You are going on vacation soon, and you have planned to go to the pharmacy. Here are some suggestions so you don't forget anything and some useful links to have a good summer.
Regarding your chronic treatment, if you have one
- Make sure you have enough for the duration of your stay.
- Bring your prescription.
- Do not put your treatments in the hold of the plane, but rather in your hand luggage.
- Plan an insulated bag if your medication needs to be kept cold.
- Check with your pharmacist that you do not have photosensitizing medications (for example:non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, certain antibiotics, amiodarone, certain acne treatments, etc.). Drug photosensitization reactions can be very intense, or leave unsightly pigmentations for life.
Warning:
Without specific mention, except for quarterly packaging, the pharmacist cannot dispense more than one month of treatment. If you are going abroad for more than a month, remember to ask your doctor to write the clause “To be delivered for x months – Departure abroad” in full on the prescription.
A first aid kit for your trip
Before leaving, check the stock of your first aid kit. Also check the expiry dates of the medicines it contains.
- At a minimum, take:paracetamol, an antiseptic, compresses, some bandages.
- Saline pods. Very useful:sand in the eyes, conjunctivitis, jellyfish sting, stuffy nose, etc.
- A thermometer (essential if there is a baby)
- A fogger to fight the heat (heat wave, car journey). And water to drink of course!
- A sea sickness medicine for motion sickness if you or your loved ones are sensitive to it. And a plastic bag or a basin if necessary.
- Tweezers, or failing that, tweezers (sea urchin spines, ticks, thorns, etc.)
- A preventive mosquito repellent to avoid bites.
- And a curative antihistamine cream to soothe itchy bites.
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- A sunscreen:choose a high index.
- After-sun or moisturizing milk to apply after showering after returning from the beach.
- A cream for sunburn even if the goal is of course not to need it by protecting yourself properly from the sun.
Sunscreen is not enough to protect against the sun.
Here are the best practices under the sun:
- Wear a hat or cap.
- Wear sunglasses with a good UV filter.
- Keep the t-shirt on (preferably anti-UV).
- Do not expose infants to the sun.
- Avoid the most dangerous hours (between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.).
Documents and papers related to health
- chronic treatment prescriptions,
- the social security certificate and the Carte Vitale,
- the health insurance card,
- the European health insurance card for reimbursement of healthcare costs in Europe,
- the health book for the youngest,
- authorization for emergency medical or surgical intervention for minors (if you leave custody of your child to the grandparents for example).
For a departure abroad:
Discuss with your doctor:anti-malaria protection, up-to-date vaccines, medicines for turista, etc.
