When traveling abroad with elderly relatives, you want to be overprepared in case anything goes wrong. Equipping yourself with a medical kit and necessary medications prepares you for unpredictable situations or unique health risks posed by different countries. Senior Helpers Stillwater has prepared this short guide on how to make an emergency medical kit for traveling with senior loved ones.
Research Your Destination
Your first step before packing a medical kit is researching your destination. Depending on where you are going, certain vaccinations may be required to enter the country. Additionally, travel warnings can inform you if there are any potential risks or dangerous conditions at your destination that could affect the health of elderly family members traveling with you. Check for vaccine information and travel health notices on the Travelers' Health page of the CDC website.
Essential Items for an Emergency Medical Kit
When creating an emergency medical kit for elderly relatives, there are a few essential items that should be included:
Prescription Medications
For elderly family members, having a supply of their daily medications is essential for any emergency medical kit. Pack several days of medication in case the trip takes longer than expected or if you are delayed returning home.
Over-the-Counter Medications
In addition to prescriptions, you should include over-the-counter medications for common ailments such as headaches, fevers, and stomach aches. If allergies are an issue for your elderly family member, bring antihistamine medicines or other products that could help alleviate symptoms in a foreign country.
First Aid Supplies
Include a basic first aid kit, including adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes and ointment, gauze pads and rolls, tweezers, and 1% hydrocortisone cream. Travel-sized versions of these items can work just fine for an emergency medical kit. The CDC also recommends the following:
- Hand sanitizer
- Aloe gel for sunburns
- Oral rehydration salts
- Pain and fever medicine
- Travelers' diarrhea antibiotic
Medical Documents
Similar to your passport, it's essential to carry medical documents, such as a list of current medications and allergies, copies of insurance cards, or a letter from their doctor. This helps make sure that doctors in foreign countries know what care is necessary and what medication to prescribe if the situation arises. The CDC also recommends bringing a list of emergency contacts, proof of vaccinations, copies of all prescriptions, and a list of hospitals where you are traveling.
Tips for Packing an Emergency Medical Kit
Once you've compiled the necessary items for your medical kit, there are a few tips to follow when packing it:
- Make sure all medications are in their original containers.
- Pack medications in a waterproof container so they stay dry and unharmed while traveling.
- Be sure to label all medicine with the name of the person taking them, as well as any usage instructions or warnings that may be provided by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Check expiration dates on all medications prior to packing them into your emergency medical kit. Discarding anything that is expired or out of date beforehand helps ensure that senior relatives can have access to safe medication during an unexpected medical situation while abroad.
With these tips, you'll be prepared for unexpected health issues arising from traveling abroad with elderly family members.
Senior Helpers Stillwater Provides Caregiving Services
If you're looking for other ways to better support your senior loved one, turn to Senior Helpers Stillwater. We offer in-home, personalized caregiving services to seniors in the Stillwater, Bayport, North St. Paul, Forest Lake, Hugo, and Scandia areas. Contact us today to learn more.