First-aid kit for children
Unfortunately, children sometimes get sick on holiday. In southern holiday countries, for example, they often get “Montezuma’s revenge”, the travel diarrhoea. With our tips for travel first-aid kits you and your children are guaranteed to get through your holiday well.
The first-aid kit should contain everything necessary for the first treatment of your child. Pack on time and sufficiently – one third more than probably needed – medicines, which your child will need also in the vacation constantly. Before your holiday, check the expiry date of all medications. If you are travelling to tropical regions, you should avoid suppositories and e.g. use juice, as the suppositories melt in the packaging at high ambient temperatures. Medications must be protected from sunlight, transported and stored dry and cool. Therefore they should not be placed in the glove compartment, on the back seat or on top of the car in the trunk.
| Important tip for the first-aid kit: common household aluminium foil has proven to be a simple and good heat protection for medicines. Medications wrapped in foil heat up only slightly, even in the blazing sun. Unprotected, they can heat up to almost 70 degrees, decompose and then no longer work. |
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Don’t forget to ask your paediatrician in good time (preferably two to three months) before your holiday what vaccinations your child needs and whether malaria prophylaxis is necessary.
What medications do I need to take with me?
During the flight, temperatures below freezing may prevail in the baggage compartment. This can lead to decomposition of juices, ointments, creams or drops. Preparations for injection, such as insulin, can even lose their effectiveness. It is better to pack these drugs in your hand luggage. If necessary, store ointments and juices in the middle of a suitcase so that they are at least slightly protected. You should also place homeopathic remedies in the middle of your “big luggage”. This is not sent through X-rays at every airport. X-rays are not beneficial to sensitive homeopathic medicines. A sufficient supply of long-term medication for several days should be kept in your hand luggage so that you are not left without medication if your suitcase is lost or arrives late. In addition, all medication for injection (e.g. insulin, growth hormone), all emergency medications (e.g. asthma spray, emergency set for allergies), nose drops for pressure equalisation before take-off and landing, if your child has a cold or has problems with the middle ear anyway (e.g. tympanic effusion) must be carried in hand luggage. It also makes sense to use a sea salt spray to moisten the mucous membrane of the nose, as the cabin air is often very dry and therefore colds occur more frequently during flights alone.
Home remedies in the travel pharmacy can also replace medication for your child
With vinegar, onion, cucumber, quark and shaving cream you can treat a whole range of holiday ailments. Shaving cream may be in your luggage anyway, you can get everything else at a hotel or grocery store.
Fever: To reduce fever, vinegar stockings are helpful (important: only for warm feet!): pour one part of vinegar over four parts of room warm water, dip in cotton knee socks, wring lightly and put them on. Over it wool socks or alternatively a dry terry towel. The vinegar stockings can remain in place for up to an hour.
Closed injuries (contusions, sprains, bruising):
dilute a part of vinegar with four parts of very cold water, soak a cotton cloth with it and lay it on the injured area for about one hour (not on open wounds, please keep cloth moist). Also high-proof alcohol, undiluted on a cloth as a cover, has a good cooling and decongestant effect.
Insect bites: Halve a small onion. Rub the bite into the onion or place the onion with the cut on the bite (possibly with a plaster or bandage). Alternatively, a cotton ball soaked in cold vinegar water or a halved raw potato can help.
Earache: Put on an onion sack: Finely chop the onion, wrap the onion cubes in a handkerchief and place on the aching ear for about 30 minutes.
Jellyfish: Your child must leave the water immediately, as late reactions are possible! Carefully wash the area with sea water (never fresh water, never rub!). Then spray on shaving foam. Once the shaving foam has dried, it can easily be wiped off together with the nettle capsules, e.g. with a credit card. Cool the affected area with ice afterwards.
Sea urchin sting: Remove the sting or stings with the splinter tweezers. Disinfect the stab wound, e.g. with Octenisept®. If an inflammation has developed or if you have not been able to remove the sting, please see your doctor. As a supporting measure, you can take a footbath daily with a part of warm water and a part of vinegar (duration: five to ten minutes).
Sunburn: Please see your doctor if your child develops a fever and only treat yourself if the skin is not open! Put on fresh cucumber slices or apply cold curd cheese (not if you are allergic to milk!) as thick as a knife’s back. Also fruit vinegar (dilution like for vinegar stockings) alleviates the discomfort.
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