who travel medical kit

The portable emergency room — Peace of mind for off-grid living and travel

Our doctors prescribe you life-saving medications before you need them. We ship them to you before your next adventure. Treat urgent medical issues anywhere — without finding a doctor or pharmacy.

TRUSTED BY THE NORTH FACE GLOBAL ATHLETE TEAM

"This is the ultimate medicine cabinet for most emergencies" — Forbes

Trusted medications to treat the most common issues

Duration Health medical kits include prescription-only medications — like antibiotics and EpiPen — that treat urgent problems for adults and kids. We offer 20 kits built from over 70 medications, sourced from the same U.S. suppliers as your local pharmacy and prescribed to you in advance. You'll have instant access to trusted treatment — without the stress of searching for a nearby clinic when you're sick.

See The Medications

"Duration Health mixes telemedicine with a survivalist mindset to sell medical go-bags — basic prescription drugs someone might need while traveling or trapped at home" — Axios

Prescribed to you by our expert doctors

Our world-class physicians customize your kit to your exact needs. Every kit includes a one-on-one video consultation with our doctors, board-certified in emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, travel medicine, and pediatrics. And, enjoy ongoing access to our doctors for a year, so you'll always have expert help available.

"The price of the kit includes an online doctor visit for prescriptions and advice" — Forbes

Easy refills & shelf life

Our easy annual renewal process ensures the medications in your kit are always current. Use your account dashboard at any time to replace medications you've used and to update your entire kit once each year.

We provide a one-year expiration date for all items, the maximum allowed by regulation for prescription vials, with some items like creams and inhalers valid for up to two years. We'll keep your kit current — so you never have to take chances with expired medications.

TSA & Customs ready

Each medication is individually labeled with its prescription to meet international travel requirements.

Family friendly

Medications are available to treat adults and children. From amoxicillin to EpiPen, we cover kids as young as 6 months.

HSA/FSA accepted

We accept cards linked to a medical spending account such as a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Refund guarantee

Your payment is fully refundable at any time until your Med Kit ships, even after the physician review. Walk away any time before shipment and pay nothing.

Individually prescribed

Each medication is prescribed for use by one individual, based on his or her medical profile.

Emergency meds only

We focus exclusively on medications that could save your life. No medications for chronic conditions or basic first aid supplies.

Printed field guide

Every kit includes a 122-page printed field guide, so you'll know how to use the medications even if you're isolated.

Born in the USA

Every kit is hand-packed in the U.S. by a licensed pharmacist.

Kare in Florida

"WOW ... this process was super easy to take care of ... fill out the forms, have your zoom call with the doc and go over what types of meds you might need in an emergency! Super Simple People ... Get one today!"

Jason in Oregon

"Super easy process to have piece of mind while we travel the world with our family... Definitely recommend it to anyone traveling away from home for any extended amount of time."

Jeff in Hawaii

"Everything I need and room for more for short notice trips around the Pacific. It’s like an insurance policy in a bottle!"

Angela in Florida

"Peace of mind no matter where I roam, that's what this is. I added what I needed and customized my kit. The case had room to add other medical supplies, so I am ready for my kayak expedition."

Elizabeth in Illinois

"I appreciate the freedom this allows to "go where there is no doctor." It means that not speaking the language or not having a cell phone connection are no longer a hard block!"

Bring the ER with you.

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Serving travelers since 2019 and preppers since 2020

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The off-grid medical kit with antibiotics, EpiPen and emergency Rx. Talk with our doctors online, and get basic prescription medications now — before you need them in an emergency. Only your Duration Health provider can decide, based on your medical history and other factors, whether it is medically appropriate for you to receive prescriptions. We do not sell prefabricated bags of pharmaceuticals. Each Duration Health Med Kit that contains prescription medications is custom assembled, tailored to each individual patient's needs.

Duration Health is not a pharmacy, is not a nonprescription retailer, and does not sell medications directly. To be able to deliver a customized kit of medications, Duration Health has partnered with a third-party mail order pharmacy. You may request that any prescriptions be sent to an alternate pharmacy. Duration Health charges an administrative convenience fee for its services, but Duration Health does not sell prescription or over-the-counter ("OTC") drugs, mark-up the cost of prescription or OTC drugs, or retain any portion of the fees our affiliated pharmacy charges to you. Nor does Duration Health provide medical advice about or prescribe OTC medications. In states where Duration Health’s physician consultation services are not offered, Duration Health only offers OTC products and does not provide clients with access to obtain a physician consultation. Clients are free to purchase OTC medications of their choice as an OTC-only kit.

You must complete the included online telehealth visit, including a complete medical history and ID verification, before any prescriptions are issued. You may not be eligible to receive items pictured or described on this site. Furthermore, renewal of your prescriptions is contingent upon continued medical appropriateness. Generics only. Brand names are listed on our site for your reference, but in most cases, only generic (non-brand) medications are included in our Med Kits. No controlled substances. Our formulary excludes controlled substances like opioids, benzodiazepines, and other potentially addictive medications. Treatment not guaranteed. No medication is guaranteed to work or guaranteed to treat a particular condition or disease. Use medications only as directed by a physician. Medication uses listed on this site are for educational purposes only and are not intended to represent indications for treatment. Email support only. Our providers are available via email to answer questions about your Med Kit. For non-emergency use only. In an emergency, call 911 or seek local emergency care. No routine care. Duration Health email support cannot be used for routine primary care. Medications prescribed by Duration Health cannot be used for routine purposes. This product is intended only for people who are unable to obtain regular medical care. You must anticipate living, working or traveling where care is unavailable. As a condition of purchase, you must consent to use of these medications only when regular access to medical care is unavailable. Your eligibility for Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) payment and reimbursement is not guaranteed; consult with your health plan, a qualified accountant, or a tax professional to determine your eligibility for reimbursement. Duration Health does not provide or claim to provide any medication or other item to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19.

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The 6 Best First Aid Kits for Travel 2024

Stay prepared with compact, pre-made first aid kits fit for any adventure.

Katherine Alex Beaven is a Los Angeles-based travel, food and drink, and culture writer.

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Travel + Leisure / Kristin Kempa

First aid kits are often one of the most overlooked travel accessories, even though they can make or break your vacation experience. In best-case scenarios, you won’t ever need it, but on the off-chance you do, it’ll quickly prove to be one of the most savvy additions to your packing list. First aid kits come in handy for help with everything from headaches and dehydration to cuts, scrapes, and bites, or even sprained appendages. 

For expert insight on what to look for in a travel first aid kit and why they are one of the most essential travel accessories, we spoke with Raelene Brooks, PhD, RN, Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix. Based on our research and experience and Brooks’ expert advice, we compared various top-selling travel first aid kits on the market, making sure to consider the overall size, number of items, variation of ailments covered, and variety of items included. The waterproofed Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight Watertight .5 first aid kit is our favorite thanks to its wide array of wellness gear despite its compact size — but if you’re looking for something a little different, we’ve got plenty of great first aid kit picks below.

Best Overall

Adventure medical kit ultralight watertight .5.

It treats a wide variety of issues and comes in a lightweight, double-waterproof pouch.

The bag lacks any interior organization.

The Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight Watertight .5 is our go-to first aid kit for travel. We’ve traveled around the globe, staying in posh safari lodges and in backpacker hostels with this kit and it has never let us down. It comes with over 40 pieces of first aid to help tackle everything from splinters and blisters to minor cuts or scrapes to bug bites. We like that it also comes with two doses of various over-the-counter pain relievers, plus antihistamine, antibiotic ointment, and tools to remove ticks and fasten bandages. You’ll also get a good variety and number of bandages and wound dressings. We’ve found that it’s also easy to replace these items as needed while on the go. Fully stocked, the contents are enough to cover one person for about two days (with the same affliction).

Standout features are the durable double-waterproof bagging (which comes in clutch on rainy days, winter road trips , and water adventures and also in case of spills or heavy humidity), the minimal 3.6-ounce weight, and two exterior corner loops that make it easy to clip the kit onto your backpack for easy access. The bright yellow color makes it easy to find in a pinch — no rummaging through your backpacking backpack — though we will say that the lack of interior organization may cause some people to fumble through the contents of the bag trying to find what they need (not ideal in an emergency situation). 

The Details: 5.5 x 11 x 1 inches | 43 pieces

Johnson & Johnson First Aid To Go Kit

It covers bandage basics and leaves room for you to customize your kit.

The included items will likely help minor cuts or scrapes only.

If you’re just looking for the bare minimum of what you might need while out on a trip, the Johnson & Johnson First Aid To Go kit is your best bet. This smaller-than-your-hand-sized kit contains 12 first aid items, mostly centered around minor scrapes and cuts. You’ll get sterilizing wipes, two sizes of bandages, and a couple of gauze pads — all tucked and stored nicely in a sturdy plastic case with a snap-tight closure. There’s no medicine or tools in the case, but there’s plenty of room left in the case to add your own custom extras to beef up the kit (which is what we’ve done in the past) such as over-the-counter pain pills, prescription medication, allergy pills, cotton swabs, tweezers, or other travel-sized first aid items. It’s still a great and convenient kit to just toss into your day bag or day tripper waist bag.

The Details: 3.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches | 12 pieces

Best Comprehensive

First aid only all-purpose essentials first aid kit.

It includes items that many other kits leave out, like a thermometer and gloves.

You may want to upgrade with your own OTC medicines.

This nearly 300-piece kit contains everything you’d need to use in an accident situation involving burns, cuts, or scrapes — down to the disposable gloves, scissors, and a thermometer. Like most kits, it’s heavily focused on bandages, and includes a variety of adhesive, fabric, and gauze bandages, as well as butterfly wound closure bandages, knuckle bandages, and fingertip bandages. You’ll also get key ointments and wipes to treat burns and stings, and fight germs. Additional tools include a tongue depressor (which also doubles as a finger splint), thermal blanket, cold pack, and tweezers. Impressively, all this and more fits inside a double-sided zippered case no larger than the usual toiletry bag. Although it’s packed with first aid accessories, we would like to see more medicine included.

The Details: 9.25 x 2.87 x 7 inches | 298 pieces

Best for International Travel

My medic ready mini first aid kit.

It comes with individually-packaged, ailment-specific mods that cover a wide range of first aid needs.

It’s a little bigger than we’d like.

When traveling to a foreign country, acquiring some first aid items may be more difficult due to a language barrier, overall access, or how the healthcare system works. The My Medic Ready Mini First Aid Kit is packed full of first aid accessories to cover everything from allergies to cuts to suspect water quality. The exterior is water-resistant and easy to wipe clean, while reinforced zippers also help keep water out. Inside, two mesh stash pockets are loaded with My Medic color-coded mods — individually packaged kits containing items to treat specific issues — so you can easily find what you need. Standout features include pieces for wound irrigation, a digital first aid and survival tips guide, a flashlight, hydration packets, water purification tablets, and a whistle. We’re also big fans of thoughtful items like hydrocortisone cream, friction frosting, and petroleum jelly. We appreciate that the kit is small enough to hold in one hand, but it can still feel like it’s taking up a fair amount of packing space.

