3 First Aid Tips Every Traveller Should Know
If you travel often, you know that the unexpected can happen anytime in terms of accidents or injuries and other emergency health issues. Almost every smart traveller ensures that they add a first aid kit to their travelling luggage. But how many people know the most basic first aid tips or how to use the items in their first aid kit? It’s one thing having a kit and another to know what first aid procedures to use before you find professional help. So, here are some first-aid tips every traveller should know.
Related: “Ultimate Travel Guide to Vietnam”
Learn the basic first-aid procedures
Regardless of what you have in your first aid kit, it will be of little help if you don’t know the basics of first aid. So, before you embark on any trip, take the time to enrol in a first aid class, especially one designed for travellers, and learn the rudiments. Most first aid lessons cover basic life support until help comes, how to use AED, and the right way to administer CPR. You can find effective instructions and affordable lessons online on websites like cprcertificationnow.com/pages/group-discounts and many more.
You can also learn how to handle fractures, bleeding, burns, stomach upsets, motion sickness, etc., so keep this in mind. Armed with the knowledge, you will acquire from your training, you can travel assured that you’re capable of administering the right first aid to yourself, family, friends, or anyone in your travel party that may need it.
Note down every important emergency information
It’s important to remember that first aid does not replace full treatment, as it only sustains you enough until medical help arrives or until you find a hospital. So, note or write down every important contact and emergency info and add it to your kit before you set off. You can also save copies of the info on your phone. Some of the info you should have on you includes the police number of your travel destination, local ambulance contacts, and the contact of the nearest embassy representing your country.
Also, it’s smarter to book accommodations closer to hospitals, police stations, your embassy, etc. Of course, such areas may cost more, but they could also save your life. And speaking about saving lives, the next point is also crucial.
Don’t put yourself in unnecessary high-risk situations.
Of course, accidents can happen without warning, but you can reduce your risks of needing emergency medical care if you don’t take unnecessary risks. Sure, you want to live life on the edge and have memorable fun, but no fun is worth having if it leaves you in the hospital, badly injured. This point is especially important if you’re visiting a new location for the first time and aren’t sure what to expect. Your unfamiliarity makes you vulnerable, so stick to simple activities in safer locations. Also, try not to drift too far alone, away from help. Oh, and always have your first aid kit on you, regardless of where you’re going.
