Pharmacist reveals everything you must pack in your holiday first aid kit
WHEN it comes to holiday packing, flip flops, swim suits and sunglasses might be top of your list but packing a few essentials in a holiday first aid kit could save you time and money on your well earned fun in the sun.
Adrian Price, Superintendent pharmacist at Tesco says packing a few things from home can mean bites, scrapes and tummy upsets are sorted quickly rather than getting worse and needing intervention.
He said: “The perfect holiday first aid kit will most likely have the things you have at home anyway.
“It’s just a case of thinking about what you might encounter and making sure you pack it.
“In mainland Europe, chemists and pharmacies are often denoted by the green cross, but if you’re on a tour holiday or staying in a hotel and need pharmacy help, ask your operator or reception so they can help.”
Here, Adrian reveals the things to pack to make your holiday a relaxing one…
Sun cream
Lots of us go on holiday and end up with scorched skin or worse, sunburn, when we’ve been round the pool or on the beach all day.
You need a sun cream or spray that’s SPF 30 as a minimum as we know that blocks the harmful UVB rays.
It should be applied every one to two hours, more if you’re in and out of the water and towelling down in between.
Opt for a spray for easy application too.
TESCO SOLEIL MOISTURISING SUN PROTECTION SPRAY SPF50 200ML £3.60
After sun
Lots of us think about sun block but not many people moisturise after a day spent in the sun, which can have a naturally drying effect.
Use once after showering and the aloe vera ingredient soothes and cools skin.
TESCO SOLEIL AFTER SUN SOOTHING & MOISTURISING SPRAY WITH ALOE VERA 200ML £3.00
Insect repellent
Not something many people use in the UK but it’s better to use an insect repellent rather than deal with a painful bite.
Use as and when needed and follow the instructions on the bottle.
If you’re on a city break or out all day, it might be worth applying in the morning so you don’t have to take it with you.
Even if you don’t react to bites at home, there’s a risk you might when you’re away and no one needs itchy bites keeping them awake on holiday.
TESCO EXTRA STRENGTH INSECT REPELLENT SPRAY 125Ml £4.20
Bite and sting cream
If the worst happens and you do get bitten by a bug or insect or manage to find a nettle while you’re away, the hydrocortisone in this will soothe the inflamed and infected skin.
If it’s a jellyfish sting, I’d suggest seeking out a local pharmacy for advice as they’ll be more familiar with what’s in their local waters.
TESCO BITE & STING HYDROCORTISONE CREAM 1% 10G £ 2.60
Anti histamine
If you usually take a daily antihistamine when you’re at home, there’s no reason to stop while you’re on holiday.
Similarly, if you’re affected by hay fever at certain times of the year it might be worth taking them with you as pollen and grasses can be potent at different times of the year in other countries.
TESCO HAYFEVER & ALLERGY 30 TBLTS £2.90
Blister plasters
Lots of people buy new sandals or trainers when they go on holiday only to find their city break or walk around the local market curtailed because their new footwear hurts.
Normal plasters can help blisters but blister plasters are formulated slightly differently so if you’re planning on doing a lot of walking, it’s worth taking some with you.
TESCO STERILE BLISTER PLASTERS 5’S £3.00
Paracetamol
No discerning holiday maker leaves without it.
Paracetamol will help with a multitude of issues from a headache from dehydration or a couple of beers too many the night before.
It’ll also help with low level sun burn pain as well as sore bites.
PARACETAMOL TABLETS 500MG 16 PACK £ 0.39
Children’s paracetamol
If you’re travelling with little ones, make sure you take it with you.
Perfect for mild fever’s, head aches and general aches and pains, it’s worth taking sachets if you’re on the go and travelling rather than a bottle that could get crushed in transit.
CALPOL INFANT S/FREE 100ML £3.30
Sterile dressings
These might seem a step too far but if sunburn has blistered or if you’ve cut your foot on some jagged rocks or glass, a sterile dressing is larger than a plaster and means you can apply it and know you’re not likely to get an infection.
They’re cheap, light and will save you a trip to the chemist or reception if the worst happens.
TESCO HEALTH STERILE DRESSING LARGE 5 PACK £ 1.50
Hand gel
Whether you’re travelling in the air, on a train or on a boat, it’s really easy to pick up germs and bugs when you’re in transit because of the volume of people travelling at the same time.
We got used to using hand gel in the pandemic so take some with you while you’re travelling to limit exposure to germs.
TESCO HEALTH + ANTIBACTERIAL HAND GEL 50ML £0.95
Diarrhoea relief capsules
If you’ve developed a bit of a tummy issue while you’ve been away, the last thing you want to worry about is travelling home and needing the toilet, these will suspend diarrhoea so are worth considering if you’re going somewhere with very different cuisine to what you’re used to.
TESCO DIARRHOEA RELIEF CAPSULES LOPERAMIDE 6S £ 1.15
Rehydration sachets
If you get diarrhoea when you’re away it’s best to start with rehydration sachets 12 to 24 hours after you first develop symptoms.
Make sure you’re hydrating with water the second it starts but if it persists, start using rehydration sachets after half or a full day of symptoms.
DIORALYTE BLACKCURRANT 6 SACHETS £4
Heartburn and acid reflux capsules
It’s easy to overindulge when you’re on holiday, whether that’s a free buffet or ordering rich food when you don’t normally.
Taking something with you that’ll help with heartburn and acid reflux means you can enjoy what you want without worrying about it keeping you awake at night or when you’re resting.
HEALTH 20MG HEARTBURN & ACID REFLUX 14 CPSLS £10.00
Ibuprofen
It’s always worth packing both adult and child ibuprofen as it’s beneficial in lots of different circumstances.
It can help get rid of headaches from too much sunshine or dehydration.
It’s an anti inflammatory so can also help with sore muscles and menstrual pain too.
CHILDRENS IBUPROFEN SUSPENSION 100ML £ 2.10
TESCO IBUPROFEN 200MG 16 TABLETS £ 0.42