Travel Pharmacy
First Aid, Medical, Sterile and Expedition Kits, Medical supplies and Books
Use the quick view chart to help you choose the right medical kit for your trip: CLICK HERE (pdf)
Expeditions l Overland l City l Jungle l Desert l Trekking
Expeditions
If you are taking part in an expedition it is usual for expedition organisers to provide the main medical kit. In addition to this, most expeditions will expect you to carry a small kit such as the Compact First Aid Kit carrying more general items such as plasters, pain killers and any personal medication you may be taking. Gut infections often spread like wild fire in the close contact of expedition groups - keep your nails short, wash your hands frequently and use only your own eating & drinking equipment. In situations where you cannot wash properly, use a no water wash or wet wipes - don’t let your personal hygiene slip. We carry a range of personal kits for different companies or make them to order.
It is imperative you inform your expedition medical officer or organiser of any health worries or problems before you leave - your insurance may be invalidated if you don't. If you are the Medical Officer or organiser of an expedition the Expedition Medicine book published by the Royal Geographical Society is a must. We would also recommend the medical officer undertakes one of the more in-depth wilderness medical training courses.
Overland
Your kit needs to cover most minor eventualities including first aid, medication and creams, sterile equipment, rehydration and water purification. One of the all-in-one kits would be your best choice with malaria tablets added. You may want to consider carrying a malaria treatment if you are travelling off the beaten track more than 24 hours from reliable medical help. The 'Overlander Kit' is designed for this type of travel and compliments the large truck kits carried by most overland groups. It can be very difficult to establish personal hygiene routines if you are constantly on the move - wet wipes and no water wash can save the day, but it is important to keep the necessary 'toiletries' to hand to enable you to grab every opportunity.
City
You can get away with a much smaller kit for city travel although a back up sterile kit would be recommended for some cities. It's worth having the generic name of treatments and medication with you should you need to buy from a local pharmacy. It's always worth carrying rehydration salts with you for travel to any hot country. If you plan to take short trips out of the city, you should consider a more comprehensive kit which contains sterile equipment. Personal hygiene facilities are readily available - your biggest threat is other peoples' lack of hygiene - keep washing those hands.
Jungle
It is essential your kit contains a strong antiseptic, masses of rehydration powders, treatments for fungal infections and a variety of other medicines. Each day you should carry out a leech, cuts and grazes check. Leeches need to be carefully removed and the wound immediately treated with antiseptic. Cuts and grazes - no matter how small - need to be cleaned, disinfected and covered with a dry dressing. Any open wound can turn into a chronic tropical ulcer if not treated properly. Areas prone to fungal infections (armpits, groin, feet) need to be kept as clean and dry as possible with constant washing with soap and a liberal dusting of talc after drying - a Compact Towel is ideal for this as it can be used for washing and drying plus its rot-proof qualities mean it is resilient to bacteria. Use a good anti-fungal powder if you are already infected. Your expedition leader will advise you what to take in your medical kit.
Desert
First aid, rehydration, stomach upset treatments and sunburn treatment are essential. It's worth including sachets or plastic pods containing an antiseptic solution when water for wound cleaning is limited. Other items to consider are an eyewash solution to soothe dust irritated eyes and a good moisturiser for dry skin and lips. Unless you are with a group carrying medical equipment, take a sterile kit containing needles, drip procedure and a small surgical kit if you know you will be a long way from a reliable medical centre. As lack of water causes personal hygiene problems - ensure you have a large supply of wet wipes and no water wash to compensate. The Global Survival kit would be ideal for this type of remote travel. For extended trips please contact one of our medical professionals.
Trekking
Particular problems are blisters, exhaustion, altitude sickness, stomach upsets, dehydration, sprains and muscle pains so your kit needs to be comprehensive. If there is no group kit, carry your own sterile equipment. As with expeditions, group hygiene is imperative. Pay attention to foot hygiene - a day's walking in thick socks and boots can easily lead to athlete's foot and infected blisters. If the environment allows it, wear sandals in the evening to air your feet. The Travel Survival Kit or Global Survival kit is ideal for most trekking trips, however, for extended or very remote trips we would recommend discussing this with one of our medical professional.
Hygiene Products
Personal Hygiene Top Ten Tips 
- 1. Keep your nails short - trapped dirt can easily make its way into your mouth
2. Avoid biting your nails
3. Avoid putting objects in your mouth such as pens/sunglasses
4. Wash your hands obsessively
5. Use plenty of soap - water alone won't kill bacteria
6. Use wet wipes or no water wash when it is difficult to wash
7. Avoid sharing clothing and equipment
8. Pay attention to dental care
9. Keep your clothes clean - stay in one place for a few days if you need to catch up
10. Frequently wash sweaty parts of the body to help avoid fungal infections
Medical Supplies
Here at the Nomad Pharmacy we specialise in making the best travel medical kits. CLICK HERE to see the range. If you cannot see an appropriate kit for your trip, or feel unsure what you should be taking, call any of our CLINICS for help.
All-in-One Kits
Our range of all-in-one kits are designed to cover all the basic needs of travel health - first aid, sterile equipment, medication, water purification and
rehydration.
First Aid Kits
First aid kits contain items for treating external injuries.
Medical Kit
These medical kits concentrate on stronger treatments you may need in more remote situations. Team up with a sterile kit for travel more than 24 hours from reliable and well equipped medical centres.
Sterile Kits
Carrying your own sterile equipment can save you from contracting diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV particularly in countries where medical supplies are limited or non-existent and these diseases are prevalent. Sterile equipment is for you to hand over to a medical professional - it is not for your own use. Each kit contains a Certificate of Verification in four languages. The kits are graded according to how far from reliable medical help you intend to travel. Packed in clear pouches for easy identification.
Company Medical Kits
Our range of COMPANY MEDICAL KITS are for individuals participating in trips where the company requires you to take a customised medical kit as a back up to their main medical supplies. We advise you to add any personal medication you may be taking. If you would like to receive a quote for your company please email corporate@nomadtravel.co.uk
Tips
- Always go through your medical kit before you leave so you know exactly what you have and can find things quickly- Always keep empty packaging to replace when supplies are available, this not only gives you the correct name, it also gives you a reminder of what you need to replace
- Undertake a first aid course before you leave, particularly if you plan to travel away from reliable medical centres
- Always keep your medical kit in your hand luggage, especially on road transport. Around 50% of travel health problems are from road accidents and not having your medical kit to hand is as bad as not having one at all
- Take an ample supply of any prescription medication you may be taking