First aid tips on trips

India is a large country with diverse cultures and climatic patterns, thus different areas have their own set of medical problems. An effort has been made to deal with those problems which are very common and can happen anywhere.

Few things should always be kept in mind before undertaking a long journey:

•	Traveler should always consult her/his personal physician before undertaking the journey and s/he should always carry the medicines prescribed.
•	If the person is advised precautionary vaccinations or medicines before the start of the journey, s/he should follow the instructions strictly.
•	If the person is on any routine medicines, s/he should have adequate stock of medicines with her/him (at least 2 weeks of extra stock apart from the duration of journey) along with the prescription by the physician.
•	The medicines given in the list are for emergency use only. A doctor should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.
•	Dosage given in the list is for adult patients. The thumb rule for children is 12 years and above – adult dose, 6-12 half of adult dose, 3 – 6 one fourth of adult dose, but dosage may differ according the weight/size of the infant.

EMERGENCY KIT- Tablets or syrups according to age

1. Tab Paracetamol or Nimesulide
2. Tab Dicyclomine ( 20 mg ) or Meftal Spas
3. Tab Cetrizine (10mg)
4. Tab Ibuprofen (400mg)
5. Syr Milk of Magnesia
6. Tab Roxithromycin (150mg) or Cap Amoxycillin (150mg)
7. Ciprofloxacin / Tinidazole combination drugs
8. ORS Packets – 2/3
9. Tab Domperidone or Tab Metoclopromide 10mg
10. Antibiotic ointment/cream for wounds
11. Bandaid / gauze
12. Mosquito repellent cream
13. Calamine lotion
14. Crepe bandage
15. Anti inflammatory/pain killer ointment (like Voveron) for external use

Simple Injuries

Wounds

• The wound should be cleaned with an antiseptic solution
• Dressing should be done with antiseptic cream
• Doctor should be consulted for internal injuries

Twist Injuries

• Cold compress on the area affected
• Pain killer like Ibuprofen 400 mg, three times a day
• Crepe bandage to be applied lightly to immobilise the joint for one to two days

Acute Diarrhea/Gastroenteritis

Symptoms – Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and maybe fever

Treatment
• Adequate fluid replacement in form of juices, soups, glucose and electrolyte drinks (Common trade brands – Walyte / Electral)
• Milk and milk products to be avoided
• Tab Ciprofloxacin/Tinidazole combination (Cifran-CT/Ciplox T2) should be taken twice a day.

Abdominal Pains

Causes – can be a variety of medical or surgical reasons

Treatment
• Depends on the cause but for colic pains (due to GI infections, gall bladder stone, kidney/ovo-urinary stones)
• Tab Meftal Spas 2 tabs – and can be repeated after 6 hours, but consultation with physician is essential.

Constipation

Symptoms – fretfulness, loss of appetite, intermittent abdominal pain, distension

Treatment
• Lactose solution 15 to 20 ml at night or
• Syrup Magnesium Sulphate 15 to 20 ml at night

Vomiting

Causes – acidity, food poisoning, dehydration due to heat, travel sickness

Treatment
• Patient should take frequent sips of ORS/cold water
• Avoid heavy meals before traveling to avoid motion sickness
• Tab. Domperidone (Domstal) 10mg , 3 times a day
• Tab. Maxeron/Reglan 10mg, 3 times a day
• To prevent motion sickness Tab. Cyclizine or Stugil ½ an hour before starting journey

Dehydration

Causes – vomiting, diarrhea, fluid loss due to burns

Treatment
• ORS one glass of water + 1 pinch of common salt + 1 tsp of sugar + 10 drops of lime juice
• Common brands of ORS Electral / Walyte

Burns
• Burnt area to be kept under running cold water avoid ice cold water
• Do not puncture the bullae
• Apply silver or soframycin ointment
• Cover with sterile dressing
• Tab. Paracetamol 500mg, 6 hrs if there is pain

Mosquito and Insect Bites
• Tab. Cetzine 10 mg, once a day
• Topical application of calamine lotion
• Pain killer Ibuprofen 100 mg if required

Acute Fever

Any temperature greater than 37.7 deg. C

Treatment
• Hydrotherapy and rest
• Tab. Paracetamol (common trade names Crocin, Calpol) 500 – 1000 mg 6 to 8 hrly or
• Tab Ibuprofen 400-600mg 8 hrly (common trade name Brufen)
• Antibiotics/Antibacterial are to be given only after physicians consultation

Fever in Children
• Syr. Paracetamol 15mg/kg dose can be repeated 6 hourly
• Syr. Ibuprofen 10mg/kg. 1 dose can be repeated at 6 hourly intervals.

Throat Infections

Symptoms – Pain in the throat, aggravation or swelling with congested feeling, fever

Treatment
• Take plenty of fluids
• Take rest
• Take warm saline gargles
• Tab. Roxithromycin150mg, twice a day for 5 days
• Common drugs – Roxid, Roxeplin or Cap. Mox 500mg 3 times a day
• Tab Paracetamol 500mg 3 times a day for fever and body pain

Common Cold/Allergies
A cold is the most common acute viral infection. Allergies may be triggered by many allergens.

Symptoms – running or blocked nose, general bodyache with fever and irritation of throat

Treatment
• Tab. Cetzine (Zyrtec, Cetzine) 10mg once a day for 5 days
• Tab. Paracetamol 500mg 3-4 times a day
• In case of nasal obstruction - Epsedrine 0.75% nasal drops 3 times per day in each nostril.