Contiki Guides: First Aid Kit Must-Haves
This is a guide to your MUST-HAVE first aid kid when going abroad! I have aimed this at contiki trips but if you're just back packing Europe then all these things are still valid!
Contiki is such an amazing experience, however the amazing ups are always associated with the dreaded downs. The "Contiki Cough" is a real thing that really happens and really sucks. With everyone drinking and partying most nights and being in close proximity with each other, the random hook ups and unhealthy eating, your immune system is going to take a hit and leave you very susceptible for any kind of virus.
Contiki is such an amazing experience, however the amazing ups are always associated with the dreaded downs. The "Contiki Cough" is a real thing that really happens and really sucks. With everyone drinking and partying most nights and being in close proximity with each other, the random hook ups and unhealthy eating, your immune system is going to take a hit and leave you very susceptible for any kind of virus.
Basically everyone is going to get sick at one stage, mostly if you're on a particularly long trip. Most of the trips rely on the Contiki coach for transport and a lot of time is spent on the coach travelling from city to city. Think about all those germs being spread around the small space by the air con with about 40 people inside it. Even when someone coughs or touches the same handle as you or had been pressing their face against the same window you're leaning on today. If one person gets sick you're all getting it. If your trip is two weeks or less, you may get away with it. Otherwise, I would strongly suggest following my first aid kit advice.
The following medications are some things you will be VERY glad you packed and even if you don't end up using them, you're definitely better safe than sorry. Don't rely on borrowing off of other people because you will be very sorry if you do get ill and don't have any drugs handy. No matter how prepared you think you are you will probably inevitably visit a lot of pharmacies in Europe and luckily, they are everywhere. I think I visited more pharmacies than I did cathedrals, churches or castles and thats saying something (because they are ALSO everywhere). So if you want to have the best possible time you can and try to avoid the inevitable "Contiki Cough" and multiple sicknesses, pack the following:
You can't really avoid getting sick but you can try to prevent it by taking multi vitamins, immune defence tablets and anything else your pharmacist recommends. If you start taking these about a month before your trip, it should give your body enough time to build up your immune system, making you more resistant to viruses and illnesses.
Tip: A healthy diet and lifestyle is vital to maintaining a healthy immune system. If you look after your body and keep the junk out, it will be able to keep the sickness away more efficiently. Try hard to eat healthy and exercise leading up to your trip and try even harder to maintain at least SOME healthy eating whilst you're on your trip. This can be really hard because you want to enjoy all the foods of Europe from the pastries in France to the Pizzas and gelato in Italy, and you CAN you just have to try as hard as you can to make healthy choices too.
Pain Killers:
Stock up on the best pain killers that work for you. I'm talking like 3 boxes worth. For me, Neurofen always does the job & panadol is never enough. I only had one box on my trip and the first time I got sick they went so fast. Don't over do it and only use them when you feel like you really need them obviously, but they can be so handy for hang overs (not ideal obviously but always good), fevers, head aches, period pains for girls, colds and anything in between. Its horrible when you are in pain with a bad head ache or any of the above and you don't have any pain killers on you, so make sure you are stocked up!
Berocca:
You're undoubtedly going to consume a lot of alcohol during your trip which will also lower your immune system immensely. There isn't anything that can make up for this, however, Berroca can be a great boost of vitamins and essential nutrients that you may have lost during a big night. It also helps when you're feeling ill and drained and like you just need a bit of a boost. If you're drinking the night before a big sight seeing day, I would highly recommend bringing Berroca to breakfast and having an emergency tube for those days where you're feeling particularly low on energy.
Strepsils/Throat Sprays:
Sore throats are horrible because they are really hard to get rid of and very irritable. Some throat lozenges only put a flavoured taste in your mouth and never feel like they actually help anything, or if so, only for a short amount of time. Always look for the strongest strepsils rather than soothers or buttermenthols- the worse they taste the better they'll probably work. I also found that anti-inflammatory throat sprays were life savers when my throat was a real problem but I would definitely recommend stocking up on these before you leave home (brands like difflam and covonia work wonders) because my friends and I ended up getting this intensely strong Spanish throat spray that literally made me cry when it touched the back of the throat- stick to what you know!
Gastro Stop/Imodium:
Gastro is something you really don't want. It has many names in different cultures but in short it's when theres some nasty lava flowing from both ends of your body (sometimes simultaneously- yay!). It is the worst possible thing to happen to you when you're in a foreign city sight seeing or stuck on a bus for 9 hours straight with one dodgy toilet and only a service stop every 3 or so hours OR in my case, when you're trying to get through passport control of a very strict border. Tablets like Gastro Stop or Imodium are the best things to have on you to stop the lava flowing at the worst possible times. These are most definitely the one thing you would be much safer than sorry having on you.
