Don’t overlook your health when travelling

No matter whom you are going with, the distance you intend to travel or whether the purpose of your travel is for business or pleasure, when it comes to travelling it should be an enjoyable and comfortable experience for all concerned. Wherever in the world you intend to go travelling to, it is important to take care of both yourself and your ongoing health.

Whether it is a completely different culture you are about to visit, or perhaps even visiting a new location in your home country, there are different medical needs to consider for each individual. Wherever there is any travelling involved, it is considered essential to pack your suitcase or backpack with a travel medical kit, as you never know when you may need it.

There are many health risks you may encounter when visiting a new location and depending on the part of the world you are visiting, this will prove to be a deciding factor in the medical requirements of your travel kit. It’s a common misconception to think of travel medical kits appearing like large green boxes that take up considerable amounts of room in your luggage; however, this is almost always not the case. There are fold up kits available that offer all the necessities, whilst also proving inexpensive to purchase and take up little room in your baggage.

The duration of your stay will also perhaps influence the type of travel medical kit you purchase, as in the long term it may actually be more beneficial to own a kit that offers enough storage space for additional personal medication that is required to be taken. It is important to understand that it will be difficult to purchase personal medication on your travels, particularly as you move further away from your home country. Therefore before travelling, consulting your GP to receive extra medication to add into your travel medical kit could reduce any risks of encountering such a situation.

However, it doesn’t matter what size of kit you purchase, the important thing is that it contains everything that will treat you, from minor ailments down to personal needs. There are ready made kits that are available to be purchased from pharmacies and outdoor shops, with many pharmacists able to provide advice on the most suitable medical kit for your travels should you feel like you need extra help with your selection.

To ensure that you are completely covered for any circumstances on your travels, should a medical kit not entirely meet your needs, perhaps travel insurance may be a worthwhile addition to consider. Whether your intentions are a one off trip, family holiday or travelling around the world, travel insurance can often provide that extra confidence you need to ensure your health requirements are covered; especially those that may not be fixable with aspirin or elastoplast!

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.