Complete guide to your summer first aid kit

"first aid box with medicines,thermometer and stethoscope on the beach as healthy summer holiday concept"
"first aid box with medicines,thermometer and stethoscope on the beach as healthy summer holiday concept"

The essentials you need close by this summer to help with every minor emergency.

Having a first aid kit hand while on holiday is essential, especially if you are travelling with young kids. Here’s a list to ensure you have all the basics covered in your supply kit:

  • Sanitizing gel or wipes: to clean your hands before dealing with an injury
  • Instant ice packs: for inflammation, bumps and sprains
  • Insect spray: to prevent or treat bites
  • Antibiotic spray or cream: to clean cuts and scrapes
  • Gauze: for injuries requiring more than a band-aid
  • Tweezers: for splinters
  • Band-aids: of various sizes for scraps, cuts and blisters
  • Medication: for headaches, upset stomachs, hayfever and allergies
  • Thermometer: in case of fever
  • Sunscreen
  • Aloe vera: to soothe bites and sunburn
  • Eardrops: to treat swimmers ear
  • Saline drops: to clean irritated eyes

What to do about blue bottle stings

Most beachgoers in Australia are familiar with this stinger. They are harmless in many cases, but if you receive a major sting to the face or neck, or there is breathing difficulties or signes of swelling call an ambulance. For minor stings, don’t rub the area. Pick off the offending tentacles, and rinse the area with seawater. To relieve the pain, immerse the site of the sting intolerably hot water. If hot water isn’t available, apply wrapped ice or a cold pack.

What to do about tick bites

Ticks are parasites and their bite is usually harmless, but sometimes it can cause an allergic reaction or serious illness. If you have a tick bite, it is very important to remove the tick as soon as possible. If you are allergic to ticks, it is best to have a doctor remove the tick. If you are not allergic you can kill the tick by spraying it with a product that contains ether (such as Wart-Off Freeze Spray). Then, using fine-tipped forceps (not household tweezers), grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it upwards using steady pressure.

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