The Details: 7.5 x 4 x 7.5 inches | 100 pieces

Best for Kids

Keepgoing first aid gokit.

It’s a TSA-approved first aid kit designed with kids’ needs in mind.

It doesn’t include any medicines.

Looking for a cheery take on a first aid kit? KeepGoing First Aid GoKit comes in multiple, cute kid-friendly patterns to help make the first aid experience a bit brighter. The kit comes with 130 pieces of first aid items ranging from bandages to moleskins and disposable thermometers — all with kid-friendly patterned packaging. Some of the standout features include tick removers, cotton-tipped applicators, trauma scissors, and 20 stickers to award brave kids. While this kit does come with a good assortment of creams (hydrocortisone, burn relief, lip balm, and antibiotic), it doesn’t have any medicine included, so you may want to add your own.

The Details: 6.75 x 5 x 2 inches | 130 pieces

Best for Dogs

Adventure medical kits me & my dog.

It’s a kit that can be used for both you and your dog!

For dogs, it mainly centers around the treatment of paw injuries.

You do everything with your dog, so why not share a first aid kit? We love this kit because you don’t have to pack two different kits; you and your dog can both be helped with the contents in this one kit. The Adventure Medical Kits Me and My Dog Kit has bandages, gauze dressings, antiseptic wipes, wound irrigation, and sterile gloves for cuts and other wounds. It also has two doses of aspirin and antihistamine each, a cold compress and wrap for sprains, and key first aid tools like trauma scissors, tick removal tweezers, a thermal emergency blanket, and a leash. One of the bandages doubles as a muzzle for scared pups, and if you’re unsure how to apply any of the items to your furry best friend, there’s also a pet first aid manual to help guide you. Since this is a simple zippered case, it could be worth adding some medications as advised by your vet as this kit mainly covers injuries from walking and not other hazards like foreign object ingestion or non-paw maladies.

The Details: 7.5 x 3.5 x 5.3 inches | 48 pieces

Tips for Buying a Travel First Aid Kit

Prioritize size and durability.

In a best-case scenario, you won’t ever have to use your travel first aid kit, so it will be traveling with you often. Give extra points to kits that are durable enough to survive multiple trips and that come in a size that can be packed in all different travel situations (think lightweight and compact).

Check how many people can be treated with the kit

Consider your travel group size when buying a travel first aid kit. Does one kit cover the entire family or just one or two people? Be sure to pack enough first aid to treat each person you’re responsible for.

Consider the conditions and risk of your trip

Different trips will dictate the exact items you’ll need in your first aid kit. Look for kits that can address specific dangers or injuries you may face on your trip, from sunburns to sprains and insect bites to serious cuts.

Carrying a first aid kit on your travels stocks you with essential life-saving items that can help provide temporary care during an emergency situation until help can arrive, Brooks says. She also adds that locating these items in a foreign country or when traveling can be difficult, making it best for travelers to have their own kits on hand.

According to Brooks, some of the most essential items a kit should include are medical tape, compression wound dressing, gauze, irrigation wound wash, antiseptic/antibiotic ointment, alcohol pads, cleaning/prep pads, and assorted sizes of blister strips and bandages. She also says it’s useful to have pills to treat motion sickness, allergies, and mild pain, plus cold packs, wound closure materials, a thermal blanket, hydration packets, and even a multi-purpose plastic bag that can be used as a splint, as gloves, or as a CPR shield.

Buy products that cover the essential must-have first aid kit items, and then add any specialty custom items for your specific travel situation, activities, or health concerns. For example, Brooks advises that anyone with asthma include an albuterol inhaler, while travelers with diabetes should include some candies or glucose for low blood sugar. Those with cardiac issues should pack nitroglycerin tablets or spray, along with aspirin.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure? 

For this list, Katherine Alex Beaven talked to a medical professional about essential items that should be in a travel first aid kit. Alex also considered kits based on her own 15 years of personal experience as a frequent, accident-prone traveler. While researching first aid kits for travel, we spoke with Raelene Brooks , PhD, RN, Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Phoenix .

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How To Pack A Professional Travel First Aid Kit

I get a lot of questions about health care on the road. Since I’m not a doctor, I don’t like giving medical advice beyond a few general tips so I’ve asked Mike Huxley, a registered nurse, to share his expert tips and advice when it comes to packing a first aid kit for your travels.

I have been traveling the world for over fifteen years now, and in that time I have patched up more travelers’ scrapes and sprains than I can remember.

Thankfully, pretty much all of the incidents I have dealt with so far have been minor. Even during my time spent volunteering as an expedition medic in the Sahara, the jungles of Kalimantan and Borneo, and many other amazing places, I have been able to deal with most accidents and injuries that have crossed my path.

I have only been able to do all of this, however, because I have always packed my trusty first aid kit. It has evolved and been refined over the years, but I have always carried one.

As any experienced traveler or health professional will tell you, things can and occasionally do go wrong on any trip , and taking a well-stocked kit with you is always advised.

When I first started traveling, I did what most sensible people do and carried a commercially available emergency first aid kit .

However, over the years, and with a lot of experience and my nursing qualification behind me, I have refined my own kit to reflect what I will use out on the road and what I know will make for a much better first aid kit for the average traveler too.

The best first aid kits are simple but varied and have a variety of dressings and equipment to deal with the basics. More importantly, they can be used with little or no training. So, what items should you include? Here are my picks for the essentials:

1. Band-Aids/Plasters It goes without saying that these are absolutely essential in any first aid kit. The most common form of minor injury is a cut or a graze, so it is always a good idea to carry a handful of Band-Aids in a variety of sizes .

If you think you will be doing a lot of trekking on your travels and you aren’t used to that form of exercise, then some blister plasters are a good idea.

It isn’t necessary to go overboard and carry so many you could start your own tiny field hospital; just a few of each type will do, as you can always restock when you pass a pharmacy.

2. Gauze Gauze is the medical jack-of-all-trades. I never carry a first aid kit without a supply of gauze in it, and I can’t tell you how many times it has come in useful over the years. It can be used to apply pressure to a wound, clean an injury, soak up blood, help stop bleeding, and even form part of a basic dressing for small-to-medium wounds.

A clean wound and a layer of gauze kept down with either tape or an adhesive bandage is often enough to allow time for you to go and get it looked at by a professional.

The best type of gauze to carry in a first aid kit is individually wrapped sterile squares. This eliminates the need to cut them to size when you need them quickly and obviously makes it easier to keep the wound clean and sterile.

3. Crepe bandages (ACE or elastic bandages) For when you have something a bit bigger than a cut, basic crepe bandages are useful for keeping small dressings clean and in place until you can get some medical attention.

Remember, you’re only going to use them in an emergency, until you can get some professional medical care (ideally covered through the travel insurance that you got in advance of your trip). You don’t need too many of these, just one or two at most.

4. Surgical tape Surgical tape is one of those essential emergency items for when you need to apply and secure gauze or a bandage to a wound, although Band-Aids can do the same job if need be.

5. Small scissors These come standard in any commercially available first aid kit (although you can buy them separately too) and are obviously useful for trimming gauze or bandages to size. Just be careful if you do carry scissors to ensure that your first aid kit goes in your checked bag when you are in transit or else airline security will take them off you.

If you’re flying carry-on only, small scissors (max 4 inches/10 centimeters) are permitted according to the TSA. If you want to be on the safe side, get ones with rounded tips. Also, remember that you don’t need to bring them from home — most grocery stores or stationery shops have them as well.

6. Tweezers Tweezers are another item that often comes standard in most first aid kits and can be useful for pulling out splinters, getting out little bits of stone or dirt when cleaning a wound, or any number of other practical uses.

7. Antiseptic wipes For some reason this tends to be the one thing most people overlook when thinking of first aid, but antiseptic wipes are an absolute essential in any good pack. No one wants a cut or wound to get infected, and antiseptic wipes are perfect for cleaning it before applying a dressing.

Just a small handful will suffice for most packs. Like most basic items, they are easy to replace at any pharmacy when you run low.

8. Condoms Apart from the obvious benefits (staying sexually safe), these handy little items can be used as emergency water carriers or even filled with ice as an emergency ice pack. I’ve personally never had any call to use them in that manner, but it is a handy bit of information to keep in mind.

9. Pain relief medication A small pack of basic acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) or any of the associated brand names ( like Tylenol ) is usually sufficient, but ibuprofen or other similar medications are fine too. It doesn’t have to be fancy — basically whatever you normally take for pain relief when you have a headache or minor pain.

10. Loperamide tablets Also known under a variety of brand names such as Imodium , this is useful for stopping diarrhea for short periods when you need to catch a bus or train. Remember, these are for those emergency moments only when you are actually in transit, as they do not cure diarrhea and shouldn’t be used when you can rest up for a couple of days. (Normally the best way to treat diarrhea is to let everything pass through your system normally and drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids.)

If you use them sparingly, properly, and as directed on the pack, loperamide tablets can be useful additions to any travel first aid kit.

11. Antihistamine cream It happens to all of us on our travels: we get bitten by some form of insect and end up with a painfully itchy bump or rash. Don’t worry, the absolute majority of the time the bumps and stings aren’t anything to worry about at all, but they are damned annoying! This is why a good antihistamine cream is a useful addition to help control itching and swelling.

12. Antibacterial creams It’s also a good idea to carry antibacterial creams like Neosporin for any cuts and scrapes you get. This will help heal them faster as well as prevent any possible infections.

Obviously, this list can be tailored or added to depending on your trip needs (a tropical jungle trek will require different planning than a city break in Europe ). Any good first aid kit should also include any specific, individually prescribed medication or antimalarial prophylaxis.

For the majority of travelers, however, the items and kit listed above will cover the majority of basic incidents and accidents. You’ll also want to make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance as well to protect you against unexpected costs that you might incur should an emergency happen.

For any injury, illness, bang, or scrape that requires more than the basics and cannot be covered by the kit above, you should seek professional medical attention. Unless you are extremely far off the beaten track, you should be able to seek out professional assistance to deal with medical emergencies pretty easily if something happens you can’t handle yourself.

So go pack up your own little first aid kit and keep it stashed in your pack for emergencies. Odds are you will probably never use it — and I hope you never need to — but if you have one, at least you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind and be safe in the knowledge that you are prepared.

Important Note: When carrying any generic medication, it is essential that it is kept in its original packaging when you are traveling in case customs officials need to check it. The information provided here is for general travel health advice and information only. It is provided by a qualified nurse, but it is not a replacement for a personal consultation with a travel nurse specialist, your GP, or a doctor specializing in travel medicine who can tailor advice to your individual medical history and needs.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Travel Size First-Aid Kit: What to Pack & Downloadable Checklist

Ashley Rossi

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

After interning at SmarterTravel, Ashley joined the team full time in 2015. She's lived on three continents, but still never knows where her next adventure will take her. She's always searching for upcoming destination hotspots, secluded retreats, and hidden gems to share with the world.

Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "A reusable filtered water bottle—it saves you money, keeps you hydrated, and eliminates waste—win-win."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

Travel Motto : "Travel light, often, and in good company."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window—best view in the house."

