Travel should be fun, relaxing and give you necessary respite from your usual responsibilities. This being said, it is important always to be prepared, as sickness or injury does not discriminate by how close to home you are. Read our handy tips below on what to do if you are away from home and something goes wrong.

What should I pack before my trip?

Remember to pack any medications you may need which are specific to you, and make sure you leave enough time to request more if you do not have enough available for the duration of your trip. It is also important to remember that if you have any severe allergies, always carry an in-date Epi-Pen and an inhaler if you have asthma.

It is also essential to create a First Aid Kit. You can tailor your first aid kit to your family and add medications such as an epi-pen accordingly.

Standard items in a First Aid Kit include:

• Bandages and dressings (Adhesive and non-adhesive)

• Ointments and Medications ( Ibuprofen, Panadol and antiseptic lotion)

• Basic tools (Scissors, mirror, thermometer)

• Ice bags

• Hand Sanitiser

• Emergency blankets

And more.

 

You can also purchase ready-made First Aid Kits. Make sure if you are buying a ready-made kit that it will suit the size of your family. Or purchase extra kits accordingly. You can also purchase ready-made First Aid Kits

Remember before you leave to check that everything is still within date and usable.

Keep it in an accessible yet secure location throughout the holiday, and make sure everyone in your party knows where it is.

What to do in case of an accident

If you’re on holiday within Australia, proceed as though you are at home. If you are involved in or witness an incident, provide first aid to those affected using your kit, or if you are close to a business and do not have a kit with you, ask to use theirs.

First aid kits can provide a necessary fast response to wounds, allergic reactions and more with the equipment stored within. To make sure you know how to use all of the tools available to you, make sure your First Aid certificate is up to date ( these are valid for three years). You must renew your certificate if it is no longer valid so that you are up to date with the training and any new First Aid techniques available.

If the person is not breathing or has no pulse, commence standard CPR. This certification is valid for one year only.

How to prevent getting sick

When on the road, it is easy to get run down. With so many things you want to do in a short space of time, the last thing you want to do on your holiday is to get sick. To prevent this, remember to:

• Drink lots of fluids

• Be well-rested

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

• Try to be relaxed- stress can make you sick

• Eat healthily

What to do if you get sick

If you get sick on holiday, take it as a sign- you need to relax even more!

Give yourself time to recover, stay in bed, sleep and drink lots of water. If necessary, take some over the counter medicine.

If you have time, you can book in to see a local doctor. If you are unsure about your pain level and if you need to head to an emergency ward, call health direct, and they will advise you of the following steps to take.

Extreme weather Conditions

Australia is a land of extremes. Whether you have headed to the snow for some slopes or outback into the heat, it is important to know how to handle the dangers that come with these conditions.

 

Hypothermia and Frostbite

In extremely cold conditions, hypothermia and frostbite are serious illnesses that can affect you and your family.

 

Frostbite is the freezing of specific body parts if not appropriately protected. These can include areas such as fingers, ears, toes and nose. If you or someone with you is affected by Frostbite, you should do the following.

• Protect them from further damage and get them out of the cold and to a warm location.

• Soak the affected area gently with warm water and a cloth. You should do this until the skin appears red and feels warm.

• Loosely bandage the area.

• If the affected area is fingers or toes, place them in dry, sterile gauze and separate them from non-affected areas.

• Do not break any blisters and monitor the treated area, so it doesn’t refreeze.

• Get professional help.

 

 

Hypothermia is when your body temperature falls below 35 degrees celsius, shutting down the body’s internal systems. With hypothermia first aid, the goal is to bring the body temperature back to normal.

To do this

• Make sure the casualty is not in wet clothing and move them into a warm location.

• When giving warmth, start with the centre of their body, focusing on the chest, neck and head.

• If an electric blanket is not available, use the skin to skin contact to warm the casualty.

• Also, use any available blankets, clothing or other materials to give extra warmth.

• Give them a warm drink if they are conscious and responsive.

• Keep them dry and give their head and neck support until help arrives.

 

Heat Illnesses

Within extreme heat for prolonged periods and without fluids, the body can start to collapse. Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke are the most common and can be helped.

Heat Exhaustion is when the body loses too much water and salt through sweat- if you are experiencing heat exhaustion, you may feel tired, weak, nauseous, and even faint.

Heat Stroke occurs when the body is unable to cool itself down. Body temperature for Heat Stroke is 41 degrees and above. Symptoms include hot, dry skin, confusion, dizziness, headache, rapid pulse, nausea and loss of consciousness.

You can help Heat Stroke with the following:

• Move the person out of sunlight and heat.

• Remove any unnecessary clothing so that more skin can come into contact with the air.

• Cool the body- spray it with water and apply ice packs all over the body. Make sure to monitor them for deterioration closely.

• Check their temperature and try to reduce it to at least 39 degrees celsius.

• If the person loses consciousness, begin CPR.

• Do not give medications in an attempt to reduce a high body temperature.

• If the person is awake enough to drink, give them fluids for hydration. Make sure they are sat upright and remain conscious until emergency services arrive.

First Aid Near Me

To get started and prepared you can book in at a location within South Australia.