Travel First Aid Kit and Medication for Tonga
Travelling to a tropical country like Tonga does come with a higher risk of health issues, most commonly, sunburn, heatstroke and mosquito bites. Plus, with most travellers in Tonga being pretty active, accidents and injuries can happen. With all of this in mind, it’s a good idea to be prepared for minor injuries and illnesses with your own travel first aid kit for Tonga. We go through the essential medication to pack for Tonga in the checklist below.
See more essentials to pack in The Complete Packing List for Tonga.
Health Tips for Travelling in Tonga
- Boiling water before drinking is advised. Alternatively use a Lifestraw Bottle
- Speaking of water, be sure to drink plenty – at least 2litres/68oz every two hours to stay hydrated
- If you’re feeling unwell, be proactive and see a local doctor immediately
- Taking a couple of paracetamol and a nasal decongestion spray 30 minutes before a flight can help with flu-like symptoms and ear pain
- If travelling with an infant, pack your usual brand baby formula as a change in diet may lead to bowel complications.
See more tips in 10 Health Tips for Tonga.
(c) tongapocketguide.comTravel First Aid Checklist
Simple first aid kits for travel can be purchased from most pharmacies. However, they only provide basic medication and dressings, usually lacking a few more essentials recommended to take to Tonga. For this reason, we recommend putting together your own travel first aid kit for Tonga. You can use the checklist we’ve put together, listing the type of medication/health product and what it is used for.
Note that some medications may need a prescription, where visiting your doctor is also a good time to ask about vaccinations for Tonga.
What to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Tonga
- Travel passport for a record of your vaccinations
- Paracetamol for headaches and fevers
- Antihistamine pills or cream for mosquito bites
- Oral rehydration sachets (medical electrolytes) for dehydration from the sun or gastro bugs
- Baby electrolytes for dehydration in infants
- Antacids for neutralising stomach acid
- Antidiarrhoeal pills e.g. loperamide for diarrhoea
- Nasal drops for congestion
- Band-aids/plasters for cuts
- Disinfectant wipes for cuts
- Gauzes for cuts
- Gloves for cuts
- Tweezers to remove shards, leeches and bugs
- Thermometer to monitor temperature
- Elastic wraps for twisted ankles
- Antisceptic cream/spray for infected cuts (spray is better for hot climates)
- Hydrocortisone cream for allergic rashes
- Aloe vera soothing cream for sunburn
- Antibiotics if going to remote areas – discuss with your GP first
- A copy of the emergency numbers in Tonga
Emergency Services: 911
Tonga Fire Service: 999
Tonga Police: 922
Tonga Ministry of Tourism: +676 25334
Fua’amotu Airport (TBU): +676 35-001
(c) Pxhere.comOther Medication and Health Products to Pack for Tonga
While not necessarily needed in your first aid kit for Tonga, these other medications and health products are handy to have with you in Tonga.
Sunscreen
With UV levels of 5-12+ in Tonga, it’s crucial that you protect yourself and your loved ones from sun exposure in order to avoid sunburn or heatstroke. For Tonga, it’s recommended to use at least SPF 30+ sunscreen, which should be applied thickly every three hours or soon after going in the water. Be sure to choose a sunscreen that’s safe for marine life in Tonga too. Check out examples of safe sunscreen to use in Tonga in the 10 Best Natural Sunscreens for Tonga and 5 Best Natural Sunscreens for Kids & Babies.
Insect Repellent
It’s important to avoid mosquito bites in Tonga, as mosquito-related diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya do occur. Check out our recommended mosquito repellents in 10 Best Natural Mosquito Repellents for Tonga. Plus, get more advice for avoiding bites in the 10 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Tonga.
Seasickness Pills
With ferries and many of Tonga’s top activities being on boats, it’s recommended to pack some seasickness pills. Take one an hour before getting on a boat and take a pack with you on the boat should you start to feel queasy. Many of the boat tours and boat transfers in Tonga are on small boats, where motion sickness is often increased.
Iodine (Water-Purifying) Tablets
As a precaution for drinking water from a tap or any other potentially unsafe sauce, iodine tablets dissolved in water helps remove some bacteria and viruses from the water. This is not 100% effective though, so when possible boil water for at least 10 minutes before drinking it. Find out more in Can You Drink the Water in Tonga?
Glasses/Contact Lenses
It’s always a good idea to have a spare pair of glasses or spare sets of contact lenses, in case you lose or damage your glasses and/or contact lenses.
Prescription Medication
Finally, remember your prescription medication. It’s a good idea to bring medication in the original packaging with the label for who it is prescribed to. As an extra precaution, get your GP/doctor to sign and date a letter describing your medical conditions and medications, including their generic names.
More About Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Tonga
- 10 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Tonga
- 5 Ways to Make Sure the Water is Safe to Drink in Tonga
- 10 Health and Safety Tips for Travelling in Tonga With Kids
- Tonga Weather by Month: What is the Weather Like in Tonga?
That’s it for the medication to pack in your first aid kit for Tonga. Now head over to The Complete Packing List for Tonga or get even more advice in our 31 Tips for Travelling in Tonga.