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When you pack for a trip, especially a trip overseas, it’s easy to forget about medications and first-aid. That’s why you should always bring a basic first-aid kit with you on your travels.

I always keep a pre-packed first-aid kit ready to go so I don’t have to think twice about it when I’m packing. Of course, you may need additional items depending on where you’re going and what activities you have planned. But this first-aid kit packing list covers the basics.

15 Tiny Travel Products to Help You Stay Healthy on Vacation

What Do I Need in My Travel First-Aid Kit?

These everyday medications will take care of most common aches and pains that come with a long day of travel.

• Antihistamine
• Antacid tablets
• Hydration pills or electrolyte replenishers
• Cold relief medicine
• Motion sickness relief
• Muscle relaxer

For minor bumps and bruises, make sure you have these emergency first aid supplies in your medical kit.

• Various sized bandages
• Alcohol swabs or antiseptic wipes
• First aid balm or sting relief, anti-itch cream , & antibiotic cream

From treating splinters to sunburns, these miscellaneous items are must-haves in your travel first aid kit.

• Thermometer
• Hand sanitizer

First-Aid Kit Tips

• Look in the school supply section of your local drugstore for a small container, or order a small tackle box from Amazon .
• Only separate medication from its labeled bottle if you know you’ll be able to differentiate pills.
• Keep prescription medications separate from your first-aid kit.
• Include over-the-counter (OTC) medication based on your needs; i.e., if you’re traveling on a cruise and need motion sickness pills, make sure to include those.
• Pack a natural balm like GREEN GOO First Aid , which can relieve symptoms for dry skin, insect bites, scrapes, rashes, chafing, cuts, sunburns, blisters, and poison ivy.
• Include various-sized bandages ; they double for blister protection if you plan on doing a lot of walking.
• Hand sanitizer , a small tissue pack , lip balm , and sunscreen are also must-haves.
• Be sure to fill out the Medical ID on your iPhone and list any allergies, emergency contacts, and your doctor’s information.
• Keep a laminated copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card accessible during your travels as well as a photo of your card available on your phone.
• Remember to pack extra face masks if you plan on visiting a destination or attending an event where masking is required

Download and print this checklist to make your own travel first-aid kit.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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Before You Travel

Before you travel, take steps to prepare so you can stay safe and healthy during your trip.

Check CDC’s destination pages for travel health information . Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines . Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Know Your Health Status

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist  that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Learn About Blood Clots

Airplane travel, especially flights longer than 4 hours, may increase your risk for blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Learn how to prevent blood clots during travel.

Share the following information about yourself or your trip with your provider:

• Special conditions such as pregnancy, allergies, or chronic health problems.
• Destinations on your itinerary.
• Type of accommodations (hotels, hostels, short term rentals).
• Type of travel (cruise, business, adventure travel).
• Timing and length of your trip.
• Planned activities.

Take recommended medicines as directed. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you, take the medicine as directed before, during, and after travel. Counterfeit drugs are common in some countries, so only take medicine that you bring from home and make sure to pack enough for the duration of your trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Learn more about traveling abroad with medicine .

Plan for the Unexpected

Sometimes unexpected issues occur during travel. Learn what you can do before you leave to protect yourself and your travel companions.

Get travel insurance.  Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to  get care overseas , in case you need it. Consider buying  additional insurance  that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas.

There are different types of travel insurance such as trip cancellation insurance, travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance. Learn more about travel insurance .

Enroll with the Department of State’s  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  (STEP) . Check for and monitor any travel advisories for your destination. Enrolling also ensures that the  US Department of State  knows where you are if you have serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties while traveling. In the event of an emergency at home, STEP can also help friends and family contact you.

Prepare for emergencies. Leave copies of important travel documents (e.g. itinerary, contact information, credit cards, passport, proof of school enrollment) with someone at home, in case you lose them during travel. Make sure someone at home knows how to reach you in an emergency. Carry your emergency contacts with you at all times.

Some other tips to prepare for emergencies:

• Write down the contact information of people or services you may need while abroad.
• Check in with someone regularly during your trip.
• Dial 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the United States or Canada,
• Dial 00 1 202-501-4444 if calling from overseas, or
• Let family members know they can contact the embassy or consulate for help if they are worried about your safety while abroad.

Prepare a  travel health kit  with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination. Include your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in your travel health kit and take enough to last your entire trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Depending on your destination you may also want to pack a mask ,  insect repellent , sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card.

More information for some travelers who may need to take extra precautions:

• Traveling with a disability
• Travelers with a weakened immune system
• Traveling with a chronic illness
• Pregnant travelers

Follow CDC’s guidance on how to stay safe during travel and after travel .

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The 7 Best Travel First Aid Kits for Unexpected Emergencies [2023]

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

778 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63 U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

33 Published Articles 3134 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Things To Consider in a First Aid Kit

1. full travel first aid set with 300 pieces, 2. complete medical and survival kit for traveling, 3. small package first aid kit for short journeys, 4. mini kit with 27 medical essentials, 5. mini first aid pack with crush-resistant bag, 6. bandage and pain relief balm pack, 7. great for minor first aid interventions, final thoughts.

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Injuries happen without respect for time or location, and traveling without a first aid kit is asking for trouble.

That’s why it’s important to have a handy and compact first aid kit that includes a wound disinfection component, gauze pads, and adhesive tape to keep the gauze fixed. These elements can help you prevent wound infection if you end up getting a cut while on the move.

To be fully prepared, you need to ensure that your first aid kit is well-equipped, so let’s take a look at what you should look for.

Before buying a first aid travel kit, you should consider a few factors to help you make the right decision. Not every kit is suitable for all types of injuries, so you may have to prioritize.

You should also consider how well the first aid kit fits into your luggage or backpack and whether it has enough space for you to add personal medication .

Finally, the medical pieces included can vary greatly, as some kits mainly consist of gauze pads, while others are filled with items for more serious injuries. Here are some of the main features to consider before buying a first aid kit for traveling.

Compact Size

Every usable travel first aid kit comes with a carrying bag, so consider whether the size of the bag fits into your luggage . It largely depends on the number of items included, as some kits come with 100 medical pieces and others with up to 300.

Bottom Line: To help you decide on your size needs, consider the number of people going on the trip and how long you will be away.

Medical Pieces

There are differences in the contents of each first aid kit, but some items are essential. When buying a first aid kit for traveling, make sure it comes with gauze pads, medical tape, bandages, antiseptics, gloves, trauma dressing, and scissors .

These are just some of the items you can use to disinfect and dress a wound to make sure it’s clean until you get back to your hotel or reach a hospital in the case of more serious wounds.

Number of Pieces

If you are going on a trip for a day or 2, the chances are that basic first aid kits will suffice. However, if you are going on a longer trip, especially with your family or friends, you need to bring a well-equipped kit.

These often include up to 300 pieces in a set and will almost certainly be sufficient for any injury you might suffer. It’s always a good idea to bring a well-equipped kit on trips to faraway destinations — just in case.

If you plan on bringing personal medication in combination with all the medical pieces in a first aid kit, you should put labels on every medication . By doing so, you will prevent confusion if you need to use a certain item in case of an emergency.

Bottom Line: Wherever you’re headed, a first aid kit is part of any list of essentials for camping , hiking , or the beach .

The 7 Best Travel First Aid Kits

Covering a range of sizes for different lengths of trips, this list includes some of the best medical sets you can use for first aid.

First Aid Only All-Purpose Essentials Soft-Sided First Aid Kit

This set is a complete yet compact travel solution with dimensions suitable for travel at a 9.2-inch length and 7-inch height. The First Aid Only complete first aid kit comes with 300 pieces and only weighs a pound while catering to all sorts of emergencies and smaller injuries .

Because of its size, it’s even a great solution for short trips. It comes with a hygienic medical preservation bag where all the items are stored. The bag also keeps the items inside organized and labeled, so you can easily find whatever you might need.

It fits into a backpack or a travel bag, and some of the most important pieces include adhesive bandages of all sizes, antibiotic ointment, butterfly wound closures, applicators, and gauze pads.

What We Like:

• A compact and complete medical set

What We Don’t Like:

• Doesn’t leave much room for personal medication

EVERLIT 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit

If you are looking for a complete survival set for tackling nature, rather than just a medical first aid kit, the Everlit survival kit is a perfect option. It comes with 250 pieces of medical supplies, including some useful survival kit additions.

It has all the medical essentials like alcohol prep pads, adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, safety pins, cotton tips , and cotton balls . You can also find a CPR mask, metal tweezers, scissors, PVC gloves, and other equipment.

As for the survival supplies, there’s a tactical EMT molle bag, disposable poncho, fire starter , tactical flashlight, and a glow stick, in case you plan on spending some time in nature.

• The survival essentials
• The bag might be a bit bulky

Mini First Aid Kit 110 Pieces Small First Aid Kit

Those in pursuit of a small and compact first aid kit will be surprised at how many essentials can fit into this small package. The mini first aid kit from General Medi has 110 pieces, including some surprising additions like an emergency foil blanket, a CPR respirator, and scissors .

As for the run-of-the-mill medical supplies it contains, there are adhesive plasters, sterile gauze pads, cleaning swabs, a conforming bandage, and a triangular bandage. You can also find alcohol prep pads and antiseptic towelettes among the contents.

The small package made of waterproof nylon with a zip opening ensures that your medical supplies are safe and compact enough for carrying anywhere.

• Small and compact
• No room in the bag for personal medication

Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit

A unique option for those who want only the essentials is the Coleman All Purpose mini first aid kit. This solution comes in a small pack of 0.88 x 3.88 inches, so it can easily fit into any backpack pocket or travel bag storage space.

Despite its tiny size, it provides all the essentials. The kit comes with 27 items, including 2 butterfly bandages, large safety pins, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, and 1 razor blade.

This set provides all the basics you might need in case of a small injury, and the embedded cross logo makes it easier to find it in your baggage.

• Its small size
• Limited supplies

THRIAID Mini First Aid Kit 100 Pieces Water-Resistant Hard Shell

If you want a sturdy container for your medical supplies, you can benefit from using the Thriaid mini first aid pack. It comes with a hard-shell carrying bag that’s crush-resistant and water-resistant , so you can feel at ease knowing all your medical essentials are safe.

This pack comes with more than 100 medical necessities for first aid, all inside of a useful bag that can be repurposed. In case of injuries, you can rely on internationally-certified products for wound disinfection and tending.

The contents include disposal gloves, scissors, an antiseptic towelette, different sizes of bandages and gauze pads, and adhesive plasters.

• The crush-resistant shell
• Zipper bag should be sensitively handled

Hot Tip: You may need to check any luggage that contains scissors that are longer than 4 inches from the pivot point. See more details in our guide to the items you can and cannot bring through TSA security .

Welly First Aid Travel Kit Bravery Balm Kit

Welly’s Bravery Balm travel kit includes just enough items for 1 person to use to tend to cuts and abrasions while traveling. The set includes 1 small tin box that’s 4 inches long and 1.7 inches wide, and everything fits right into it.

The pack includes 13 essentials such as Bravery Balm triple antibiotic and pain relief ointment . The Welly set also includes 12 flexible fabric bandages of standard sizes.

