Eco-friendly travel first aid kit
When traveling nothing beats having health insurance that follows you around, plus the phone numbers of the nearest local health facilities in your bag. However, you can also pack up a nice eco-friendly first aid kit to travel with.
Tips about a travel first aid kit:
It needs to be water proof! I REPEAT water proof. gauze that is soaked through, or aspirin that’s melted from moisture will do you little good in an emergency.
Look for products with the least amount of packaging – but do not give up safety. I.e. you do need sterile gauze, and that usually means a plastic covering.
Know the basics. You can for sure green your kit, but overall your green first aid kit will need some of the basic things too, such as…
- Bandages
- Gauze pads and wraps
- First aid tape
- Fine gauge tweezers
- Rubbing alcohol or antiseptic
- Hand wipes in packages – good for cleaning a cut in a pinch when you’re not near water
- Reusable gel packs – cold and warm
- First aid booklet – one that covers how to do CPR – your local red cross should be able to hook you up
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Antibiotic cream
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
- Aspirin – ONLY for adults – babies and young children CANNOT EVER have aspirin
- Antihistamine
Note, if you’re traveling with kiddos, you MUST have child and adult meds. For example, you’ll need children’s and adults Acetaminophen, not just one. Also if you’re traveling with kids, make sure you have some bandages and gauze in smaller sizes.
NOW to green your kit:
Some of the items you’ll need will have to be conventional, however, you can green your kit in lots of ways. Some good green items to add include…
- EO Sanitizing Hand Wipes, Organic Lavender, Biodegradable
- Eco-Guard Vegan “Band-Aids”, Latex Free Gauze Roll Bandage, Latex Free Gauze Pads, Latex-free tape
- Wounded Warrior, All Natural Topical Ointment (astringent)
- Non-toxic Hot/Cold Reusable Gel Packs (and biodegradable)
- All Terrain Company Antiseptz Gel
- Organic cotton pads
- Ditch The Itch Spray helps relieve rashes, insect bites, poison ivy and poison oak. Toxic free and biodegradable with recycled packaging
Herbal Roots Eco-First Aid Kit is a ready made kit you might want to look at too. It comes with nine organic and wildcrafted herbal remedies for minor & major traumas and some other first aid necessities.
Lastly, don’t forget your kit. When you travel you have to be prepared. A first aid kit is better when green, but totally useless if you forget it at home!
[image via stock.xchng]
