I'm going on a trip, do I need to take any products besides the clothes?
Yes. If you are going to travel, leave your home and change your daily routines, it is important to prepare a travel case adapted to:
- Target Location
- Length of stay
- your state of health
- Objective/activities to be developed during the trip
- travelling, or not, with dependents
Which products should be in the travel kit?
You should plan and organize your travel kit to avoid setbacks and inconveniences. It should therefore include:
- Hygiene products
- First aid supplies
- Medicines for:
- Unforeseen situations
- Control of your diseases/health conditions
- Prevention of travel-related illnesses and injuries
Which hygiene products should I include?
In this range of products, in addition to those that are part of your daily hygiene (shower gel, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste), you should pay special attention and consider including:
- Saline
- condoms
- water disinfectant
- Sunscreen, ideally with a protection factor of 50
- insect repellent for skin and clothing, containing DEET (30-50% for adults and maximum 30% for children), usually in spray or roll-on form
You should also consider including other products, including:
- Sunglasses and hat/cap
- Extra pair of glasses/contact lenses
- Small Flashlight
- Small Multi-Purpose Pocket Knife
- matches or lighter
Should I also include first aid supplies?
Yes. Unforeseen events happen and you should prevent them with some products in your travel kit:
- Alcohol-based solution wipes (60% alcohol)
- antiseptic solutions to disinfect wounds, e.g. Povidone-iodine
- adhesive
- Bandages of different sizes
- sterile bandages and compresses
- Insect bite gel/ointment thermometer
- Tweezers and scissors disposable
- gloves
- Creams for:
- Sunburn
- fungi or bacteria (antifungal and antibacterial)
- skin changes, such as dermatitis, stinging, or a reaction to sunburn (e.g., hydrocortisone 1%)
I have several health problems, do I have to take all the medication?
Yes. You should include all the medication you are taking for pre-existing conditions, in the amount necessary for one and a half times the time of the stay, to be able to deal with any emergency.
In addition, it is advisable to bring copies of the prescribed prescriptions, which must contain the active ingredients of the medicines. Alternatively, remember that you can check your prescriptions on the SNS 24 App.
If you have been prescribed any specific medication for the trip you are going to take (for example, antimalarials), you should take enough of it.
I don't have any health problems, do I need to bring medication?
Yes. Even if you don't have any illness or health condition for which you need to take medication regularly, it is important to bring medication with medication to deal with any emergency.
Include in your suitcase medicines for:
- aches or fever, which is commonly used in these circumstances, e.g. paracetamol
- allergies, e.g. an antihistamine advised by your doctor or pharmacist
- decongesting, e.g. a nasal decongestant, in case you have ear problems on planes
- throat irritation, e.g. lozenges
- motion sickness
- diarrhoea, e.g. loperamide if advised by your doctor; antibiotics may also be advised at the traveller's consultation
- hydration, such as oral rehydration salts
- heartburn, antacid lozenges are a good option
- constipation, a laxative advised by your doctor or pharmacist
- insomnia, such as melatonin
- Prevention/treatment of altitude sickness (if prescribed)
Where should I carry this travel kit?
When preparing your travel kit you can use a box, a bag or a case.
If you are travelling by plane, separate the products for which there are restrictions, e.g. liquids, scissors or tweezers, which must go in checked baggage, from the medicines that can be carried in your hand luggage.
What are considered liquids?
Liquids include all products or those with a consistency similar to:
- Water and other beverages
- Toothpaste
- Lotions
- Perfumes
- Hair Gel
- Hair and shaving foams
- Creams
- Pastas and pâtés
- jams and soft cheeses
- Soups
- Syrups
How should I transport the liquids?
The correct way to transport liquids is to use containers with a maximum of 100ml (or 100gr) per item, packed in a single transparent bag of 20cm x 20cm (only one per passenger) that can be opened and closed again.
The rule of thumb is, therefore, to carry all liquid items over 100ml in your checked baggage.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Exceptions apply to liquid medicines or special dietary products (including baby food – porridge, fruit jars, yoghurts and milk bottles). In these cases, it is advisable to bring a medical document or statement confirming this need.
Liquid items purchased in airport shops, after security, or on board, are also accepted, as long as they are in a sealed tamper-evident bag (provided by duty-free shops) with the purchase receipt inside.