• Perfect for solo travel
• Lacks some medical equipment like scissors and gloves

Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit Travel Size Pack

If you’re looking for a small first aid kit that’s great for minor interventions, this Johnson & Johnson kit likely has just what you need. It’s small enough for traveling and comes in 3 identical small medical packs.

While this set might not be enough for treating major wounds, you can treat small injuries perfectly well. The set comes with 12 pieces in each pack and includes hand cleansing wipes, gauze pads, band-aids, and adhesive plasters . These sets fit into any travel bag for easy portability, even on short trips.

• A carrying bag isn’t included

Your choice of first aid kit all comes down to the type of travel you are planning in terms of the length of your trip and the number of people that will use the kit.

All of the listed options are great for minor interventions, while sets like the First Aid Only 300-piece pack serve as a more comprehensive solution. The size of a kit is also a factor to consider, as you will need one that fits easily into your luggage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you look for in a first aid kit.

The most important medical supplies you should have at your disposal while traveling includes gauze pads, bandages, antiseptics, and antibiotic ointment. You might also need medical tape and tweezers. Keep in mind that a first aid kit is only meant to treat minor injuries.

How many items should be in a first aid box?

It depends on your needs, including the length of your trip and the number of people in your group, but they range from 12 pieces to over 300 pieces. You should always opt for a compact kit that still has as many supplies as you need.

Do first aid sets include CPR essentials?

Some better-equipped first aid kits include CPR masks along with regular medical essentials but most mini travel first aid kits do not.

What’s the best first aid travel kit size?

If you are like most travelers, chances are you don’t have much room to spare in your luggage. So look for a compact solution, some of which can fit more than 100 pieces in a bag or case no longer than 10 inches.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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DIY: A Travel Medicine Kit Checklist That Fits in Your Carry On

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A travel medicine kit is an essential part of packing.   Getting sick on vacation is miserable , but sooner or later, it happens to everyone.  I seem to get hit with a bad cold every year while traveling (those darn airplane germs!) and my husband is so sensitive to stomach issues we call him “the canary in the coal mine”. 

The good news is that it’s remarkably easy to find just about any medication anywhere in the world — but it often takes a big chunk of time, especially if you’re staying in small towns or rural areas where you have to drive a long distance to the nearest pharmacy.  And take my word that you don’t want to get food poisoning at 1am and have to wait until morning for a store to open to get supplies.

The faster you can solve your problem, the better.  But unlike Mary Poppins, I can’t carry everything all the time — there has to be a balance between having enough to be useful without weighing you down.

After tons of travel, I’ve created a comprehensive, mini first aid kit.  This DIY first aid kit is quick and cheap to make plus has all the essentials.  When you’re not traveling, throw it in your day bag for local adventures or keep it in your car so it’s always handy.

Travel Medicine Kit Basics

Although you can buy a pre-packaged travel emergency kit, I recommend tailoring it to your specific needs.  That way you’re 100% familiar with what’s in it ahead of time and have products you trust.

Generally speaking, there are three sets of items that should be on your travel first aid kit list:

• Medications You Definitely Need (prescriptions you use at home on a regular basis + special medications for your destination, such as something to help with altitude sickness)
• First Aid Items You Commonly Use  (in my case, that’s band-aids for a myriad of adventure activities + ibuprofen as the “all-purpose drug” for fevers, muscle soreness, and headaches)
• Items You Can’t Get Easily at Your Destination  (I include items I’ll want immediately in this category; i.e. anti-diarrheals, so you can solve the problem at 3am instead of running to a store)

Your first aid packing list might change a little for every trip.  You can take just the necessities for a weekend in New York City but will need a more comprehensive first aid kit for remote destinations.  

Organizing Non-Prescription Medications

No one wants to pack a dozen pill bottles in their carry-on!  Besides, it’s highly unlikely you’ll need all 200 aspirin!  Better to condense a 2-3 day supply into a more compact case.  That’s likely all you’ll need — if that! — but in any case, it’s at least enough to buy you time into you can restock during your trip.

That’s why I use a standard 7-day pill case to organize my over-the-counter medication.  Instead of using each compartment for one day’s worth of pills, I use each space for a single type of medicine.  So, for example, Monday will hold ibuprofen and Tuesday will hold allergy meds.

Just be sure to label, either by writing with a Sharpie marker right on the case or taping a legend to the back.

I’m sure you can find these pill organizers at your local pharmacy, or you can order a basic pill case on Amazon .

These are the 7 medications I divide in my organizer, although you can tweak it for your own travels:

• Ibuprofen (I prefer it for pain relief but you could easily substitute Tylenol or aspirin)
• Decongestants (after ibuprofen, this is the most reached-for drug I pack; airplanes are a hotbed for germs!)
• Antihistamines
• Anti-diarrheal
• Antacids or indigestion meds
• Motion sickness meds
• For me, it’s lactaid, but this is also a great spot for vitamins or probiotics

Pick the Perfect Bag

My first aid kit is about the size of a paperback book, giving me enough space to work with without weighing me down.  I keep it stocked with essentials so I can “grab and go” for most trips without having to worry about a last-minute supply run.

First Aid Kit Supplies:

• My over-the-counter pill box
• Bandages (I prefer ones with built-in antibiotic cream for convenience)
• Antiseptic wipes for minor cuts
• Throat lozenges
• All-purpose first aid balm (hint: Green Goo works great for bites and stings, is all-natural, and the TSA considers it a solid for packing purposes)
• Moleskins for blisters
• Oral rehydration salts – for cases of food poisoning, over-exhertion, or one too many late nights
• Ginger chews (for nausea)

For those of you thinking this is overkill, yes, you can buy premade kits.  Here’s the problem: the cheap ones are worthless: you’ll get bandages that don’t stick and so few pills that you’ll be replenishing them after one trip anyway.  And you’ll likely get a few medications you’ve never tried before, which would make me  really  nervous if I was far from a hospital.

The best travel first aid kit is made by Adventure Medical.   It’s crazy comprehensive and probably bulkier than need be, but I trust all the medical supplies in it.  (Making your own will be cheaper, but obviously not as easy).

Don’t Overstuff Your First Aid Kit Contents

I don’t bother packing items that I don’t use at home, but if these are more common in your household medicine cabinet, you might want to bring them with you while traveling:

• Medical equipment you may need (i.e. syringes, inhalers, epi-pens)
• Aloe wipes or other sun relief items (I may not bring aloe, but I do pack sunscreen!)
• Multi-vitamins and other nutritional supplements
• Antifungal gels or creams
• Separate antibacterial ointment
• Disposable gloves
• Elastic bandage wrap
• Thermometer
• Medical Tape

Remember you don’t need a lifetime supply of everything, so count out what you’ll most likely need and leave the rest at home.  I find small GoTubbs  to be a good size for packing specialty items.

Be Smart About Your Travel Health Your first aid packing list is just one piece of the travel health puzzle. Particularly when traveling abroad, you should start by researching if there are any diseases that are common in that area.  The CDC has an official  traveler health resource to get you started on things like zika virus, malaria zones, etc. (although I find the UK version  easier to navigate). For many destinations, especially in tropical countries and/or developing nations, you may also need to ask your doctor about travel vaccines.  Read my complete guide to budgeting for travel immunizations . Lastly, it’s always a smart idea to purchase travel insurance which will help cover health care costs if you seek medical treatment abroad or if you need emergency help.  I always purchase through RoamRight , but no matter who you choose, you should educate yourself about policy options .

The Most Important Tips for Your Travel Medical Kit

If you’ve got safe drinking water and health insurance and wash your hands often, that’ll get you most of the way there.

My last piece of advice when it comes to a travel first aid kit is to make sure it’s accessible!  If you get a headache onboard an overnight flight but your first aid kit is in your checked suitcase, it does you no good.

Make sure what you need is easy to get to when you need it.  That’s a mistake I’ll only make once!

*     *     *

DIY Travel First Aid Kit List

A first aid kit prepares you for illness, common injuries, and minor accidents. Homemade first aid kits can pack small to fit in suitcases, purses, or cars.

Instructions

Divide over-the-counter medications into small dosages to save on space.

I recommend restocking when you get home from a trip so you're ready to "grab and go" when you pack for the next one!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What’s in your travel medicine kit?

Is there something different in your carry-on first aid kit? Do you have other travel tips?

22 thoughts on “DIY: A Travel Medicine Kit Checklist That Fits in Your Carry On”

On every leg of air travel I wear a new paper mask covering nose and mouth. I put it on as soon as the plane doors close, removing it just long enough to eat and drink. Two reasons: 1- So I don’t catch the cold other travelers have; 2- Because the air is so dry on planes, I appreciate being my own humidifier.

Sounds like the perfect size kit. I travel with very little because I tend to purchase meds if I need them at my destination, but anti-diarrhea meds and nausea medications are two that I ALWAYS have with me. Since I lead tours, I can’t be feeling too ill to go out with the group! Those two things usually get me through the day, no matter how sick I am and then I can spend the night in the bathroom if need be, lol.

Before traveling, we prepare our bag with some essential things which we think can be used in journey and first aid bag with proper medication tools is one of those essential things, Make a list of all tools and check before leaving whether all tools present on the list are in the first aid bag or not, I think all tools mentioned in the above post cover everything, but I like the idea of bringing new paper mask, thanks céline bouchard for mentioning this idea in your comment.

Hi can I buy your bag?

@Sabina, What bag do you want to buy? You can make your own easily!

I also bring small scissors to cut the moleskin. One thing about first aid packing that is such a pain is the common recommendation to bring all prescription medications in their original containers, particularly for international travel. On the one hand, that is the safest in case you were to be detained or questioned, but on the other, it adds a lot of bulk to packing that otherwise could be reduced in size. What are your thoughts on that?

@LeRainDrop, Almost everyone I know packs their prescription meds in a pill box rather than original containers. I’d bring a paper detailing meds/dosages + physician’s name and phone number, just in case. (I’d be MORE conservative if you have highly controlled substances, like pain meds)

Thank you so much! I have a handful of prescriptions but no controlled substances, and I got the comprehensive letter from my doctor detailing all my medicines. I wish I found your site earlier, as I’m packing right now for an extended trip to Guatemala in two days, and your site provides a great wealth of info!

Thsis is great info. I’m packing for a trip right now, and will be including these items in my bag for sure.

This is a great list! I never leave home without a fully stocked first aid kit. You never know when the kids are going to hurt themselves.

@Audrey, Or the adults 😉

My wife is responsible for the kit in our family. I’m glad she is, I would have forgotten half of these things!

@Scott, I’d forget too without a list…

Great idea. I never seem to have the right things when I pack. Now I can just use your list and be prepared when we travel. .

Hi Becky, It was great to meet you at WITS17 this year. I always make sure that we have a first aid kit in our car, since we have four children and an accident prone dad of the house!

@Natasha, Pleasure to meet you also…great conference! Funny how sometimes it’s the parents who are more accident prone than the kids.

This is not exactly gear but: Don’t forget to call your wireless carrier to find out what options it offers for traveling wherever you are going. Accidental roaming can be very expensive, and most carriers offer options that are much more economical.

