First Aid Kit

Do you need to bring a first aid kit to China In the 2 years I traveled by bicycle through China I did only bring a basic kit. Almost everywhere in China I was able to find what I needed, even in far away remote areas as the far west in Xinjiang or Tibet. However, you may want to bring your own first aid kit because it can be hard to go into a Chinese shop and find out they don't understand what you want or need.

Yangshuo has a few local hospitals which, as I experienced myself, are not up to the standards of the Western world. However, if you get caught in an accident, they will offer a surprisingly sterile service. However, for more serious injuries, I advice the Guilin hospitals, the Guilin People's Hospital at #70 Wenming Lu in Guilin, Guangxi is a good choice.

For small injuries and preventions I have set up a small first aid kit. It might be a good idea to bring it when you go out hiking, rock climbing (though your instructors will have one with them too), cave dwelling or cycling in the padifields.

You can buy a small basic first aid kit at your own druggist. These kits are sufficient but a. you may want to ad a few items and b. you may want to familiarize yourself with the items. When I was cycling from Holland to China, this was the kit I always had with me:

• band-aids - various sizes - for small wounds, cuts, scratches
• sterile gauze dressings - various sizes - to cover larger wounds
• light elastic bandage
• elastic bandage/bandage crepe heavy duty
• roll of adhesive tape - you can fix many things with it, I always have some with me as it is useful when I am cycling
• wound cleansing tissue
• alcohol pads - useful to clean instruments
• antiseptic cream for small scratches
• cream or gel for burns
• antihistamine cream and pills - for insect bites and mild allergic reactions.
• insect repellent
• sun block cream
• pain killers - Aspirin, Paracetamol - for minor pain and fever
• activated charcoal tablets - to stop diarrhea, also used to absorb food poison
• antacid tablets - when your tummy gets upset

In case you have accidents, try to help yourself first and make a record of the cause of injury and how you treated it. If necessary, visit a doctor, ask your hotel owner for advice. Being a cyclist myself, I have always tools with me. It's a good habit to bring a multi-use tool (including scissors) in your pack.

Don't forget, in China you will find plenty of druggists and herbal medical stores with excellent help. In Yangshuo you will find the druggists speak English but in case you are not sure, ask your hotel owner/manager to join you for additional explanations.

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