What is in your travel First Aid kit?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

4 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

I have never had any of those complaints on a cruise, So I must be lucky or it is just good management.

aaahhh, but calliopecruiser said she (he?) didn't need any of these meds at home either... So, I was surprised to find a rare person like that.

[ldubs]

5 hours ago, ed01106 said:

For OTC that I use regularly it is pretty easy, just bring some along.

 

What I struggle with is stuff that is travel specific.  Should I spend $8 now for a bottle of Bonine when odds are in two years when it reaches its expiration date it will still be unopened. Or don’t buy it in advance and buy the same bottle for $25 on the ship if I do need it.

 

So far I have gone with the logic of it never rains if i have my umbrella with me, but rains if I forget it so I bring them so I won’t need them.

 

Buy the $8 bottle now.  Toss it and buy another in two years.  Repeat and you are at $24 over a 6 year period.  Oh, and make sure you take more cruises to justify the expense!!  😀

[MicCanberra]

17 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Buy the $8 bottle now.  Toss it and buy another in two years.  Repeat and you are at $24 over a 6 year period.  Oh, and make sure you take more cruises to justify the expense!!  😀

Agreed, we had bought new luggage a while back and are now trying to justify it by travelling as much as possible.

[MicCanberra]

32 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

aaahhh, but calliopecruiser said she (he?) didn't need any of these meds at home either... So, I was surprised to find a rare person like that.

Touch wood but I have not been sufficiently sunburnt, constipated or had a gastro type stomach complaint to need medicinal help at home either. 

[clo]

26 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Touch wood but I have not been sufficiently sunburnt, constipated or had a gastro type stomach complaint to need medicinal help at home either. 

Nor I/we.  We carry a few things in case we get a cold/allergy attack (like the pollen kind).  As I've mentioned I have a ton of medical background and am really comfortable looking for something like "cough medicine" on shore.

[MicCanberra]

49 minutes ago, clo said:

Nor I/we.  We carry a few things in case we get a cold/allergy attack (like the pollen kind).  As I've mentioned I have a ton of medical background and am really comfortable looking for something like "cough medicine" on shore.

We are not sickly at all, time will tell how long that lasts though.

[SRF]

14 hours ago, XBGuy said:

I am retired.  So, I have nothing better to do than read Cruise Critic threads like this one.  We, in fact, do cruise with many of the items identified. 

 

I have a question.  Multiple posters have specified both Advil (Ibuprofen) and Tylenol (Acetaminophen).  Aren't these both painkillers?  Why carry both?  I'll bet there is a reasonable explanation, and I am curious as to what it is.

 

I do know that acetaminophen is quite dangerous when mixed with alcohol.

 

Ibuprofen has muscle relaxing and anti swelling properties.

 

I don't normally carry or take acetominophen.  NASTY stuff.  A couple of extra strength ones and a couple of drinks, and you destroy your liver.

[SRF]

9 hours ago, clo said:

Nor I/we.  We carry a few things in case we get a cold/allergy attack (like the pollen kind).  As I've mentioned I have a ton of medical background and am really comfortable looking for something like "cough medicine" on shore.

 

But how about something that starts the first of 3 sea days.  Suffer for 3 days until the first port?  Or a TA?

 

 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

10 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Touch wood but I have not been sufficiently sunburnt, constipated or had a gastro type stomach complaint to need medicinal help at home either. 

got kids or friends with kids?

The first time I got a rotavirus, I was pregnant. I got it from a friend's kid who attended my baby shower.

DS has got a few bouts of noro/rota so far (he is 8 and goes to school and you know how good kids are at washing hands) and then generously shared it with us and his grandparents. Kids can dehydrate extremely quickly while dealing with these viruses, and may require medical assistance beyond Pedialite...

DS doesn't sunburn because we pack him into an SPF55 rashguard and spray him with SPF100 every couple of hours. And that's despite him being a milky white redhead. However, DH misses spots on my back all the time...

 

Oh, yeah, we've also dealt with DS's severe constipation issues as well over the years, so we take extra precaution when traveling.

So, while the adults can go through their adult lives taking every precaution and be fortunate enough not to pick up a virus or suffer from constipation by eating right and getting a lot of fluids, kids are a very different type of beast. You as a child may have been the same beast... but grew up to be health conscious. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

15 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Buy the bottle now.  If you haven't used it in 2 years, don't replace it. 😄

even though we've been cruising for years, we never got sea sick and never needed dramamine. I only bought it when I brought my parents with us on their first cruise, because I wasn't sure whether they would need it or not (especially mom). They didn't need it and I lamented spending so much money on something we didn't really need... Low and behold, my DH developed vertigo right before our last cruise, and not only went through that "bottle" of dramamine, but several others. He would have been completely miserable without it. So, I am glad I didn't wait to buy it onboard for $20...

[clo]

2 hours ago, SRF said:

 

But how about something that starts the first of 3 sea days.  Suffer for 3 days until the first port?  Or a TA?

 

 

But give me an example of that?  Seriously.

[ducklite]

19 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

We call them a 'Waiter's Friend' here, it is like the swiss army knife for a waiter that needs to be opening bottles and such.

 

A waiter's key is the standard.  If you want something that works on all bottles--even those with XL corks and older bottles, invest in a Durand.

[ducklite]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Ibuprofen has muscle relaxing and anti swelling properties.