@Paula, Totally true! It’s best to have a set plan that works in your budget or buy a local sim card on arrival.

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I totally agree with you in that the things you need to pack in your first aid kit will depend on the place where you are going. It is important to understand what type of dangers you might be exposed to in order to have the best supplies on hand to avoid any serious accidents. We are planning on taking a camping trip in a few days and wanted to make sure we had the best first aid kit for the job, so I’m glad I found your page.

@Marcus, Hope your adventure was a success!

Excellent and honest post. I found this much useful information, as to what I was exactly searching for packing tips. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.

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• Provide Hospital-Quality Care – Hospital-quality tools, including bandage scissors and precision forceps set the standard for travel medical care.
• TSA-Approved 3-1-1 Bag – Includes TSA-approved 3-1-1 bag for liquids and cosmetics. Additional room is left in the kit to add your own medications and items.

Includes: 1 – Visual Communication Tool 1 – Patient Assessment Form 2 – Bottle, 2 oz. 1 – Plastic Vial, Small 2 – Single-Use Thermometer 1 – Splinter/Tick Remover Forceps 1 – Pencil 1 – Bandage Scissors 1 – Trauma Pad, 5" x 9" 3 – Easy Care Large Sterile Dressing, 4"x4" 4ply/2pc 2 – Easy Care Non-Adherent Gauze 3x4 3 – Sterile Non-Woven Sponges 2v2 2 – Cotton Tip Applicator 1 – Moleskin, Pre-Cut/Shaped 1 – Wound Closure Strip, 1/4" x 4" 1 – Latex-Free Gloves 4 – Easy Care Knuckle Fabric Bandage 10 – Adhesive Bandage, Fabric, 1" x 3" 1 – Wound Irrigation Tool, 10 cc 3 – Safety Pin 1 – Bandage, Conforming Gauze, Sterile, 2" 1 – Cloth Tape, 1/2" x 10 Yards 1 – Plastic Bag, 6" x 8" 3 – Triple Antibiotic, Single Use 8 – Easy Care Alcohol Antiseptic 3 – Oral Rehydration Salts 1 – Wilderness & Travel Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide 6 – Anti-Diarrheal (Loperamide HCI 2 mg) 4 – Upset Stomach Reliever (Bismuth Subsalicylate 262 mg) 4 – Antacid (Calcium Carbonate 420 mg) 4 – Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer (Ibuprofen 200 mg) 4 – Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer (Acetaminophen 500 mg) 4 – Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg) 2 – Cold Medicine (Acetaminophen 325 mg, Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2 mg, Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg) 1 – GlacierGel Blister & Burn Dressing, (Small Rectangular) 1 – GlacierGel Blister & Burn Dressing, (Large Oval) 1 – Povidone Iodine, 0.75 oz. 2 – Tincture of Benzoin

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Wilderness & Travel Medicine Book

I really like this World Travel First Aid Kit by Adventure Medical. This kit has many pockets that are labeled so that one can find all the medications and supplies needed in a hurry. I would recommend this kit to everyone, especially if traveling to an developing or undeveloped part of the world. –Lori

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What to Pack in a Medical Travel Kit

Travelers often ask what they should put in a travel first aid kit or medical kit for travel. Commercial pre-packaged travel first aid kits are available in a variety of sizes, but we think the best option is to assemble your own travel medical kit that suits your personal health needs and travel habits.

It may take a few trips and trials to refine your kit's contents, but then you can keep it all together in one compact package to throw in your luggage at a moment’s notice.

My own “travel health kit” has evolved over time, usually by adding items I wish I’d had on a previous trip. Here are some key considerations and items to include:

Buying medications in foreign countries

Medications, even over-the-counter ones, often have different names or formulations in other countries. To avoid confusion, it’s best to bring familiar medications with you. It's also unlikely that you'll conveniently find a nearby pharmacy with your language spoken, the right product in stock, and open hours when needed. With the booming world trade in counterfeit medications, you want to avoid unknowingly buying a medication that is not effective, or worse can contain harmful ingredients.

Travel Vaccines and Routine Vaccines

Vaccines offer powerful protection against many diseases and should be part of your pre-travel preparation. Consult a travel health expert who can determine which vaccines you may need for your destination.

Do I need any special travel medications?

Some travel specific medications can be required for certain destinations or activities. These can include medications to prevent malaria or altitude sickness (also called prophylaxis). A travel health expert can provide the best guidance and prescriptions specific to your  itinerary.

Should I Bring Antibiotics when I travel?

Travelers frequently request “antibiotics just in case”, but the only recommended antibiotic is to treat travelers’ diarrhea (to take as needed only). Other illnesses that you think may need an antibiotic warrant a proper medical evaluation, especially in tropical regions.

Traveling with Prescription Medications

When traveling, ensure your prescription medications are clearly labeled in their original containers. Be careful traveling with controlled substances (like opioids or stimulants), which may be scrutinized and even confiscated in some countries. See your prescriber well in advance of your trip and always carry extra doses in case of unexpected travel delays.

Bring your Medical History Information with you

Carry a legible (laminated if possible) card listing your medical conditions, prescription medications, allergies and any implanted devices. Also include contact information for your primary medical provider and emergency contact(s). 

Should I carry an Epi-Pen when I travel?

ALWAYS carry a fresh Epi-pen® (epinephrine injector) with you if you have any serious allergies. Some destinations may not have nearby emergency care available. Also, consider a medical alert bracelet (even if you only use it for travel). If you become seriously injured or unconscious, you may be unable to communicate any serious medical conditions or allergies.

Should I bring my CPAP device when I travel?

If you use a CPAP device for sleep apnea, don’t leave it at home. Fortunately, modern CPAP machines are smaller and more portable. Restful sleep is even more critical when you are traveling or sleeping at an increased altitude.

OTC (over the counter) Pain Relievers

Also known as analgesics, these medications may have unfamiliar names abroad. I suggest packing a small amount of ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen, whichever works better for you. Familiarize yourself with the maximum safe dosage of each.

Loperamide for travelers’ diarrhea

Loperamide (Imodium®) is an essential treatment for travelers’ diarrhea, and a MUST HAVE item for anyone traveling to a resource poor country where you can’t drink the water.   Even the local food is sometimes enough to make you “irregular”. Use it cautiously to avoid constipation.

Antacids/Laxatives for travel

An altered eating routine and unfamiliar foods can mess with your digestive tract. Everyone has their own unique gut habits and food tolerances. Personalize choices to your own needs. Chewable bismuth salicylate (Pepto Bismol®) can help with a variety of symptoms, from diarrhea to heartburn.

Cold remedies for traveling

Most mild upper respiratory infections (like a cold) will get better on their own, but the symptoms can be a nuisance. OTC cold preparations are numerous, but I recommend oxymetazoline (generic for Afrin®) nasal spray (DO NOT use for more than 3 or 4 days in a row) and lozenges for sore throat and/or irritating cough. Both can help you get much needed sleep.

Antihistamines

Numerous OTC choices are available and can be helpful if you encounter unfamiliar allergens at your destination or accommodations. Most antihistamines can cause sedation as a side effect, which could be a benefit if you have trouble sleeping on long haul flights.

Medications to Prevent Motion Sickness

Some travelers are prone to motion sickness on boats, in vehicles or even snorkeling or diving. Both prescription and OTC preventive medications are available. See   https://www.travelbughealth.com/bugs-blog/medications-to-prevent-and-treat-motion-sickness for more detailed suggestions.

Insect Repellant

Insect repellent is crucial for protection against insect-borne diseases like Malaria or Dengue Fever. Ultrathon® lotion containing DEET is an excellent choice.

Pack only what you need

Don't expect a travel first aid kit to cover every possible emergency; you DON’T need to have every possible thing in it (even if you always pack a prom dress - “just in case”). Plan for likely situations (such as sun, insect bites, terrain, boat rides) and only include things that you regularly use, would grab out of your own medicine cabinet, or have used within the last year. Here are some suggestions:

Essential travel First Aid Kit items

A personal Travel First Aid Kit should include a few basic items to treat minor physical injuries. Don’t go overboard. Minor skin wounds should be cleaned and covered immediately, until you have time to get them treated more thoroughly if needed. Here are some items to consider:

Self-adhesive bandages – Both small and large - have a few of each.

Topical antibiotic ointment – I recommend a small tube of Bacitracin.

Antiseptic wipes - Alcohol swabs are good for disinfecting small scratches or abrasions. I like the disinfectant wipes they hand out on some airlines, which are compact and can effectively clean up a road rash.

Zinc Oxide barrier cream – Think babies’ bottoms and Ozzie surfers. Excellent relief for friction rash from trekking through a wet jungle (personal experience) or an irritated bottom from diarrhea.  Also, an effective substitute if you forget your sunscreen.

Compression bandage – Can be used to wrap an ankle, other sprain or even a wound. Find one with Velcro so you don’t need pins or adhesive tape.

Non-stick wound pads - (Telfa®) - Carry a few, preferrably self-adhesive.

Adhesive Blister Prevention tape or pads – Brand names include Moleskin® or Compeed®.  KT Tape® (often used by sports trainers and physical therapists) can also work in a pinch.

Sunscreen – Get a travel size. SPF 30 is adequate. Use it.

Post-sunburn cream – Aloe gel preparations can provide good relief and speed healing.

Hydrocortisone cream (OTC 1%) – Offers relief from most itchy rashes.

Afterbite® – A unique product, the size of a makeup pen that provides relief from itchy insect bites.

Tweezers – To remove ticks or splinters. These can be very small and DO pass TSA screening regulations.

Disposable gloves – (bring a handful) They stuff easily and can be useful in so many situations.

Oral rehydration salts – It’s not a bad idea to have a few packets handy if you are visiting a cholera or typhoid endemic area, but if you are losing fluids that fast, you should seek medical treatment.

Small thermometer – Any persistent temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) can indicate a serious illness and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Other Assorted items for your travel health kit

Ear plugs - Tiny and useful on airplanes and noisy accommodations.

Lubricating eye drops – These are usually very compact and provide instant relief, especially if you’re traveling somewhere dry and windy or wear contact lenses.

Masks – Bring at least 2, just in case. Masks are proven to reduce your chance of airborne illnesses, like from that coughing passenger in the plane seat next to you. A mask can also help you breathe easier in cities with air pollution (think Delhi). Wearing a mask also non-verbally communicates your desire to be kept at a distance. N95 or KN95 (Chinese made equivalent) standard masks work the best.

Condoms - Both men and women should carry them. Don’t laugh. Data shows that travelers are often less inhibited and take more risks when  away from home. There is a very high incidence of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) including hepatitis B and HIV in many regions overseas.

And finally…

Quart-size sealable freezer bags (Ziplok®)

The universal MUST HAVE. I don’t think you can have enough, for many reasons. They are:

- A convenient container for any small items, like collectibles, change, electronics or jewelry (I like to use them beachcombing)

- A neat and convenient lunch bag in a pinch

- The perfect container for your travel health kit items. 

- Still the standard for presenting liquids at many airport security checkpoints

- Good for storing wet items or as an extra precaution for containers that could leak in your bags.

