For an extended journey into the heart of Africa it is important to be prepared for some minor (or major) mishaps. Prevention is better than cure, but an accident can happen at any time and first-aid treatment will normally have to be self administered. I therefore carry quite a lot of medical supplies and hope not to need any of it. My small first-aid kit has only the very basic contents to treat the most minor of ailments.
- Assorted plasters and small dressings.
- Antiseptic wipes.
- After-bite remedy.
- Basic painkillers.
- Muscle rub.
- E45 cream.
For more serious problems I have to resort to the expedition first-aid kit that contains a greater range of treatments and remedies. This is a commercially available kit, but I have tailored it to meet my needs in light of what I would expect to cause a problem on my travels. The larger first-aid kit contains.
- Latex surgical gloves.
- Wound dressings (medium and large).
- Thermometer
- Triangular bandage.
- Scissors.
- Large plasters.
- Bacterial dressings.
- Steri-strips (butterfly stitches).
- Bandages and surgical tape.
- Suture needle with thread
- Single use scalpel.
Access to medicines cannot be guaranteed when travelling off the beaten track and I therefore take a limited amount of pharmaceutical products with me to allow a measure of self medication. On this occassion I will be taking the following:
- Doxycycline Capsules. These are primarily to prevent infection from malaria, although they are an anti-biotic and will give a general measure of protection from other infections.
- Epi-pen. I am allergic to bee-stings.
- Flucloxacillin. A good general anti-biotic. Especially useful for skin infections.
- Ciprofloxacin. Another anti-biotic. Primarily to treat respiratory infections, urinary infections and bone / joint infections.
- Vermox tablets. Anti worming tablets. (woof-woof).
- Quinine Sulphate. Treatment against malaria. (Also night-cramps).
- Cetirizine Dihydrochloride. Antihistamine for treatment of allergic reactions.
- Prednisolone. A steroid treatment (anti-inflammatory). Used for allergic reactions.
- A supply of syringes and needles. In Africa it is sometimes the practice to use needles over and over again putting the patient at great risk of cross-infection from AIDS and other diseases. I always bring a number of items that I can hand to health-care professionals should I need to receive an injection.
