Defense Against Health Hazards on the Road

Health hazards are a constant fear of many travelers, especially those bound for Third World environments or wilderness vacations where the potential for injury or infection increases. Whatever your destination, it’s smart to have along a good first aid kit. We’ve found a top choice, as well as other products that thwart a variety of health threats. Prices do not include shipping and handling:

You’d be hard-pressed to find an emergency item missing from the Walkabout First Aid Kit by Atwater & Carey, a leading manufacturer of portable health aids. Designed for a wide variety of medical situations, the kit contains bandages, multiple dressings, scissors, a 56-page back-country first aid manual, pill vials, disposable gloves and a variety of medications such as sting-relief pads, antibiotics and Benadryl. Inside the zippered nylon case are one large see-through zippered mesh compartment and four open pockets with room for additional items. When closed, the 10-ounce kit measures 5 inches by 7 inches by 2 inches--quite a portable package considering the extensive contents. I counted more than 40 separate kinds of aids, and even at home I frequently raid the health kit for minor emergencies. The case has two belt loops, especially useful for hiking.

Walkabout First Aid Kit is $32.50 from Atwater & Carey; (800) 359-1646.

Bare feet in the wrong place can result in serious injuries or infections, but slippers often are too bulky, a luxury when packing space is at a premium. These extremely lightweight skid-resistant folding rubber “soles” with mesh netting uppers are solid protection in campground or hotel showers (where water-borne bacteria abound), down-the-hall toilets, wet docks, seashores, pool platforms and numerous other problem spots. The slippers weigh just four ounces and take up no more space than a small folding wallet.

Ultra Soles lightweight slippers (No. TS491) are $6.85 from Magellan’s; (800) 962-4943.

Another source of dangerous germs is airplane pillows. Although the cabin crew is supposed to change pillow covers after each flight, I’ve frequently been handed soiled-looking pillows by flight attendants, who tell me they change the covers regularly but not after every flight. The solution is to carry your own inflatable pillow--and numerous varieties are on the market. Now there’s a travel pillow designed to appeal to children, who tend to be particularly susceptible to all kinds of germs.

The Snoozle is a gently curving inflatable vinyl pillow covered by a brightly colored cotton velour creature that looks like a cross between a fish and a dinosaur, with whimsical multicolored felt “fins.” The material is extremely soft and perfect tot-size. I gave one to my 5-year-old niece just before a flight and she spent her waking hours playing with it, then snuggled in for a nap.

Snoozle child’s travel pillow (No. 1C372) is $9.95 from Magellan’s; (800) 962-4943.

Insect repellent may be sufficient defense against flying, biting things in most places, but in particularly dense swamps, around lakes, and in many tropical locations, extra protection may be needed. This hooded pullover top and pants made of nylon netting, with elastic on the hood, and at waist, wrists and ankles, work especially well when used with a good spray repellent. The pieces are worn over regular clothing. I tried these “Skeeter Beeters” on a camping trip in the Caribbean and found them both comfortable and effective when used with repellent. I especially appreciated the coolness of the netting, which allowed air to circulate--but nothing with wings!

Skeeter Beeter pullover top (No. 3002) is $32 and Skeeter Beeter pants (No. 3001) are $22 from TravelSmith; (800) 950-1600.

Hypothermia, when your body loses too much heat, can be a killer, and even non-life-threatening shivers can be a health threat. But carrying around a blanket when traveling is rarely practical. This emergency thermal blanket is a 7-foot by 4 1/2-foot piece of insulating reflective material that was developed for the NASA/Apollo space mission. When wrapped around the body snugly, it reflects and retains up to 80% of radiated body heat, yet it folds down to a tiny 4-inch by 2-inch by 1-inch wad, weighing just three ounces.

I keep a thermal blanket in my carry-on baggage or knapsack. I haven’t needed it for any real emergencies yet, but it’s come in handy on chilly nights around a campfire, sitting around in a wet bathing suit after a swim in less-than-toasty temperatures and for extra warmth in a European hotel where the blankets were especially thin.

Emergency Thermal Blanket (No. K407104) is $3.25 from REI (800) 426-4840.

Gear & Gadgets appears the first week of every month.