Going abroad for higher studies? You might need these medicines!

Congratulations, students, on getting your student visa granted and starting a life-changing journey from your home country to abroad. 
From a Mumma's boy and daddy's little girl to an independent adult with a career goal, you're all set to go!
 

Every year, from August to September, about 750,000 students from India travel to the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and many other countries for higher education. From packing clothes, utensils, shoes, laptops, and all documents to the food items secretly placed in your bag by your mom, one main thing often gets overlooked - a customized first aid kit.
 

Just imagine you have landed at your destination, and the food or weather has affected you, causing cold, fever, or diarrhea. Where would you go looking for medicines? But you and your family will have no worries if you have that first aid kit with you.
 

Now, you might be thinking whether it is allowed to carry your first aid kit at the airport or not. Carrying your daily medicines and a first aid kit is allowed at airports.
 

So, let's talk about the 30 medicines that you must carry in your first aid kit while traveling:
 

1. Sanitizer or Antibacterial Wipes: You don't know when or where you might catch an infection or a fatal disease like COVID-19, so a hand sanitizer is a must-carry item and should be used before and after touching a wound, after a handshake, or before eating to kill germs.
   • Recommendation: Dettol Hand Sanitizer
      
2. Instant Hot Pack and Cold Pack: Hot packs are important to get relief from excessive cold, and a cold pack can help relieve burns or bruises.
   • Recommendation: Flamingo Cool Pack | Heating Pad Regular 1s
      
3. Thermometer: A thermometer is a must to check fever temperature.
   • Recommendation: Hicks Digital Thermometer
      
4. Bandages: Different-sized bandages and adhesive bandages must be kept in the first aid kit.
   • Recommendation: Band Aid
      
5. Antiseptic Liquid: Antiseptics like Dettol or Betadine solution can be carried to clean any cuts or wounds.
   • Recommendation:  Dettol Antiseptic 125ml Liquid
      
6. Antibiotic Cream or Ointment: For local application for cuts, boils, and skin infections. It can cause an allergic reaction, so a thin layer is recommended.
   • Suggested medicine: Mupicip 2% Ointment
      
7. Pain Relief Ointment: Traveling, long sitting, or lifting heavy luggage can cause muscle aches or back pain. A pain relief cream for local application can be helpful.
   • Suggested medicine: Omnigel Ointment 
      
8. Oral Rehydration Solution: Sometimes, food from outside can cause indigestion, loose motion, and vomiting, leading to dehydration and loss of essential electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and glucose from the body. An ORS is helpful in treating dehydration due to loose motion or vomiting.
   • Recommendation: Electral Powder | Sodium Chloride IP 2.60 gms, Potassium Chloride IP 1.50 gms, Sodium Citrate IP 2.90 gms, Dextrose Anhydrous IP.
      
9. Fever and Pain Medicine: Weather changes and tiredness can lead to fever and headaches associated with body pain. Even due to some infections, you may get a fever. In that case, medicine for treating aches/pains, fever, and headaches is required.
   • Suggested medicine: Tab Calpol or Crocin | Paracetamol 650mg
   • Precautions: Remember not to take this medicine if you have any liver disorders.
      
10. Pain and Anti-inflammatory Medicine: These medicines can relieve pain and any swelling in the body caused by an injury.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Combiflam | Ibuprofen (400mg) + Paracetamol (325mg)
    • Precautions: Remember not to take this medicine if you have any kidney-related problems or are already taking any other medicine that contains the same salt composition.
       
11. Muscle Relaxants: Sometimes, due to weakness caused by a lack of nutrients in the body, muscle sprains can occur. They are used for muscle pull sprains.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Flexinol | Flupenthixol (0.5mg)  or Cap Ace Proxyvon | Aceclofenac (100mg) + Paracetamol (325mg)
       
12. Gastric Medicine: It can relieve acute gastritis or reduce gas formation caused by skipping breakfast or lunch due to some urgent work.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Rzole | Rabeprazole (20mg)
       
13. Chewable Digestive Tablets: These can relieve indigestion and acidity. After having your meal, if your food travels back to your throat or you feel bloated or gassy, these chewable digestive tablets can provide relief.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Digene chewable | Aluminum Hydroxide (300mg) + Magnesium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate (50mg) + Magnesium Hydroxide (25mg) + Simethicone (25mg)
       
