A
missionary will want to have a small first aid kit to help take care
of minor injuries and illnesses. It is not possible to create a medical kit
that will cover every situation for every missionary. Some missionaries will find themselves in
very remote areas where not only is access to medical care very limited, but
access to a drug store is impossible.
Here are some guidelines and suggestions to consider as you prepare a
missionary first aid kit.
- You need to consider
whether or not your mission has water contamination concerns. You may want to
take some water treatment options with you (see Appendix B for ideas). If you are
in a high-risk area, it would be wise to take some water treatment chemicals
that you can drop into water as needed.
- Consider the following
for treatment of simple wounds:
- Multiple sizes of
bandages
- Triple antibiotic
ointment
- Butterfly bandages
- Gauze pads
- Alcohol prep pads
- Tape
- Blistoban for blisters
- Burn treatment gel
- Consider taking a
multipurpose utility tool containing a knife, screwdrivers, scissors, pliers,
tweezers, etc.
- Consider the following
for dental care:
- Dental filling material
in case of a lost filling
- Dental floss
- An extra toothbrush
- Suggestions for
medications to carry:
- Prior to leaving, discuss
a plan with your physician about any prescriptions you may need for chronic
conditions. Examples include medications
for diabetes, heart conditions, severe allergies, psychiatric conditions, etc.
- Ibuprofen or
acetimenophen for pain
- Antifungal skin cream
- Hydrocortisone 1% cream
or ointment
- Afrin (oxymetazoline)
nasal spray to stop nose bleeds and to help you breathe if you’re infected with
a virus
- Antihistamine for
allergies
- Talk to your doctor about
taking an antibiotic for a skin infection or some other kind of infection
- Eye drops
- Talk to your doctor about
taking Cipro, an antibiotic used for treating diarrhea.
- Over-the-counter
omeprazole or another antacid
- It is very important to
avoid being bitten by insects. Here are
some considerations of items that you might want to take:
- Mosquito repellent
- Permethrin is very useful
but might have to be shipped to the area (see the link on Bed Bugs and Fleas)
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