Traveling offers a fun and exciting new experience each time you depart. However, when you leave home, you also leave the convenience and amenities of home behind as well.
While some things you leave behind may not be significant, some items are crucial in the event of an emergency. Creating custom travel or car emergency kit can ensure you have everything you need while away from home.
While what you choose to add to your personalized kit is entirely up to you, some items are essential to include.
#1 – Be Sure to Include Regular and Emergency Medications
If you take a routine medication each day, it should be one of the first items added to your emergency kit. While a standard medicine may not seem like an emergency item, it’s crucial to have it on hand and easily accessible.
If you have an ongoing medical condition controlled by daily medication, you’ll want to ensure you can quickly grab it when needed. Otherwise, you may have to dig through suitcases to locate them, or they could become lost during your travels.
It’s also wise to pack more medication than you will need for your trip — just to be safe. Delays or unexpected occurrences might happen, causing you to need more than you originally planned. Having extra on hand ensures you won’t run out if something unexpected happens.
Similarly, if you have an allergy or condition requiring emergency medication, you’ll also want to include that in your emergency kit. In the event of an allergic reaction, it’s essential to easily access your medicine rather than look for it and waste precious time.
#2 – Add First Aid Supplies in Case of Injury
Most generalized first aid kits will come equipped with items such as bandages, gauze, and tape. These items are excellent in case an injury occurs on your travels.
However, you can take things up a notch with some extra helpful items, such as butterfly stitches, antiseptic wipes, and antibacterial creams. These things can make treating and cleaning a wound much easier.
While you should always seek medical attention if a wound is severe, having first aid supplies handy can be great for minor cuts or injuries that may not warrant a doctor’s visit but still need some care.
#3 – Over-The-Counter Medicine for Common Ailments
Illness can strike anytime, but it can be more common while traveling to new places. Stomach bugs, colds, and rashes can all frequently happen when away from home.
There are many reasons people come down with ailments while traveling, from extreme climate changes to new foods. However, you can make these illnesses easier by adding over-the-counter medicine to your emergency kit.
Items like cold medicine, nasal spray, hydrocortisone cream, and stomach relief medicine can all be beneficial while traveling. Rather than spend your time feeling sick, you can utilize these treatments to feel better and get back to enjoying your travels.
#4 – Allergy Relief is Essential if You’re a Frequent Sufferer
Anyone who regularly experiences allergies knows how debilitating they can be. If you have frequent issues with allergies or someone in your family struggles with them, packing relief is essential in your emergency kit.
Different climates and irritants are typical when you journey to a new location, so even if you don’t usually suffer from allergies, packing these items can still be helpful. You never know what could trigger allergies when you are in a different region.
Items like eyedrops for itchy eyes and non-drowsy relief tablets can come in handy while traveling. Rather than suffering through the symptoms of allergies, having relief in your emergency kit can allow you to continue enjoying your trip.
#5 – Hydration Packs Ensure You Avoid Dehydration
You could become dehydrated on your travels for various reasons, from something as serious as an illness to something as simple as forgetting to drink water.
Dehydration can have effects such as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. More severe effects of being dehydrated for long periods include urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Hydration packs are excellent for your emergency kit as they contain electrolytes and essential vitamins to hydrate you faster than plain water. There are even excellent options for children as well. All you need to do is mix them in a water bottle and rehydrate.
Traveling With Emergency Essentials
No matter how you’re traveling or where you are journeying, having an emergency kit is a great way to ensure you have everything you need on hand.
While your emergency kit should be unique to you and your specific needs, some items are great to include, no matter who you are. Medications, first aid supplies, over-the-counter medications, allergy relief, and hydration packs can be beneficial while traveling.
By adding these items to your travel emergency kit, you can ensure your trip will go as smoothly as possible, and you can make the most of your time.
And as an added layer of protection and peace of mind, it’s also recommended to have a roadside assistance plan be part of your travel essentials.
Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the car insurance comparison site, CarInsurance.org. She is a frequent traveler who enjoys sharing her essential tips with others.