14. Anti-Allergic Medicine: It is used for allergies, itching, cold, sneezing, insect bites, and asthma.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Alerid | Cetirizine (10mg)
       
15. Medicine for Vomiting: These medicines are used for nausea & vomiting. For motion sickness, it can be taken ½ hour prior to the start of the journey.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Domstal | Domperidone (10mg)
       
16. Anti-diarrheal Medicine: These are used for loose motions to reduce the frequency of going to the toilet.
    • Suggested medicine: Cap Imodium | Loperamide (2mg)
       
17. Medicine for Severe Diarrhea: They can be used for severe diarrhea only under medical supervision. They can also be used for urinary tract infections.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Cifran CT | Ciprofloxacin (500mg) + Tinidazole (600mg)
       
18. Multivitamins and Probiotics: Multivitamins for general body weakness and probiotics for loose motion or diarrhea.
    • Suggested medicine: Nutrolin B capsules (lactobacillus spores) | Multivitamin + lactobacillus spores
       
19. Eye Drops: It is used for the treatment of any bacterial eye or ear infection until you get to see an ophthalmologist. It can cause eye irritation and blurred vision for a while after applying, so do not drive while using this drop. Also, if you wear contact lenses, don’t use them until your infection is over.
    • Suggested medicine: Ciplox eye drops | Ciprofloxacin (0.3% w/v)
       
20. Nasal Drops: It can be used for nose blocks caused by sinusitis or other allergies that have continued for three days.
    • Suggested medicine: Otrivin Oxy fast Relief Adult Nasal Spray | Oxymetazoline (0.05% w/v)
       
21. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are used to treat infections of the lungs, ear, throat, sinuses, bones, joints, and urinary tract infections. They don’t work for viral infections. These medicines should only be taken on the advice of a physician, and completing the dose is required, or else you can get the infection again.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Ceftum | Cefuroxime (250mg) or Tab Augmentin  | Amoxicillin (500mg) + Clavulanic Acid (125mg)
       
22. Abdominal Pain Medicine: They can be used for stomach pain or period cramps that occur during menstruation.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Cyclopam | Dicyclomine (20mg) + Paracetamol (500mg)
       
23. Sinusitis Medicine: It is used for colds, sinusitis, and other allergic infections with headaches. It can cause drowsiness.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Sinarest | Chlorpheniramine Maleate (2mg) + Paracetamol (500mg) + Phenylephrine (10mg)
       
24. Medicine for Motion Sickness: Prevents and treats nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Stugeron | Cinnarizine (25mg)
       
25. Pain Relief for Joint Ache: Effective in relieving Joint Ache or pain of any sort
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Meftal P | Mefenamic Acid (500mg)
       
26. Pain Relief for Stomach Cramps: For Stomach Ache or Cramps , dysmenorrhoea.
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Meftal Spas | Dicyclomine (20mg) + Mefenamic Acid (500mg)
       
27. Lozenges for Sore Throat: Provides relief from throat irritation and cough.
    • Suggested medicine: Alex 5mg Lozenges | Ambroxol Hydrochloride (5mg)
       
28. Antibiotic for Respiratory Infections: Treats respiratory tract infections and for Amoebic intestine ( Mucus with cramps)
    • Suggested medicine: Tab O2H | Ofloxacin (200mg) + Ornidazole (500mg)
       
29. Antibiotic for Severe Infections: Treats severe bacterial infections including bacterial Intestine ( blood and no cramps)
    • Suggested medicine: Tab Floxip | Ciprofloxacin (500mg)
      
       
30. Natural Laxative: For relieving constipation , to be taken at night
              Suggested medicine: Powder Softovac | Natural fiber blend
    
    Prescription Medicine: Any medicine prescribed by your doctor for your medical condition.

How to Safely Use Your First Aid Kit

After packing all these medicines, it's essential to know how to use them wisely. Follow these points:

• Take medicines only after consulting a doctor and avoid self-medication.

• Discard any expired medicines.

• Always keep medicines with their labels to identify their uses.

• Carry the prescription for your medicines.

Now that you're all set with your packing, you can travel with peace of mind and handle any pain, cuts, or bruises during your journey. Safe travels and best wishes for your new adventure