gifts. Browse our online store or visit our Irish independently-owned community Pharmacy in Castletroy, Limerick, where we’re always happy to help.