 

I don't normally carry or take acetominophen.  NASTY stuff.  A couple of extra strength ones and a couple of drinks, and you destroy your liver.

I keep it for when I've had an injury, surgery, or high fever because I can't take most narcotics and you can alternate Acetominophen and Ibruprofin every two hours. That's how I managed the pain of broken ribs as well as post-op pain of a burst appendix.

[wwcruisers]

4 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

even though we've been cruising for years, we never got sea sick and never needed dramamine. I only bought it when I brought my parents with us on their first cruise, because I wasn't sure whether they would need it or not (especially mom). They didn't need it and I lamented spending so much money on something we didn't really need... Low and behold, my DH developed vertigo right before our last cruise, and not only went through that "bottle" of dramamine, but several others. He would have been completely miserable without it. So, I am glad I didn't wait to buy it onboard for $20...

 

LOL -- I also thought myself 'immune' from sea-sickness, after years of cruising (through some very rough seas, on occasion). But never say 'never'. On our Pacific crossing to Hawaii, on a smaller ship (Celebrity Century), we encountered what mariners call a 'beam sea' -- where the waves hit the boat sideways, rather that head-on. We weren't experiencing any big waves, or swells -- and most passengers didn't even notice it.  But, after a few hours of that, my 'sea-legs' abandoned me, entirely! It took my vestibular system an entire day to acclimate (thank goodness, it finally DID). Ever since then, I cruise with Bonine and some form of ginger -- because, you just never know!😉

[Bizmark'sMom]

My entire "what if" stuff fits into a sandwich baggie.

- cold meds

- ibuprofen

- bandaids / blister pads

- benadryl

- cortisone cream

- pepto

 

I know I get sea-sick, so the bonine gets packed with my regular meds.  The above list handles the normal stuff I don't want to have to shop for, and it's stuff I keep on hand at home because I need it occasionally.

[TxCityKat]

21 hours ago, XBGuy said:

 

... Why carry both?...

 

 

Someone in their family or group may have some other chronic ailment or be taking another medication that makes the difference. For me, I'm 3rd stage renal failure and also taking warfarin. I can only take Tylenol and only a couple at that.

[navybankerteacher]

20 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Not all wines have screw tops, some have caps, some have corks, I have all three covered with one device.

Save your self the bother of carrying any tool: only buy wine that comes in a six pack of pop-top cans.

[MicCanberra]

9 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

got kids or friends with kids?

The first time I got a rotavirus, I was pregnant. I got it from a friend's kid who attended my baby shower.

DS has got a few bouts of noro/rota so far (he is 8 and goes to school and you know how good kids are at washing hands) and then generously shared it with us and his grandparents. Kids can dehydrate extremely quickly while dealing with these viruses, and may require medical assistance beyond Pedialite...

DS doesn't sunburn because we pack him into an SPF55 rashguard and spray him with SPF100 every couple of hours. And that's despite him being a milky white redhead. However, DH misses spots on my back all the time...

 

Oh, yeah, we've also dealt with DS's severe constipation issues as well over the years, so we take extra precaution when traveling.

So, while the adults can go through their adult lives taking every precaution and be fortunate enough not to pick up a virus or suffer from constipation by eating right and getting a lot of fluids, kids are a very different type of beast. You as a child may have been the same beast... but grew up to be health conscious. 

Yes, had children, and now have a grandchild. We had travelled when with my son but again, very careful and I suppose also lucky. Granddaughter (3) has made one holiday trip with us and so far has been good, and she hasn't been crook on any visits or stays when at home, although I am not sure how long that will last.

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Save your self the bother of carrying any tool: only buy wine that comes in a six pack of pop-top cans.

Funny you should say that but you can now buy wine in cans (here in Australia anyway).

[ed01106]

10 hours ago, SRF said:

 

But how about something that starts the first of 3 sea days.  Suffer for 3 days until the first port?  Or a TA?

 

 

You bite the bullet and spend the outrageous prices they charge in the ship store.  You’re at sea on a cruise ship not the middle of the amazon.  You bring a first aid kit to avoid spending $5 for a band aid, not because your life depends on it.

 

[navybankerteacher]

3 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Funny you should say that but you can now buy wine in cans (here in Australia anyway).

I’ve seen them here as well.  Somehow a six pack of Cabernet Sauvignon in pop top cans lacks the panache of a foil-wrapped corked bottle;  still, like everything else, the proof is in the tasting.

[clo]

6 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Save your self the bother of carrying any tool: only buy wine that comes in a six pack of pop-top cans.

I'm seeing those more and more.  We buy the little sparkling ones, 

[MicCanberra]

17 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

I’ve seen them here as well.  Somehow a six pack of Cabernet Sauvignon in pop top cans lacks the panache of a foil-wrapped corked bottle;  still, like everything else, the proof is in the tasting.

I haven't had one as yet, but I am sure to try them when they become more popular with wineries and the pricing drops.

[clo]

6 hours ago, TxCityKat said:

 

Someone in their family or group may have some other chronic ailment or be taking another medication that makes the difference. For me, I'm 3rd stage renal failure and also taking warfarin. I can only take Tylenol and only a couple at that.

There are specific reasons for each.  I find the Mayo Clinic website to have great info.  And, of course, YOUR DOCTOR.  If you don't know the difference then you probably shouldn't take either.

[GUT2407]

Tylenol, advil??

 

strewth my lighter pain meds make those look like candy, one reason the big stuff is in a strong box, and doesn’t leave my side.