Travel First Aid Kit
Don't Leave Home Without One

Home ›› Travel Health Advice ›› Travel First Aid Kit

Travel first aid kit is like an insurance, something we must have when travelling but hopefully we will never have to use it.

Travelling with something we might not need seems to go against all the advice of travelling light. However if we do need it... then it can literally save our lives.

That is why you should always make space for first aid gear in your luggage.

What Should Travel First Aid Kit Contain?

The name kind of says it all - the content should be aimed to provide first aid in the case of injury or illness. Of course, accidents and injuries can vary greatly and need different treatments but some basic things are useful in many circumstances, like bandages, antiseptics, and pain medicine.

What the travel first aid kit consist of is very much the matter of personal choice.

It should though take the trip itinerary, destination and size of the travelling party into consideration, e.g. solo traveler on a city break needs less kit than family of four on an adventure holiday in remote location.

You can put together your own first aid bag or you can buy standard kits. Many travelers buy a standard kit for the basic items and then add their personal items to the kit, i.e. based on their personal needs (like prescribed medication) and their trip itinerary.

Basic standard kit with your personal additions should be sufficient in most cases but if you are going on an adventure holiday off the beaten track you must adjust your kit accordingly.

Basic travel kit usually include the following items:

• Classic first aid products like bandages, gauze, antiseptic, scissors, tweezers, cotton tipped applicators, etc.
• Digital thermometer
• Antibacterial hand wipes
• Sunscreen and Sun Protection Products (SPF 15 or more)
• Aloe gel for sunburns
• Insect repellent containing DEET (up to 50%)
• First aid quick reference card / manual
• Medical kit (see later)

Items you might want to add to your first aid kit:

• Special bandages for blisters
• Lubricating eye drops
• Water purification tablets
• Space blanket / lightweight plastic foil blanket (to reduce heat loss)
• Your choice of contraception's
• Address and phone numbers of area hospitals or clinics

Your medical kit should include as applicable:

• Your prescription medications (take copy of all prescriptions with you, including the generic names of your medications)
• Some over-the-counter anti diarrhea medicine (Pepto-Bismol is popular for treating minor digestive system upset while Imodium works well stopping diarrhea)
• Oral rehydration solution (to keep hydrated if you get diarrhea)
• Pain killers, i.e. paracetamol / acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.
• Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams
• Antihistamine is effective against allergies but also itching, skin rashes and insect bites
• Hydrocortisone cream (to treat inflammation)
• Throat lozenges and cough suppressant
• Antacid (to neutralize stomach acidity)
• Mild laxative
• Mild sedative or other sleep aid
• Malaria tablets
• High altitude preventive medication
• Anti motion sickness medication

These lists are for guidance only, you should include in your first aid kit everything you feel relevant for you and your trip.

It is important to check the content on regular basis and replace any items that have been used, are damaged or have expired.

And don't forget, first aid kit is only useful if it is available. This means not only bring it with you on your holiday, do not leave it in your check in luggage / room when travelling... keep it with you.

Ps. never travel without adequate Travel Insurance, taking the risk is just not worth it.