An illness or injury can signifcantly impact your travel experience. Think ahead and be prepared with a little bit of knowledge and a few compact items in your travel medical and first aid kit. Visit https://www.travelbughealth.com/ for more travel health tips and advice.

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

The Essential November Travel Health Kit: What to Pack

• Health Tips
• News and Tips
• Travel Tips

Whether you’ll be hitting the road for business, leisure, or holiday travel this month, staying healthy is key so that you can be at your best and take advantage of everything your trip has to offer. Depending on your destination, there are a number of health challenges that are specific to this time of year, running the gamut from colds and flu to slips and falls. 

As the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared.” The following tips can help ensure you have a travel health kit packed for nearly any situation you’ll encounter in November .

November’s seasonal health challenges

As the seasons transition from milder fall conditions to colder winter weather as the northern latitudes get later into the month, there are a variety of health challenges that can appear in tandem. In the United States, flu and cold season are heading toward their peaks between December and February, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To add an extra layer of complexity, the weather is often quite variable at this time of year, with unexpected warm streaks and sudden cold snaps, which can increase the chances of coming down with a respiratory illness. Early winter weather can also up the odds of conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia.

For travelers who have seasonal allergies, this time of year can bring its own unique set of challenges. Although the pollen clouds of the spring and summer are long gone, mold and dust mites can become problematic, especially as leaves decay and long-dormant heating systems are turned on.

The shorter hours of daylight can also increase the risk of developing seasonal affective disorder (SAD) , while the drier, colder air can up the odds of experiencing skin issues . Slippery conditions from early blasts of snow or ice can also make falls more likely. And this is to say nothing of the risk of food poisoning that comes at this time of year, with the increase in holiday gatherings where food is being served.

So, with all of those potential seasonal health pitfalls in mind, here are some essentials you should consider including in your travel health kit whether you plan to visit warm US cities in the late fall , winter or early spring.

Basic components of a travel health kit

No matter the time of year, there are certain items that a travel health kit should always include: 

• First aid essentials . This includes bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, and tape.
• Tweezers and scissors.
• Pain relievers and fever reducers
• Medicines you take on a regular basis at home. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you should pack enough for the trip itself, plus extra in case your return home is delayed . (Those with a chronic condition should also consider wearing medical alert ID, notes Johns Hopkins.)
• Hand sanitizer and masks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol .
• A thermometer.
• Creams and lotions for treating rashes, cuts, scrapes, and burns.
• Disposable rubber gloves.
• Extra contact lenses or prescription glasses.
• Contact information for healthcare providers.

Seasonal health kit additions for November

In addition to the items above, at this time of year it’s important to also have the following in your health travel kit:

• Cold and flu prevention and treatment. Tissues, cough drops or syrup, throat lozenges, nasal spray.
• Skin protection. Moisturizing lotion, lip balm with SPF, sunscreen for unseasonably sunny or snowy days. (Snow reflects sun even better than water and nearly doubles a person’s ultraviolet [UV] exposure , according to the World Health Organization [WHO].)
• Allergy treatments. Antihistamines, eye drops, nasal corticosteroids as recommended by your doctor.

Travel-specific items for your travel health kit

Depending on your destination, you may want to include some of the following in your November travel health kit:

• Water purification methods. Filters, tablets.
• Insect repellant (if you’ll be traveling to a warmer climate or somewhere with late-season mosquitoes).
• Sleep aids for unfamiliar locations or different time zones. Earplugs, eyeshades, travel pillow .
• Motion sickness remedies. Patches or other prescription or over-the-counter medicines as recommended by your healthcare provider, acupressure motion sickness wristbands.
• Altitude sickness remedies, if applicable for your destination.

COVID-19 considerations

Be sure to check the COVID-19 vaccination requirements at your destination prior to leaving. In addition, consider packing the following in your travel health kit:

• COVID-19 vaccination card.
• COVID-19 testing kits.
• Additional hand sanitizer and masks.

Packing and accessibility tips

To ensure all the items in your November health travel kit are at easy reach, dedicate a small, durable bag or container to the cause. It should be simple to open and, if you’ll be flying, fit inside your carry-on luggage. Put the items that you’ll need quickly or frequently, such as hand sanitizer, masks, or pain relievers, in dedicated compartments or pockets. Be sure to label any medications and liquids and to keep a list of the kit’s contents in the bag. And for longer trips where a greater supply may be necessary, place any extra inventory in your checked luggage. (Be aware of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rule stating that liquids, gels, and aerosols must be in travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item for carry-on luggage. Also note that according to the TSA, “You may bring medically necessary liquids, medications and creams in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings.”)

If you’ll be flying and/or going through customs, it’s important to keep all your medications in their original packaging with easily identifiable labels. Having a doctor’s note outlining your need for any medicines or medical devices is also crucial for ensuring a straightforward trip through security screening. Be sure to check the TSA and your destination’s guidelines on any medications or medical devices you may be bringing, as medications that are legal in one area may be illegal or require a prescription in another. And according to Harvard University, remember to declare your medications at customs , as failure to do so can lead to a variety of penalties in certain countries. 

Travel apps to find local resources

Before you hit the road, downloading certain travel health apps can help you track down local resources if needed while you’re under way. Some top picks include International SOS Assistance , the American Red Cross First Aid app , and the FEMA app . Pharmacy apps such as GoodRX can help you locate nearby drugstores and get discounts on medicines, while translation apps can help communicate vital information in the event of an emergency.

Final preparations and checkups

According to the CDC, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider at least a month before traveling to ensure you are up to date on recommended vaccines for your destination and that you have a supply of any medicines you may need. You should also be sure to confirm what services your medical insurance covers at your destination and to research and sign up for any needed traveler’s insurance.

Final thoughts

As you wrap up your travel preparations, remember that your health is the passport to enjoying every moment of your journey. The health risks associated with November travel don’t have to be a deterrent for your travel plans. With the right preparation and a well-stocked travel health kit, you can be ready for whatever the month throws your way. From basic first aid to seasonal necessities and travel-specific contingencies, you’ve got it all covered.

And don’t forget, while we’ve provided a checklist, always tailor your kit to your specific health needs and the nature of your trip. So go ahead — finalize your itinerary, pack your health essentials, and embark on your November travels with confidence and peace of mind. Safe travels and good health on your November adventures!

Disclaimer of Medical Advice: This information does not constitute medical advice or recommendation of any kind, and you should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified healthcare professionals to meet your individual needs.

Diane Fennell, a New York City-based editor and writer, served as the Editorial Director of the Wellness Division for Diabetes Self-Management and its sister publications, covering diabetes and related health conditions for more than 20 years. A graduate of Columbia University, she is a proud pharophile and enjoys traveling to visit lighthouses in her spare time.

What’s in your Travel Medical Kit?

Some time ago, we recommended preparing for a personal medical emergency with a travel medical portfolio , but a new publication by Charles E. Davis, M.D., called The International Traveler’s Guide to Avoiding Infections (Johns Hopkins University Press) recently caught our eye.

In this book, Dr. Davis recommends travelers pack a travel medical kit appropriate for their trip. For example, what you take in your travel medical kit if you’re heading overseas for a month is different than what you’ll take when you’re going across state lines for a weekend getaway. It also depends on what type of trip you are taking.

Pack these in your travel medical kit as a minimum

These are the bare minimums travelers should carry in their travel medical kits:

• Prescription medications that are taken daily (in the original containers)
• Favorite over-the-counter meds needed for common maladies (headaches, indigestion, etc.)
• Antibiotics for preventing infection and antiseptic wipes
• Loperamide for self-treatment of traveler’s diarrhea
• Oral rehydration solution packs for treating severe dehydration
• Moleskin, bandages, triple antibacterial cream, and topical anti-fungal cream
• Digital thermometer (less easy to break during travel)
• Insect repellent (with 30-50% DEET)
• Sunscreen and sunburn treatment (like a gel with aloe vera)
• Basic medical info (more on that later)
• Disposable syringes, suture, and needle kit

That last item startled us too, but in some developing countries, sterilized medical supplies aren’t as commonly available as they are in the U.S.

As a result, needles and syringes are reused, which puts you at risk of contracting hepatitis B and C, HIV and other serious infections. Before heading to a foreign destination, visit a traveler’s medical clinic back home and request or buy a small sterile packet containing these items. If you are taken to a medical treatment facility on your trip, insist that those items are used.

What’s my basic medical info?

Consider being redundant about this particular bit, meaning you should have a few copies of this information for each traveler in your group: one in your suitcase, one in your money belt , and one in your travel medical kit.

• Name, phone number, and email address of your primary care physician and travel doctor
• Health insurance company name, identification number, and phone number
• Travel insurance company name, identification number, and phone number
• Names and dosages of each medication you are taking, including anti-malarials (copies of your prescriptions are a good idea because you may be able to get replacement medications if yours fall overboard on a river cruise, for instance)
• List of allergies and any current or chronic illnesses
• The address and phone number of a hospital or clinic you identified ahead of time that are within the vicinity of your travel destination

Come to think of it, it’s probably good to have this information in your wallet back home!

Pack these in your travel kit if you’re an adventurous traveler

In addition to those items listed as minimums, and depending on your trip, pack these items as well:

• If headed to remote areas where mosquito-borne disease are common, carry mosquito netting to sleep beneath. How do you know whether to pack this? Check the destination-specific current health reports from the CDC for information.
• If headed to a region where malaria is common, pack anti-malarial medications.
• If headed to a region where the tap water may not be pure, take water purification tablets or a water purification device. See Safe Drinking Water Tips for Travelers for details.
• If you’re a woman, consider taking medication for yeast infections, especially if you’ll be taking doxycycline for malaria.
• Benadryl and an epinephrine pen for severe allergic reactions to previously unencountered insect bites and stings
• Pain relievers and antacids
• Eye drops for dryness and eye drops to eye infections
• Latex gloves (to wear when treating wounds)
• Tweezers (for tick removal)
• Sterile bandages and scissors
• Antiseptic soap such as Betadine
• Butterfly closures and/or safety pins

A few more tips for safe travel

All of the above will help increase your chances of having a safe and enjoyable trip, and even make the difference for someone who is less prepared. The following are additional tips for a safe trip:

• Wear your medical bling – any bracelet or pendant you normally wear to indicate a medical condition should be worn while traveling too.
• Keep your prescription meds in their original containers. It’s tempting to put them into plastic zipper bags to save packing space, but if a security or customs agents suspects it might be something other than what it is, you could wind up in jail in some countries.
• Know that AIDS medications may cause you to be denied entry in some country. Plan ahead by finding out whether the area you are visiting has restrictions (St. Vincent and the Grenadines do). See the travel.state.gov site for country-specific entry requirements.
• Given the high number of HIV/AIDS and STD cases in some regions, carry and use condoms.
• Keep your travel medical kit with you in your carry-on. If your baggage goes missing, you may need it.
• Visit your doctor before you travel overseas or to a remote region of the world. See the Top Reasons to See Your Doctor Before You Travel for additional information.
• Know what to do if You Get Sick or Injured while Traveling
• Watch out for Counterfeit Drugs while you’re traveling

DamianTysdal

Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.

