Travel Health Tips For UK & Abroad

Holiday season is nearly upon us, with countless families across the country getting ready to enjoy some time away from work, school and the grind of daily life. Whether that’s a caravan break in Devon, a week at Centerparcs, or flying off to sunny Spain or even further afield, no doubt you can’t wait for some fun and relaxation.

However, if you’re away from home and something goes wrong with your health, it can be incredibly stressful. Knowing how to prepare, what to do in the event of sickness or injury, and how to get help can go a long way towards giving you peace of mind when you need it most.

Your Health When Travelling In The UK

If you’re heading off on holiday in the UK, you’ve got the reassurance that language shouldn’t prove a barrier when it comes to getting advice or support with your health – whether that’s buying first aid supplies or medicine, or speaking to medical professionals. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that you can do to make sure you’re prepared for health issues that could arise while you’re enjoying a break in your home country.

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Pack A First Aid Kit

It’s not just Scouts that should “be prepared”. Having a well-stocked first aid kit is often the first line of defence against accident, injury and sickness. And we’re not just talking bandages, plasters and safety pins either. There are many additional items you can have in your bag, car or holiday premises.

Here are our recommendations for your UK holiday first aid kit:

Useful First Aid Equipment For A UK Holiday

• Assorted plasters
• Gauze and bandages
• Small bottle of sterile water
• Adhesive tape
• Several safety pins
• Scissors
• Antiseptic wipes/solution, for disinfecting
• Sterile saline solution, for rinsing eyes and wounds
• Thermometer
• Tweezers, for removing splinters or other small objects
• Eye wash solution
• Eye shield, for protecting injured eyes
• Instant cold pack, for helping with swelling and pain
• Disposable, non-latex gloves for treating cuts and other wounds

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Medicines You May Need For A UK Holiday

• Pain relieving medicines, like paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Stronger pain relief, such as co-codamol, for when regular pain relief just isn’t providing enough reprieve
• Antihistamines, for allergic reactions
• Antacids, such as Gaviscon, for indigestion and heartburn
• Anti-diarrhoea medicine
• Aloe vera gel, for minor burns
• Bite cream, for relief from bites and stings

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Looking After Your Health When Travelling Abroad

If you’re planning on travelling abroad this year, there are some extra considerations that you need to make to ensure that you’re properly prepared – whether that’s taking your usual medications away or protecting yourself from becoming sick in the country that you’re visiting.

Travelling Abroad With Medication

If you take regular prescription medication, you’ll probably need to take it with you when you go abroad. However, it’s important to bear in mind that some countries may have restrictions on some types of drugs. For this reason, it’s highly recommended that you take a copy of your prescription/medical notes with you and keep your medication in its original pharmacy packaging, along with the patient information leaflet. If you have any concerns about the medication you need to take with you, we strongly recommend that you contact your airline/rail service as appropriate.

It's also a good idea to consider packing some extra medication. Having this will help ensure you’ve got enough medication just in case you experience any delays. And having general (non-controlled) medication in both your hand and hold luggage will mean that you can still access your treatment, even if one bag becomes lost.

Read more about taking medicine in or out of the UK on GOV.UK

Storing Medication When Travelling To Another Country

Some medications need to be kept chilled. If this is the case for the medicine that you take, you may want to consider using a cool bag, insulated pouch or similar device to keep your drugs at the recommended temperature. Always check the advice label on your medication to see how it should be stored and follow the instructions given. Don’t use medication if it hasn’t been stored properly.

Vaccinations For Travelling Abroad

If you’re planning on taking a trip outside of the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases that can be found in other parts of the world. Exactly which vaccinations you will need will depend on where you are travelling, but could include Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Yellow Fever.

Some countries will also require proof that you’ve been vaccinated, and this can be provided in the form of a certificate that is issued when you have your injection.

We recommend that you start looking into which vaccinations you may need at least six months before your intended trip. This is because some types of vaccination need to be given in several doses spaced weeks or even months apart.

You can find out more on the NHS travel vaccination advice page.

Travel Insurance - An Absolute Must

Travel insurance should be a priority, whether you’re travelling in the UK or abroad. Not only is it designed to protect you against financial losses in the event of a problem such as a delayed flight, or if property is stolen from you when you are away from home, but it can also cover you if you have to cancel or cut short a holiday because of illness or injury. Depending on the policy you choose, you may be covered for unexpected medical expenses if you become ill when you’re away, such as medicines, hospital treatment and more.

It's important to let your insurer know about all and any medical conditions you have, medicines you take and any medical concerns you are under investigation for, otherwise you might not be covered. And always check your policy carefully so that you know exactly what is and what isn’t included.

Holidays are an exciting time, but it’s important not to forget about your health. We hope that this guide gives you the information you need to feel prepared, whether your adventures are in the UK or abroad.

And if you’ve got any questions, or you’d like some extra advice and support, please feel free to get in touch with a member of our experienced clinical team.