Travel Tips for Spring Breakers (or for those who are just getting away for awhile)

It's coming to that time of year again where the weather is getting nice and we start to feel that urge to get out and see something new.  Maybe a trip to Colorado for skiing is on your agenda.  Perhaps a week at the beach is in the cards for you.  Either way, your friendly neighborhood amigos here at Heritage Pharmacy would like to provide a few tips for those of you jet-setters out there.

• Schedule an appointment with your physician well in advance of your trip.
• Have necessary immunizations for your destination.
• Check insurance coverage for travel abroad.
• Have your insurance information cards and claim form with you.
• Obtain a letter from your physician regarding your health history, medications, allergies, and immunization records.
• Have an emergency release form.
• Complete the inside page of your passport with important identification and emergency contact information.
• Have an ample supply of medication in original, labeled containers. Do not use pill cases or other unlabeled containers.
• Carry along extra prescriptions, as well as a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug, as some countries have strict laws regarding narcotics.
• Carry along the generic names of your medications as pharmaceutical companies overseas may use different names from those in the United States.
• If you wear eyeglasses, take an extra pair with you.
• As an extra precaution, pack extra eyeglasses and medication in carry-on luggage in case checked baggage is lost.
• Consider wearing a "medical alert" bracelet if you have allergies or reactions to medications, insect bites, certain foods, or other unique medical problems.
• Pack a travelers' first aid kit for on-the-road emergencies.
• Discuss with your physician how you will take medication as you cross time zones.
• Water purification tablets
• Pack epinephrine (EpiPen) if you have severe allergies
• Check with the American Embassy or Consulate to inquire about the types of medications allowed into the country you are visiting.
• Stop by Heritage Pharmacy and have us print out a profile of your medications just in case it would be needed if you are seen by a physician while on your trip. Or, if you haven't already, add our phone number to your contacts in your mobile phone (405) 375-6300.

As the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared" and one way for you to do so is to carry a travelers' First Aid Kit. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourage travelers to pack a first-aid kit or a travel health kit so that common medical emergencies can be properly handled should they occur. Pack the following items in your carry-on bag and keep it with you at all times:

• acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin to relieve headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains
• antihistamines to relieve allergies and inflammation
• anti-nausea/motion sickness medication (You may also want to include medication for altitude sickness if traveling to high altitudes.)
• bandages of assorted sizes to cover minor cuts and scrapes
• bandage closures, such as butterfly bandages, to tape edges of minor cuts together
• triangular bandage to wrap injuries and make an arm sling
• elastic wraps to wrap wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries
• gauze in rolls, as well as two-inch and four-inch pads to dress larger cuts and scrapes
• adhesive tape to keep gauze in place
• scissors with rounded tips to cut tape, gauze, or clothes, if necessary
• safety pins to fasten splints and bandages
• antiseptic wipes to disinfect wounds or clean hands, tweezers, scissors, or other utensils
• antibiotic ointment to prevent infection in cuts, scrapes, and burns
• hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect wounds
• disposable, instant-activating cold packs to cool injuries and burns, as well as for use in strains and sprains
• tweezers to remove small splinters, foreign objects, bee stingers, and ticks from the skin
• disposable rubber gloves to protect hands and reduce risk of infection when treating wounds
• thermometer to take temperatures in case of illness
• calamine lotion to relieve itching and irritation from insect bites and poison ivy
• hydrocortisone cream to relieve irritation from rashes
• sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher
• insect repellent (Those appropriate for use on children should contain no more than 10 to 15 percent DEET, and 30 to 50 percent DEET or up to 15 percent of picaridin for adults, as the chemical can cause harm when absorbed through the skin.)
• medicine for diarrhea (Talk to your physician about a prescription for an antibiotic you can take in case of diarrhea.)
• cough and cold medicines
• epinephrine auto-injector for severe allergies
• list of prescription medications and generic names
• water purification tablets

Be sure to follow the same precautions with the medicines in your first aid kit as you do with all medications, and use only as recommended by your physician. Make sure children cannot get into the first-aid bag - use child safety caps whenever possible. Check expiration dates and discard medication that is out-of-date. And, if someone has a life-threatening allergy, carry the appropriate medication with you at all times.

Of course, all these items and more are available for you at Heritage Pharmacy located at 1309 S. Main in Kingfisher.