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What To Pack In Your Medical Travel Kit

H aving a travel medical kit at hand when you are on a road trip or some other adventure can be life saving, so let's talk about What To Pack In Your Medical Travel Kit . Accidents can happen anytime, so having the tools available to deal with injury before making it to a hospital is essential. 

If you don’t have a travel medical kit or don’t know how to start putting one together, here are a few tips and essentials that should be in it. 

This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure for more information.

What to Remember 

There are some things you should remember to add to a kit that may not seem obvious. If you take chronic medication, have allergies, or simply have a prescription for nicotine vaping , have copies of the paperwork relating to these things in the kit as a reminder, and to hand them to medical professionals if needed. 

The first thing to consider is the size of the kit and where you will store it. It should be no bigger than a backpack and shouldn’t take up too much space as you don’t want to feel like you should take it to make room for other things. 

Essentials Only 

A travel medical kit shouldn’t be a pharmacy or hospital in your bag. Don’t fill it with every possible thing you may need; instead, choose the essentials and items that are multipurpose. A good example is headache tablets, which can double as pain relievers.

Don’t Forget Non-Medical Items

There are also a few non-medical things you should include, such as a small torch, a lighter, a mini sewing kit, and a multi-tool. You never know where you may be when you need this kit, so ensure that you have other tools that will make treatment easier or more effective. 

Keep Going First Aid Kit

First aid on-the-go! The handy, compact  Keep Going First Aid Kit has 130 pieces of essential first aid supplies, from burn relief to bandages, so your child will be ready for anything! TSA approved, the lightweight kit is packaged in an organized, stylish water & stain-resistant case for school days, after school sports & activities.

Created by a mom of four, the Keep Going First Aid Kit is an essential for the entire family. Four kits are available, including the SuperKit (270 pieces), GoKit (130 pieces), Loaded MiniKit (60 pieces) and KidsKit (44 pieces).

• Travel in Style – Most first aid kits look so clinical—upgrade your small first aid kit for travel to a fashionable one. Your cute first aid kit fits into a suitcase, diaper bag, purse, or backpack.
• All You Need – Good things come in small packages! Your compact first aid kit has 130 pieces of essential first aid supplies for every ouchie. From burn relief to bandages, you’ll be ready for anything.
• For Your Family – The average med kit is designed just for adults, but your KEEP GOING kit works perfectly as a baby first aid kit and beyond. Bandage their boo-boos and put smiles back on their faces!
• Quality Materials – Give your family the care they deserve. Your home and car first aid kit features premium products protected inside a stain- and water-resistant case with a helpful first aid guide.
• KEEP GOING – Your HSA- and FSA-eligible first aid kit for home and travel is made by a mom for moms. KEEP GOING First Aid is a small, family-owned business passionate about helping families keep the fun going.

The KidsKit can be clipped directly on backpacks, too! A variety of stylish, trendy patterns and colors are available. The kits can be found on Amazon.com . There is a full sized option as well as a mini travel size!

Specialized Kit

If you have a problem needing specialized medication or equipment, make sure that is the first thing you pack. This can range from extra batteries for a hearing aid or an EpiPen if you have diabetes. 

Click here to find out how to get an Emergency Antibiotics Kit without seeing a doctor!

Plasters/Bandages

The first thing you need is a selection of plasters and a couple of rolls of bandages. The bandage length doesn’t matter as you can cut it but have a decent variation in plaster sizes; also, ensure the plasters are waterproof.  

Anti-Bacterial Wipes/Gloves

Anti-bacterial wipes are perfect for cleaning injuries and lowering the chances of infection in the instance of a bite or graze. Combine these with gloves, as you don’t want to touch open wounds with your bare hands. 

You might also want to throw in some Handzies soap and water wipes!

Individually packaged and perfect for packing in your travel bag,  Handzies Soap + Water Wipes  give everyone fresh, clean hands using only natural castile soap, water and essential oils. Say goodbye to harsh hand sanitizers, as Handzies do not contain alcohol, BZK, triclosan, artificial perfumes or dyes. Get them here !

Headache Tablets

Headaches are common and can ruin a day very quickly. Headache tablets not only deal with this but they can also be used as a pain reliever in a pinch. Before using them or giving them to someone, make sure they aren’t allergic to paracetamol.

Travel size medicine packets don't take up a lot of space, but save you time and money when a headache strikes during a trip!

Medication for Stomach Issues

Another common problem would be stomach issues. This can range from acid reflux to constipation and diarrhea. Include a small number of antacids, as well as anti-diarrhea and laxatives, in your kit.

For instance, I always pack a package of Imodium travel size tablets .

Motion Sickness Tablets

People can get motion sickness in a car, on a plane, or on a boat, and therefore it is essential to have motion sickness tablets. While there are tablets for each of these, at the very least, have a generic motion sickness medication at hand. 

In the instance of needing to use bandages, plasters, or tape, you will need a pair of medical scissors. While regular ones will do the job, specialized bandage scissors are designed to make quick and clean cuts without destroying the bandage. 

Medical Tape

Medical tape has a multitude of uses, but the most important ones are that it will keep bandages secure and in place, and it can be used to waterproof injuries. Having a good size roll will ensure you always have enough for the job, and in case you need to redo or replace dressings. 

Antiseptic Spray/Wipes/Gel

Antiseptic spray or wipes should be a no-brainer in your kit. If you get bitten by an insect or animal or get a scrape or an abrasion, the first thing you should apply is antiseptic. This will clean the wound and prevent any bacteria from getting into it. 

Burn Bandages/Gel

In the event of a burn, a regular bandage or cream just won’t do the job. There are specialized bandages that are designed for burns, as well as multiple gels that can be applied to relieve the pain and slow down any damage the burn could cause. 

Allergy Medication

Allergy flare-ups are one of the worst things to deal with, especially when you don’t have any tablets or sprays that can help. Having a sheet of antihistamines or a nasal spray available can offer quick relief. Make sure to keep your travel size otc medication  where you can easily find it if you have an allergy flare up!

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags can be multifunctional, especially in a pinch. If you need to get rid of use bandages or plasters, you can throw them away safely, but bags also have a great secondary function. 

If you need to keep a dressing dry or out of the rain, you can cut a bag, wrap the dressing, and tape it to make it waterproof. 

The post What To Pack In Your Medical Travel Kit appeared first on The Rebel Chick .

Travel medical kit checklist

by myDr | Ear Nose and Throat Health , Health Insurance , Travel Health

Use this checklist as a guide to things you may need in your medical kit when travelling – you may need less or more, depending on the activities you may undertake, and the remoteness of the area you visit.

Think about the area you are visiting and what may or may not be available there. Some careful planning and packing before your trip can avoid any wasted time, inconvenience or worse while you’re away.  Check with your doctor or travel clinic for advice if you aren’t sure what you may need to keep your travels safe and healthy.

• Analgesic (pain relief) medicine such as paracetamol or aspirin.
• Antihistamine tablets for bites, stings or allergies.
• Cold and flu tablets.
• Cough medicine.
• Motion sickness tablets.
• Throat lozenges or drops.
• Antiseptic solution for cleaning wounds or bites.
• Antiseptic ointment to apply to a wound.
• Blister and wound patches, such as sticking plasters.
• Medical adhesive tape, e.g. Micropore.
• Wound dressings , e.g. a crepe bandage, gauze swabs and OpSite, and Steristrips, which can often take the place of stitches.
• Safety pins, scissors and tweezers (you may not be allowed to carry these in your cabin luggage).
• Insect repellent containing DEET (diethyl toluamide).
• Sting relief solution, e.g. Stingose (aluminium sulfate).
• Diarrhoea medicine, e.g. Imodium (loperamide).
• Mild laxative, for constipation.
• Antacid for indigestion.
• Antifungal or antibacterial cream.
• Low potency hydrocortisone cream.
• Fluid and electrolyte replacement powder or tablets, e.g. Gastrolyte or HYDRAlyte.
• Eye lubricant drops.
• Sunscreen (at least SPF 30+).
• Thermometer (a forehead thermometer is best for travel as it doesn’t break or run out of batteries).
• Health insurance card.

Other items you should think about taking, depending on your individual needs and your destination, include:

• Regular prescription medicines, which should be kept in their original containers with clear labels and carried in your hand luggage when travelling. You should also take a letter from your doctor stating the names of the medicines, the dose and that they are for your personal use, plus a copy of your prescriptions, written using the generic name of the drug to avoid confusion with trade names in foreign countries. Some countries may not let visitors bring in certain medicines, so you may wish to check first with the embassy or consulate in Australia, before you go. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has information on travelling with medicines.
• Medical equipment you use regularly, such as sterile syringes and needles.
• Spare pair of glasses or your eye prescription.
• Condoms, birth control pills, or other contraceptives.
• Water purifying tablets.
• A mosquito-proof bed net.
• Hand sanitiser or wipes.
• Digital thermometer.
• Sterile syringes.
• First aid reference.

Prescription medicines for travel-related conditions

Travel to developing countries, remote areas, tropical climates and high altitudes increases your risk of certain conditions that you would not encounter at home or during travel to developed temperate-climate countries. Many of these conditions are treated or avoided by taking prescription medicines. So, apart from taking your regular prescription medicines with you, as described above, your doctor or travel clinic may suggest some of the following:

• Altitude sickness medicines.
• Antibiotics for certain intestinal infections or for serious respiratory infection.
• Malaria prevention tablets.

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All the Nomad medical kits are made in-house to our own high specification by our experienced Pharmacy team. Whave refined our range of  medical kits  to cover every type of travel and travel ailment. For complete protection, we make medical kits which contain everything you will need to treat all kinds of common ailments. For minor scrapes & injuries, we make sterile first aid kits perfect for carrying in your daypack, containing dressings and lancets. We also designed a great kit to specifically treat travellers diarrhoea.

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1) Discounts are sadly not applicable on Pharmacy products 2) International delivery is NOT AVAILABLE on Medical Kits marked (POM)

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It is your responsibility to answer the following questions to enable our pharmacist to properly identify if the medication you are purchasing is suitable for the trip you are undertaking & the persons the medications are for.

As a registered pharmacy we are obliged to check the identity of all individuals using our online medicine service. We use LexisNexis, a credit search company to verify your address and age to ensure we are sending the medication to the correct person. Your credit rating will not be affected by this search. If we are unable to identify you, we may ask you to scan and send photographic evidence such as a driving licence or passport to complete the process.

Failure to answer the questions fully and truthfully could seriously damage your health when taking the medicines prescribed to you by Nomad.

To purchase any of the following products you will need to complete a prescription consultation form first.

Once you have completed your prescription consultation you will be returned here and then YOU MUST place an order for your chosen product.

