General Tips for Procuring Medicines and Supplies
- Plan ahead. Give yourself and the organizations you are using ample time to procure what you need and ship it to you. Remember that these organizations are providing for many groups at the same time.
- Be realistic in what you order.
- Think about accessory items you may need for equipment and supplies. When conducting a medical clinic make sure you have enough gauze, needles, syringes, bandages, tape, scissors, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes and thermometers.
- Make sure that you give the organizations from which you are procuring resources adequate and correct information. Make sure that dosages, sizes, quantities, etc. are clearly indicated. (If you are the leader of the team and you are a non-medical person, put a doctor or nurse practitioner in charge of this aspect of your planning.)
- Be careful about treating chronic diseases that require constant follow-up and medication.
- Make sure any organization you use to procure medicines or supplies includes a packing list of the items you have received. Make copies to take with you for customs. It is also wise to have a letter of donation stating that these items are humanitarian aid and not for resale.
- Do not take items that are expired or short-dated. It is a known fact that the medicines and other items are still effective after that date, but using them gives the impression that you are providing less than the best care, and can get the team and the host in trouble.
General Tips for Packing
- Develop your plan for packing ahead of time. If you are planning to organize your medicines in treatment dosages, it will take a number of sessions to complete this task. Purchase plastic bags in bulk for pills. If possible, print labels for your medicines in the language of the country you are visiting with dosage instructions.
- When packing dosage packs, be careful to cushion them and place them at the top of your containers. It is very easy for them to be ground down to powder if heavy items are placed on top.
- Don't use cardboard boxes to pack medical resources. Airlines do not look favorably on this. Use suitcases, duffel bags, or plastic containers with wheels.
- Pack items by categories; i.e.: all antibiotics together, surgical items together, etc. It will be easier for you when you arrive. It is also wise to have a packing list for each container.
- If you are taking surgical instruments, items containing hazardous materials or narcotics for pain management, call your airline ahead of time and discuss this.
- Keep a copy of your documentation (donation letters, packing lists, etc.) with you so that you can present, if needed, at customs.
- Arrive early for your flight!
Personal Check List for Medical Mission Trips*
This is a suggested list. Your team may have other individual items you need to remember.
- Current passport and visa - make two copies of passport info page. Leave one with family and put the other in your luggage - apart from your passport.
- Airline Tickets - copy the back page of your tickets (receipt) and put with extra passport copy
- Itinerary - put a copy inside your luggage and leave a copy with family
- Health "info" - blood type, prescription meds for your stay, prescription and/or extra pair of eyeglasses, immunization record
- Luggage - two bags to be checked, one with your personal items, one with medical team items. One carry-on with a complete change of clothing and your toiletry items.
- Gifts - small gifts for those nationals you work with such as pens, flags, caps, T-shirts, Christian tapes
- Snacks - snack foods for yourself and to share with those you work with
- Towels and Wash Cloths - hotels often do not provide towels and wash cloths
- Ear Plugs - your roommate may snore
- Attire - Scrubs for clinics, comfortable shoes, jackets/sweaters/boots (according to time of year and country being visited), casual clothes appropriate for area you are visiting
- Money - Take in small bills ($20s, $10s, $5s, $1s) for your souvenirs and a credit card.
- Camera - Take extra film and batteries. Carry film in x-ray proof container or in carry-on to be screened manually. (Remember, if you are working with CrossLink International, we always ask for pictures of your trip.)
- Electrical - Learn about your country of service. If 220 current, take converter with adapter and plugs
- Leave your valuables at home - Take nothing you could not replace.
- Toilet tissue, toiletry items, tissues, wet wipes
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Flashlight and alarm clock
- Journal and pen
- Safety pins and small sewing kit
- Language dictionary
- Bible and devotional material
*Used by permission of the Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship. For further information on planning a medical mission trip contact the Fellowship at bmdf@bmdf.org.
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