This is an extract from "The Himalyan First Aid and the Survival Guide"
By Jim Duff, MBChB BSc, & Peter Gormly, MB FRCS

Available at KEEP in handy pocket format, it is full of useful and life-saving information for travel, including sections on Altitude Sickness.

FIRST AID KIT N0 2: MINIMUM RECOMMENDED FOR A SMALL GROUP:

INSTRUMENTS: Thermometer, tweezers, scissors, sewing needle, safety pins.

DRESSINGS AND WOUND CARE: Band-Aids (20), cotton buds, gauze squares (20), sterile gauze 10 cm (10), small roll of 10 cm adhesive tape bandage, triangular bandage (1), elastic bandages 10 cm (1), closures e.g. Steristrips or butterfly (1 packet).

ANTISEPTIC (disinfectant): Lugol's iodine solution (25 ml with dropper), Dettol or Savlon, Dettol soap (1), burn cream.

PAINKILLERS (analgesics): Paracetamol (25 tablets), codeine phosphate 30 mg (10).

ANTIBIOTICS: Ciprofloxacillin 500 mg or norfloxacin 400 mg (20 tablets/capsules), amoxycillin or Augmemtin (a more broad-spectrum alternative to amoxycillin) 500 mg (15 capsules), Cephalexin e.g. Keflex 500 mg (15 capsules), metronidazole 400 mg (20 tablets) or tinidazole 400 mg (15 tablets).

FUNGAL INFECTION: Miconazole e.g. Daktarin, or clotrimazole e.g. Canestan, or Tineaderm.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING: Maxolon or Stemetil (5 tablets).

INDIGESTION: Antacid tablets e.g. Gelusil, Dimagel, or Mylanta II (10).

DIARRHOEA RELIEF: Immodium or Lomotil (10 tablets or capsules).

REHYDRATION SOLUTION: Jeevan Jal, Electrobion or Gastrolyte (2 packets).

ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (AMS): Diamox 250 mg (20 tablets), nifedipine e.g. Adalat 10-20 mg (10 capsules or tablets), dexamethazone 4 mg (10 tablets)

RESPIRATORY (BREATHING) PROBLEMS: Phenylephrine HCL 0.25% nasal drops e.g. Dristan or Drixine, Strepsil lozenges or equivalent (15).

EYE/ EAR INFECTION: Eye and ear drops e.g. Soframycin.

OTHER ITEMS RECOMMENDED: Gas lighter, duct tape, sanitary napkins (good for padding), clean cotton sheet (many uses).

In addition to individual chapters on all major aspects of first aid, the book has a thorough presentation of Acute Mountain Sickness – prevention, symptoms and treatment.