A travel first aid kit is an essential yet often overlooked item for travelers. Whether you manage chronic medical conditions or simply want to be ready for unexpected situations, this guide will help you prepare for when you will be far from your regular doctor.
When assembling your first aid kit, try to keep it small and light, so that you aren’t tempted to leave it at home.
Follow the same precautions with the medicines in your first aid kit as you would with any other medications. Always use them as directed by your healthcare provider. Keep the first aid kit out of reach of children, and opt for child-resistant caps whenever possible.
Be mindful of airline restrictions on liquid volumes in carry-on baggage; certain items may need to be placed in checked luggage when traveling. For Tips from a Nurse: Surviving a Long Haul Flight, check out my post here
Regularly check expiration dates in your first aid kit and properly dispose of expired medications.
Also If someone in your group has a severe allergy, ensure you have the necessary medication on hand at all times. Remember to bring Emergency Identification Cards when applicable.
- Prescription Medications:
- It is important to always keep enough of your prescription medications in your carry on bag, to last your whole trip, just in case your checked bag gets lost or delayed. Keep your prescriptions in the original container, with legible instructions on the bottle.
- Check and make sure your prescriptions are legal where you are traveling. For example, many prescription medications are illegal in other countries, and you can be arrested for bringing them into the country, even if you have a valid prescription.
- Anti-Histamine:
- For allergies, or mild rashes from bug bites, etc.
- Motion Sickness Medications:
- Air or car travel can cause motion sickness in some people. While not dangerous, motion sickness can be miserable for the sufferer. Make sure to pay attention to the formulation, many people opt for the non drowsy versions of these medications.
- Hydrocortisone or Calamine lotion:
- For rashes or irritation from bug bites. Mosquitos seek me out and I’m always getting bit.
- Indigestion
- An antacid can be helpful for acid reflux or mild stomach aches. Tums or alka seltzer come in handy travel sized pouches.
- Bandaids/Blister patches:
- Often when travelling you are walking a lot more than you would at home, blister patches can keep chaffed areas from getting worse and make you a bit more comfortable, so you can continue sighthseeing
- Anti-Diarrheal:
- Traveler’s diarrhea can strike at the most in inconvenient moments, or after eating foods that your body isn’t used to. Don’t give to children unless specifically recommended by your doctor.
- Hand Sanitizer:
- Hand sanitizer is essential for those bathrooms that may not have regularly stocked soap or cleaning products. You can also clean small cuts and scrapes.
- Extra Contacts:
- Bring extra contacts, or a spare pair of glasses
- Stool Softener:
- Traveling can mess with your gut, especially when flying, due to changes in cabin air pressure.
- Cold relief Medication:
- These can help with cough, stuffy nose and mild aches associated with the cold virus. Be sure to check with local laws, some cold medications contain ingredients that are illegal in some countries.
- Pain relievers:
- Medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin can be a lifesaver when traveling. Good for mild aches and pains or mild fevers. If you have children, make sure to pack a children’s formula as well, and never give children aspirin.
- Aloe Vera Gel:
- Good for relieving sunburns and mild skin irritations.
- Sunscreen:
- If traveling by air, look for solid forms of sunscreen to keep your liquids to a minimum.
- Cough Drops
Before traveling it is important to make a list of items you think you might need and edit your travel first aid kit accordingly. You may not need to bring all of these items on every trip.
Look for travel sized options to keep your kit from getting too bulky in your luggage. Be mindful of liquids when traveling by air.
Check your kit often for expiring or expired medications
Keep medications in the original packaging, whenever possible for easy identification.
Keep your kit safe from children, in child proof containers. Pack children’s formulations if you are traveling with kiddos.
Store your medications out of direct sunlight or high heat.
Bonus Items
- Compression socks: for long car rides or long flights, these not only help with swelling but can also help prevent DVT’s (blood clots in your legs)
- Electrolytes: Air travel is very dehydrating, electrolyte drink supplements can help you to rehydrate. Look for formulations with less added sugar. I like the brand Ultima or Liquid IV.
- Immune Support: Vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C , Zinc tablets and Vitamin D tablets can help aid in boosting your immune system while traveling.
- Activated Charcoal: Can help alleviate gas and upset stomach It can also be helpful to prevent symptoms from food poisoning while traveling.
- Travel Insurance: Look into whether or not you will need travel insurance for your trip. There are many companies that offer affordable travel insurance for vacations.
- Masks: These come in handy in a variety of ways, to protecting your travel mates from your cold or preventing illness in those who may be immunocompromised
- Bug Repellant/Sting-relief: I was in Costa Rica a few years ago and got stung by a Jelly Fish, not once but twice! I was so glad that I had packed sting relief gel in my beach bag, it really helped to take the pain away.
For Long Haul flights check out my post here, on Tips from a Nurse: Surviving long haul flights.
I hope this give you some good ideas of what you might need to bring in your travel first aid kit.
Happy and Health Travels!
-beck
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