One of the first caravan health and safety items is a good first-aid kit. This is a must and can be bought from camping stores, St John Ambulance or a whole range of retail outlets. Some kits are designed for administering first aid in major trauma situations. While these items are necessary, even if never used, you should also carry the bits and pieces that will see you through minor injuries and upsets. Make sure you check your first-aid kit regularly in order to get rid of out-of-date items and replenish stock.

If you take prescription medicine, ask your doctor to provide sufficient prescriptions to last the trip, particularly if you are spending time in remote regions. Repeats cannot normally be filled all at once so it may be necessary to stop at a pharmacy every few weeks to get more medicine.

If you need specialist non-prescription medicines and other health products, particularly on a non-traditional nature, you should carry enough stock to last the trip, or at least the length of time between major centres. Do not forget sunscreen and insect repellent. Pack brands that you have used before as these products can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.

FIRST AID KIT

Your caravan health and safety first-aid kit should contain:

• First-aid handbook to help identify and treat various conditions
• Bandaids (various shapes and sizes) to dress all types of small wounds, cuts and abrasions
• Tweezers to remove splinters and prickles
• Scissors to cut dressings, tape and so on
• Gauze bandages to hold dressings in place and protect wounds
• Cotton wool and buds to clean and dress wounds
• Elastic bandages to support joint injuries and treat spider or snake bites
• Pins or clips to hold elastic bandages in place
• Triangular bandages to use as a sling, to secure a splint, and to cover head wounds
• Non-adhesive dressings to cover wounds and abrasions
• Anti-itch cream to treat bites, stings and some rashes
• Antiseptic to treat open cuts and wounds
• Alcohol swabs to clean around wounds
• Cold pack to treat sprains, swellings and some bites
• Latex gloves to prevent the spread of infection
• Diarrhoea tablets
• Anti-nausea tablets
• Motion-sickness tablets
• Aspirin or paracetamol
• Throat lozenges
• Eye soother
• Lip balm
• Antihistamines to treat allergic reactions

This is the fourteenth page of 23 with related information about making the most of your caravan holiday. Check our website at www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html for the other articles.

Ian Molloy is the owner of Crikey Adventure Tours.

Visit his website www.crikey-adventure-tours.com for more information about this article and other related topics. He not only has his tour business operating from Peth in Western Australia, but his site is full of very helpful information.

Some of these includes tips on motorcycle holidays www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/motorcycle-holiday.html, driving cross-country, caravanning and generally lots of tips about having a "camping" holiday.

Source: www.isnare.com