I am going on a trip to Australia for 6 months + do I really need a first aid kit and if I do what sort of size and what should I have in it?
Ian
Reply to this Yes. I always travel with a small bag containing: tweezers, a small utility knife, band-aids, antiseptic, hand sanitizer, ibuprofen (or other mild pain reliever), an antihistamine, gauze, burn ointment, some gauze pads and whatever medication I should be taking.
I've gone to my nearest sporting good store and purchased a small fishing box that was designed for kids (4''x6''x1.5''). It's perfect because it is clear, comes with dividers, and is generally crush proof.
Think small sandwich bag. You don't need to lug a huge kit around but think about the everyday bumps and scratches that you may face.
There is information all over the internet, and depending on where you live there are prepackaged ones (think Walmart, Meijer, or Dunhams if you are in the US). I prefer to create my own, knowing my tendency to bump into things, and it's cheaper.
I hope that you never need a first aid kit, but it is always good to be prepared.
Reply to this That said there are many pharmacies and supermarkets In Oz where you can purchase such things as headache tablets and antihistamines without needing a prescription so you probably only need a small back up supply which you can supplement if you find you're using the product a lot. I don't know that the burns kit is needed, but I guess it depends on what kind of holiday you're planning on having and where you'll be. If you're going to be in cities or suburbs medical help is easily available.
Reply to this This is true, I should have mentioned that I often travel in the less populated, less developed areas and therefore it is incredibly hard to find even the basic things that most larger cities will have.
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