Emergency Antibiotics:
In Europe you can get things like general antibiotics over the counter so if you are overcome with something like tonsillitis they aren't that hard to get. However, I would suggest seeing your doctor before you go and ask for a prescription to get some emergency antibiotics just in case! If you are prone to getting tonsillitis or sinus infections or any other infections that often require you to be on antibiotics then you should be even more certain to stock up.
In Europe you can get things like general antibiotics over the counter so if you are overcome with something like tonsillitis they aren't that hard to get. However, I would suggest seeing your doctor before you go and ask for a prescription to get some emergency antibiotics just in case! If you are prone to getting tonsillitis or sinus infections or any other infections that often require you to be on antibiotics then you should be even more certain to stock up.
8000 Tissues:
I think I spent more money on tissues than I did on food in Europe and again, thats saying something! Not everyone is going to get as sick as I did (I literally caught every flu, bad bug, cold and everything in between) but it is a wise idea to at least have a decent supply of tissues. You may not get everyones bug but you're very likely to get a snuffly nose at the very least. I literally stuffed travel tissues into every crevice and pocket of my suitcase and still ran out in the first few days. They are easy to buy everywhere though so don't panic!
Cold & Flu Tablets:
Cold & Flu tablets can work as well as pain killers sometimes, except a lot of them actually target the cold/flu in your body. They also usually come with day and night pills and the night pills often help you sleep at night during that tough battle between your immune system and the virus. If you buy one or two packs of these you know are reliable and work well, before you leave, it'll be much easier than relying on a foreign pack where you can't understand the foreign packaging and instructions. They can actually be a life saver in common colds.
Cold & Flu tablets can work as well as pain killers sometimes, except a lot of them actually target the cold/flu in your body. They also usually come with day and night pills and the night pills often help you sleep at night during that tough battle between your immune system and the virus. If you buy one or two packs of these you know are reliable and work well, before you leave, it'll be much easier than relying on a foreign pack where you can't understand the foreign packaging and instructions. They can actually be a life saver in common colds.
Condoms:
If you're on contiki and you're single- you're probably going to have sex (sorry mums and dads). If you're on contiki and you're not single, I'd say bring some condoms anyway just in case. Contiki is well known for crazy parties, lots of sex and wild nights. I did meet a few people who were in relationships and stayed 100% faithful along the way but most people feel like contiki is a free for all and well- you're better SAFE than sorry (see what I did there ;)). You just never know with these things. You might be a nun or a priest sworn to celibacy, engaged to be married to someone you thought was the love of your life or even just someone who is on the trip for themself and has no interest in mingling with the opposite sex. You just never know what will happen or who you will meet. So in the wise words of Mean Girls "Everybody take some rubbers!".
Cough Syrup:
Due to the above mentioned "Contiki Cough" everyone on my tour was desperately seeking strong cough syrups from pharmacies all over Europe. If possible, try and find a small one before you leave so you are prepared. You aren't guaranteed to get it but it's called "Contiki Cough" for a reason- because you get it on Contiki! No one wants to be coughing their lungs out on a crowded bus or whilst trying to dance the night away in some of the coolest bars and clubs in Europe. Cough syrup helps to numb your chest and some stop the coughing all together. If you don't bring one with you it's not a huge hassle because they are literally everywhere in the European pharmacies.
Due to the above mentioned "Contiki Cough" everyone on my tour was desperately seeking strong cough syrups from pharmacies all over Europe. If possible, try and find a small one before you leave so you are prepared. You aren't guaranteed to get it but it's called "Contiki Cough" for a reason- because you get it on Contiki! No one wants to be coughing their lungs out on a crowded bus or whilst trying to dance the night away in some of the coolest bars and clubs in Europe. Cough syrup helps to numb your chest and some stop the coughing all together. If you don't bring one with you it's not a huge hassle because they are literally everywhere in the European pharmacies.
Anti Nausea Tablets:
Anti Nausea tablets are quite small and compact and are just handy to prevent you feeling nauseous which can sometimes happen from travel sickness, cold or flus and even just from upset stomachs sometimes. A girl on my trip had some of these on her and my friends and I were so grateful to have access to them on some nasty sick days.
Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Wipes:
If you're a nazi clean freak then these will already be on your to-pack list. If not, maybe consider it. My friends always had a mini hand sanitiser in their bags on days out and we were always asking them for some. One day it was just that we happened to see a really cute puppy in Budapest and we all pet it before we realised it was covered in fleas. We then wiped ourselves silly with wipes and drenched ourselves in sanitiser. Whether you're on a crowded germy public bus or metro, have just eaten a nutella crepe or gelato that ran down your hands and arms or just feel like you need a general clean up then try and pack one of these!
Anti Nausea tablets are quite small and compact and are just handy to prevent you feeling nauseous which can sometimes happen from travel sickness, cold or flus and even just from upset stomachs sometimes. A girl on my trip had some of these on her and my friends and I were so grateful to have access to them on some nasty sick days.
Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Wipes:
If you're a nazi clean freak then these will already be on your to-pack list. If not, maybe consider it. My friends always had a mini hand sanitiser in their bags on days out and we were always asking them for some. One day it was just that we happened to see a really cute puppy in Budapest and we all pet it before we realised it was covered in fleas. We then wiped ourselves silly with wipes and drenched ourselves in sanitiser. Whether you're on a crowded germy public bus or metro, have just eaten a nutella crepe or gelato that ran down your hands and arms or just feel like you need a general clean up then try and pack one of these!
Cold Sore Patches:
If you're prone to cold sores and have always gotten them I'd recommend packing some of these. I got a massive cold sore right after a horrible cold and I luckily had packed some patches which really helped. I put patches on for about 4-5 days and it didn't bother me nearly as much as they usually do. The patches numbed the pain, made them semi unnoticeable to people and kept it from spreading. I almost felt like I didn't even had one. I was still getting over mine in Greece whilst being out in the sun all day and the patches were really helpful and made it feel so protected. If you don't usually get cold sores then don't worry, but make sure you've got a packet if you know you're likely to get one.
If you're prone to cold sores and have always gotten them I'd recommend packing some of these. I got a massive cold sore right after a horrible cold and I luckily had packed some patches which really helped. I put patches on for about 4-5 days and it didn't bother me nearly as much as they usually do. The patches numbed the pain, made them semi unnoticeable to people and kept it from spreading. I almost felt like I didn't even had one. I was still getting over mine in Greece whilst being out in the sun all day and the patches were really helpful and made it feel so protected. If you don't usually get cold sores then don't worry, but make sure you've got a packet if you know you're likely to get one.
GIRLS
The Pill:
Aside from the obvious usage for birth control, being on the pill allows you to control when you get your period and let me tell you that getting it the day you arrive in the Greek Islands with a week of boat, sea and poolside activities planned is not the best outcome. Make sure if you're on the pill that you get stocked up (tell your doctor how long you're going away for and how far in advance you will need a prescription) and if you've never been on the pill maybe look into it. It's much better to have that extra safety net if you do plan on getting a bit wild on your trip.
Tampons/Pads:
As every girl knows it always sucks to be caught by surprise by your period and unfortunately we often are. Even if you're on the pill or you're not due, make sure you have a small emergency period kit just in case!
Aside from the obvious usage for birth control, being on the pill allows you to control when you get your period and let me tell you that getting it the day you arrive in the Greek Islands with a week of boat, sea and poolside activities planned is not the best outcome. Make sure if you're on the pill that you get stocked up (tell your doctor how long you're going away for and how far in advance you will need a prescription) and if you've never been on the pill maybe look into it. It's much better to have that extra safety net if you do plan on getting a bit wild on your trip.
Tampons/Pads:
As every girl knows it always sucks to be caught by surprise by your period and unfortunately we often are. Even if you're on the pill or you're not due, make sure you have a small emergency period kit just in case!
Canneston/UTI Pills:
Some of the girls on my trip got UTI's and Thrush and Yeast Infections and strongly recommended I get some cream/emergency pills. I never got anything luckily, but if you've had any of these before or are prone to getting them, make sure you have an emergency stash. When you're eating lots of carbs and shit food (which you will be) your body doesn't take it too well and our lady bits can sometimes take the hit.
So I hope I've covered everything. You don't really want to be going on a huge trip with a 10 kilo medical bag but most of the things I've mentioned aren't overly heavy and don't take up too much room. The key is to just be prepared and to know your own body. You know what you are likely to get and even if you aren't prepared for something there are pharmacies around so it's not a huge deal but if you have your own stuff it saves the hassle of finding one and trying to communicate to the foreign pharmacist what you need. A bit of gruesome blog post but I felt it needed to be written as I didn't have nearly as much stuff as I needed on my trip and I wish I'd done more research or read a post like this before I went. I hope it was helpful, that you take the tips into consideration before jetting off and that you enjoyed reading!
Some of the girls on my trip got UTI's and Thrush and Yeast Infections and strongly recommended I get some cream/emergency pills. I never got anything luckily, but if you've had any of these before or are prone to getting them, make sure you have an emergency stash. When you're eating lots of carbs and shit food (which you will be) your body doesn't take it too well and our lady bits can sometimes take the hit.
So I hope I've covered everything. You don't really want to be going on a huge trip with a 10 kilo medical bag but most of the things I've mentioned aren't overly heavy and don't take up too much room. The key is to just be prepared and to know your own body. You know what you are likely to get and even if you aren't prepared for something there are pharmacies around so it's not a huge deal but if you have your own stuff it saves the hassle of finding one and trying to communicate to the foreign pharmacist what you need. A bit of gruesome blog post but I felt it needed to be written as I didn't have nearly as much stuff as I needed on my trip and I wish I'd done more research or read a post like this before I went. I hope it was helpful, that you take the tips into consideration before jetting off and that you enjoyed reading!
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