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Emergency essentials you'll want to keep close at hand.
Emergency essentials you'll want to keep close at hand. (Photo: Zlikovec/iStock)

16 Essentials for Surviving Abroad

When the going gets tough, the tough bring a backup plan

Published: 
Emergency essentials you'll want to keep close.
(Photo: Zlikovec/iStock)

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If you鈥檝e spent any significant time overseas, you know that it鈥檚 not just getting lost in the backcountry that you have to worry about. Often the smaller, less extreme problems present the biggest challenges. Take it from someone who learned the hard way. I used to think emergency travel kits were a waste of luggage space. I鈥檝e paid for my naivety with everything from traveler鈥檚 diarrhea in India to dengue in Indonesia. When you鈥檙e sick or injured, having a familiar solution within reach is crucial. Here are the emergency essentials I keep close.

Problem: Mosquitos

Solution: The mosquito net. Tuck it around your mattress or sleeping bag to provide some serious bug protection. An optional InsectShield repellent with permethrin built into the fabric of the net is worth the extra $10 and provides long-lasting, odorless protection.

Solution: odorless garlic pills. These provide an added (and natural) layer of defense when you鈥檙e traveling in an area with mosquito-borne illness. Start taking them a week before you travel, and go odorless if you want to avoid the unrelenting garlic stench.

Solution: . This anti-malarial drug is almost impossible to find in places you鈥檒l need it, like India and Southeast Asia, because of concerns that the disease will develop a resistance to the drug. Play it safe and buy well in advance of your trip.

Problem: Fever

Solution: The digital thermometer. I bought this during a bout with dengue in Indonesia. Taking my temperature at home beat daily trips to the hospital, and I knew within 25 seconds if I should toughen up or see a doctor. If the thermometer reads聽103 or higher, I headed for the nearest medical professional. This model is waterproof, super compact, and known for spot-on accuracy.聽

Problem: Blisters

Solution: . When hoofing it around unfamiliar cities and trails, the battle against blisters is a given. Hopefully you鈥檝e got your hiking shoe size dialed, but if not, you鈥檒l be better off placing a strip of this stuff on the heel and sides of your feet before heading out for the day.

Problem: Cuts, Scrapes, and Burns

Solution: antiseptic wipes. These kept me infection-free after I severely burned my leg on a motorcycle exhaust pipe. The single-use packets are easy to tote around, too.

Problem: Torn Tent, Dead Flashlight, Hangnail

Solution: The knife. I鈥檝e used this to pull out splinters, cut my hair, and spread PB&J. This model can double as an LED flashlight and has all the basics without being too heavy.

Problem: You鈥檙e in a Foreign Country and Need Medical Help

Solution: The . This free app from Allianz Global Assistance allows you to search for hospitals, translate first-aid terms, and find the international name for medications. Biggest plus: because the app is downloaded locally, you don鈥檛 need a cell signal to use it.

Problem: Dirty Water

Solution: . If you鈥檙e visiting remote areas or find yourself with questionable drinking water, you鈥檒l be glad you packed these along. The magic ingrediant is tetraglycine hydroperiodide. When dropped in water, it releases iodine, killing most water-borne pathogens in 30 minutes.

Problem: Wet Clothes, Expanding Luggage, Broken Gear鈥擡verything, Really

Solution: . It can be used to fix or rig almost anything. I鈥檝e used it to string up my mosquito net, and it makes a great makeshift clothesline. Plus, it鈥檚 only $3.

Problem: Ear Infection

Solution: antibiotic eardrops. Some of the best waves are in the dirtiest water. When I got swimmer鈥檚 ear from surfing in Bali, these drops were my go-to.

Problem: Traveler鈥檚 Diarrhea

Solution: . This over-the-counter medication stems the frequency of diarrhea. When you鈥檙e about to board a flight and have no control over your bodily fluids, it鈥檚 essential.

Solution: oral rehydration salts. When I got food poisoning in Delhi and spent three days on the toilet, these salts were my lifeline. The mix of electrolytes and sugar optimizes the body鈥檚 ability to absorb water, helping you rehydrate faster.

Solution: Cipro. You鈥檒l need a prescription for these pills, which contain ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that fights bacterial infections. I used it to beat off a bad case of the runs, but it also works for respiratory infections.

Lead Photo: Zlikovec/iStock

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