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• How many people are traveling? * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Flight Information

• Which countries are you travelling to? *
• Date of departure * DD slash MM slash YYYY
• Date of return * DD slash MM slash YYYY

First Traveller's Information

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• Name (as it appears on your passport) * First Last
• Address * Building Name/Number Address Town/City County Postcode Please note: we require a UK address in order to dispatch your order for this medication
• Name of your GP *
• Your GP surgery name *
• Your GP surgery postcode *
• Your Date of Birth * DD slash MM slash YYYY
• Your Weight (kg) *
• Please provide details of your medical condition(s), answering as thoroughly as possible *
• Please list the medications you take, separated by commas *
• Please list your known allergens, separated by commas *

Second Traveller's Information

• Second Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last
• Address (if different from first traveller) Building Name/Number Address Town/City County Postcode Please note: we require a UK address in order to dispatch your order for this medication
• Phone (if different from first traveller)
• Email (if different from first traveller)
• Name of your GP (if different from first traveller)
• Your GP surgery name (if different from first traveller)
• Your GP surgery postcode (if different from first traveller)
• Their Date of Birth * DD slash MM slash YYYY
• Their Weight (kg) *
• Please provide details of their medical condition(s), answering as thoroughly as possible *
• Please list the medications they take, separated by commas *
• Please list their known allergens, separated by commas *

Third Traveller's Information

• Third Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Fourth Traveller's Information

• Fourth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Fifth Traveller's Information

• Fifth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Sixth Traveller's Information

• Sixth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Seventh Traveller's Information

• Seventh Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Eighth Traveller's Information

• Eighth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Ninth Traveller's Information

• Ninth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

Tenth Traveller's Information

• Tenth Traveller's Name (as it appears on their passport) * First Last

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Medical plane crashes in North Carolina, injuring pilot and doctor on board

A unc health plane crashed at raleigh-durham international airport (rdu) at around 10 a.m. wednesday, injuring dr. paul chelminski and pilot art johnson.

A small medical plane crashed at a North Carolina airport on Wednesday, injuring the pilot and a doctor on board.

The aircraft came to a complete stop in grass after crashing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) at around 10:10 a.m. ET. The doctor and the pilot were taken to a separate hospitals, according to UNC Health .

The general aviation aircraft was arriving at the airport from Wilmington, North Carolina, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, halting planes from departing from the airport and diverting arriving flights to other airports. The stoppage was lifted around 11:30 a.m.

There are conflicting reports about the plane type. The FAA told USA TODAY its aircraft registry lists the aircraft type as a single-engine Socata TBM-700 while the tail number records say it's a TBM-850.

Physician identified as Dr. Paul Chelminski

The physician on the plane has been identified as Dr. Paul Chelminski , who is in internal medicine at UNC Health. He was taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and has since been released, UNC Health news director Alan M. Wolf said.

Chelminski, a professor of medicine and pharmacy, was returning from Wilmington after giving a lecture at the Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The pilot, identified as Art Johnson, was taken to Duke University Hospital in Durham and was in fair condition, Wolf added.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the accident.

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Helping women get better sleep by calming the relentless 'to-do lists' in their heads

Yuki Noguchi

Katie Krimitsos is among the majority of American women who have trouble getting healthy sleep, according to a new Gallup survey. Krimitsos launched a podcast called Sleep Meditation for Women to offer some help. Natalie Champa Jennings/Natalie Jennings, courtesy of Katie Krimitsos hide caption

Katie Krimitsos is among the majority of American women who have trouble getting healthy sleep, according to a new Gallup survey. Krimitsos launched a podcast called Sleep Meditation for Women to offer some help.

When Katie Krimitsos lies awake watching sleepless hours tick by, it's almost always because her mind is wrestling with a mental checklist of things she has to do. In high school, that was made up of homework, tests or a big upcoming sports game.

"I would be wide awake, just my brain completely spinning in chaos until two in the morning," says Krimitsos.

There were periods in adulthood, too, when sleep wouldn't come easily, like when she started a podcasting company in Tampa, or nursed her first daughter eight years ago. "I was already very used to the grainy eyes," she says.

Now 43, Krimitsos says in recent years she found that mounting worries brought those sleepless spells more often. Her mind would spin through "a million, gazillion" details of running a company and a family: paying the electric bill, making dinner and dentist appointments, monitoring the pets' food supply or her parents' health checkups. This checklist never, ever shrank, despite her best efforts, and perpetually chased away her sleep.

"So we feel like there are these enormous boulders that we are carrying on our shoulders that we walk into the bedroom with," she says. "And that's what we're laying down with."

By "we," Krimitsos means herself and the many other women she talks to or works with who complain of fatigue.

Women are one of the most sleep-troubled demographics, according to a recent Gallup survey that found sleep patterns of Americans deteriorating rapidly over the past decade.

"When you look in particular at adult women under the age of 50, that's the group where we're seeing the most steep movement in terms of their rate of sleeping less or feeling less satisfied with their sleep and also their rate of stress," says Gallup senior researcher Sarah Fioroni.

Overall, Americans' sleep is at an all time low, in terms of both quantity and quality.

A majority – 57% – now say they could use more sleep, which is a big jump from a decade ago. It's an acceleration of an ongoing trend, according to the survey. In 1942, 59% of Americans said that they slept 8 hours or more; today, that applies to only 26% of Americans. One in five people, also an all-time high, now sleep fewer than 5 hours a day.

Popular myths about sleep, debunked

"If you have poor sleep, then it's all things bad," says Gina Marie Mathew, a post-doctoral sleep researcher at Stony Brook Medicine in New York. The Gallup survey did not cite reasons for the rapid decline, but Mathew says her research shows that smartphones keep us — and especially teenagers — up later.

She says sleep, as well as diet and exercise, is considered one of the three pillars of health. Yet American culture devalues rest.

"In terms of structural and policy change, we need to recognize that a lot of these systems that are in place are not conducive to women in particular getting enough sleep or getting the sleep that they need," she says, arguing things like paid family leave and flexible work hours might help women sleep more, and better.

No one person can change a culture that discourages sleep. But when faced with her own sleeplessness, Tampa mom Katie Krimitsos started a podcast called Sleep Meditation for Women , a soothing series of episodes in which she acknowledges and tries to calm the stresses typical of many women.

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Many grouchy, error-prone workers just need more sleep.

That podcast alone averages about a million unique listeners a month, and is one of 20 podcasts produced by Krimitsos's firm, Women's Meditation Network.

"Seven of those 20 podcasts are dedicated to sleep in some way, and they make up for 50% of my listenership," Krimitsos notes. "So yeah, it's the biggest pain point."

Krimitsos says she thinks women bear the burdens of a pace of life that keeps accelerating. "Our interpretation of how fast life should be and what we should 'accomplish' or have or do has exponentially increased," she says.

She only started sleeping better, she says, when she deliberately cut back on activities and commitments, both for herself and her two kids. "I feel more satisfied at the end of the day. I feel more fulfilled and I feel more willing to allow things that are not complete to let go."

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Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to let Arizona doctors provide abortions in California

Joined by the state Legislative Women’s Caucus and advocates, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif., to announce legislation that would help Arizona women access abortions. The proposal would circumvent a ban on nearly all abortions in Arizona by allowing Arizona doctors to give their patients abortions in California. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner, center, chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers announced legislation Wednesday aimed at helping Arizonans access abortions after the Arizona Supreme Court allowed a near total-ban to move forward. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

Joined by the state Legislative Women’s Caucus and advocates, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif., to announce legislation that would help Arizona women access abortions. The proposal would circumvent a ban on nearly all abortions in Arizona by allowing Arizona doctors to give their patients abortions in California. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

FILE - Abortion rights supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Phoenix. Arizona doctors could come to California and provide abortions for their patients under a new proposal announced Wednesday, April 24, 2024, by Gov. Gavin Newsom aimed at circumventing a state law that bans nearly all abortions in that state. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Arizona doctors could give their patients abortions in California under a proposal announced Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom to circumvent a ban on nearly all abortions in the neighboring state.

It would apply only to doctors licensed in good standing in Arizona and their patients, and last only through the end of November. Arizona’s 1864 law banning all abortions except if the woman’s life is in jeopardy would take effect June 8, and Newsom said protecting access to abortions is “just about basic decency” and “respect for women and girls.”

“This Arizona law is the first border-state law that will directly impact the state of California,” the Democratic governor said. “Rather than just acknowledging that fate and future, we’re trying to get ahead of this law.”

Newsom joined the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and advocates to announce the proposal. Lawmakers called the Arizona law “draconian” and said California had an obligation to get involved. The bill would need to pass by a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature before reaching Newsom’s desk. After he signs it, it would go into effect immediately.

Dr. Tanya Spirtos, a gynecologist and president of the California Medical Association, said it is unfortunate that Arizona abortion patients will have to travel out of state, but she’s proud to see California step in to assist them.

“All personal medical decisions, including those around abortion, should be made by patients in consultation with their health care providers,” Spirtos said. “By banning virtually all abortions in the state, the ruling will put physicians in harm’s way for simply providing often lifesaving medical care to their patients.”

The Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way earlier this month for the near-total ban to move forward. Fifteen states have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy, though Arizona’s Legislature is expected to repeal the 160-year-old law , setting the state up for a 15-week limit. California law generally allows the procedure up to the point of fetal viability, which is around 24 weeks.

About 11,500 abortions were reported in Arizona in 2022, down from nearly 14,000 in the previous year, according to a report from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office declined to comment on the California bill.

Newsom should focus on “very real problems” in his own state, said Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican who voted against repealing the near-total ban.

Arizona state Sen. Eva Burch, a Democrat, said the California proposal is “a step in the right direction,” but she hopes it is not necessary and that Arizona repeals the ban. Burch has had two abortions to terminate nonviable pregnancies.

“It’s unreasonable for us to expect patients to have to travel out of state for this kind of care,” Burch said. “In circumstances like mine, where I was having a failed miscarriage, a stalled miscarriage, traveling wouldn’t be appropriate.”

While abortion access in California has never been under serious threat, Newsom — widely seen as a potential presidential candidate beyond 2024 — has made defending that access a priority of his administration.

Newsom pushed for abortion access to be enshrined in the California Constitution. He approved $20 million of taxpayer money to help pay for women in other states to come to California for abortions, and he signed dozens of laws aimed at making it harder for other states to investigate women who do so, including banning social media companies from complying with subpoenas or warrants.

In 2022, months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, California launched a publicly funded website to promote the state’s abortion services, including information about financial help for travel expenses and letting teenagers in other states know that California does not require them to have their parents’ permission to get an abortion in the state.

It’s also become a chief talking point in Newsom’s role as a top surrogate of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. Using money left over from his own 2022 reelection campaign, Newsom started a political action committee he calls the “ Campaign for Democracy ” that has paid for billboards and TV ads in Republican-led states to criticize their leaders’ attempts to outlaw or restrict access to abortions. In February he launched ads in multiple states to criticize proposals there that aimed to prohibit out-of-state travel for abortions.

Newsom’s campaign on Sunday released a dramatic ad in Alabama depicting a young woman trying to leave the state who is stopped by a police officer who demands that she take a pregnancy test. The ad ran after an Alabama lawmaker introduced a bill to make it a crime to help someone under 18 get an abortion without telling their parents or guardians. It has not been voted on in committee.

Associated Press writers Adam Beam in Sacramento and Anita Snow and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed.

Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on the social platform X: @sophieadanna