Travel First Aid Kit

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Travel First Aid Kit

Pack your travel first aid kit so you are ready for a worry-free vacation! It can be small or more comprehensive depending on your style. This post has you covered no matter what your worry level is!

This post has the same information organized in 3 different ways:

  • my personal list of must-haves and what I consider extras, with explanations and detail,
  • a list by possible ailments during travel,
  • and then at the end is one simple, large complete list.

After reading the intro that explains a few different ways of packing your Travel First Aid Kit, use the Table of Contents to skip to a particular section if you like.

Introduction

You can buy a prepackaged first aid kit for travel, but I find that they are mostly filled with many, many different sizes of bandages, some first aid ointment and not much else.  They don’t have the medicines you might need on your vacation. 

While I don’t worry if the bandage I packed is slightly the wrong size for my blister, I do worry that I will catch a cold and be miserable sneezing and coughing or that I will have digestive issues that could prevent me from wanting to go on a long coach ride. 

I have two of these handy compartment pill cases. I use ONE for vitamins and daily meds and ONE for a mini first aid kit.

Your Travel First Aid Kit does not need to have an entire box of any one thing.  Quite the opposite! It needs to have just a couple doses of many items.

When you feel ill you will be glad you packed your travel first aid kit.

How to Pack Your First Aid Kit

A well-stocked Travel First Aid Kit is essential for any travel adventure. You probably have most of these medications in your home already, so let’s get started.

Note: when you tear off a few pills, make sure to label the blister pack with the medicine name and the dosage or if you shake out a couple of doses, put them into a handy little zip bag and label.

It is worth the extra time it takes to organize up front as you will have a much smaller first aid travel kit to haul around. It is just a matter of getting organized once, and then it is ready for many trips ahead.  When you get home, simply replenish anything you used and store with your other travel gear.

What type of organizer are you?

There are several ways to tackle this project:

  • throw it all into a baggie – this is not my style as I love to organize but it might be your style.
  • organize into small pill containers – this is my choice for trips to a city. My thought process is that I need 2 doses of each medicine to get through one day and night and if I should need more, I can find a pharmacy (although this has never happened to me yet).
    • I also put all of my vitamins and supplements into another small pill organizer. This is my new favorite! I pack enough for the trip plus a few extra days worth, just in case. Of course, there are larger containers you can use but I am constantly striving to limit how much I take on vacation.
  • Organize slightly larger quantities into a jewelry organizer (here is the one I use) for camping or traveling to more remote areas, basically when we are not near a store to replenish if necessary.

For travel days, I keep my prescription meds and daily vitamins in my carry-on/personal bag and I pack my Travel First Aid Kit in my suitcase.  But, you may want to put everything together in one container.  Just make sure you have enough of your prescription medication in your carry-on bag for travel days.

If you are traveling with only carry-on luggage, remember that liquids, creams and gels need to be in your quart-sized clear baggie to get through airport security and each item can be no larger than 3.4 oz or 100 ml.

My Must-Haves and Extras

Medicine Must-Haves

  • Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
  • Moleskin or blister bandages – unbelievably useful if you get a blister.
  • Antiseptic wipes – alcohol for wounds, just pack a couple
  • Travel Sanitizing hand wipes – not quite as harsh and very useful.
  • Antibiotic ointment – I always get the Neosporin with pain relief
  • Pain relievers – such as Tylenol (acetaminophen ) or Advil (ibuprofen)
  • Night-time Cold medicine – NyQuil
  • Day-time Cold Medicine – DayQuil
  • Antihistamines (for allergic reactions) – Benadryl
  • Anti-diarrheal medication – Immodium for diarrhea, Pepto-Bismal tablets for intestinal upset and gurgling, they are easy to pack and they work.
  • Throat lozenges/cough drops (remember you can always gargle with salt water, too)
  • Constipation relief/laxative – Dulcolax Chews
  • Antacids (for indigestion or heartburn) Tums, Pepcid or Alka-Seltzer are all solid choices. I am a fan of TUMS because it is simple to carry and it always works for me but bring your personal favorite. I go old-school with the peppermint but there are fruit flavors as well. I use Alka- Seltzer the day after “one too many” (which sadly isn’t many, lol).
  • Nausea Natural Remedies – Ginger Chews, Peppermint Drops
  • Anti-motion sickness medication – Dramamine
  • Hydrocortisone cream (for skin irritations or insect bites) – This Globe brand comes in handy individual packets. Super easy to pack!
  • Eye drops, extra contacts and lens solution – both heat and air conditioning, especially on a plane, dry out your eyes.
  • Oral rehydration salts (to treat dehydration) I love LMNT drink packets (grapefruit is my favorite but they are all good).
  • Sleep aid – particularly important if you are going to cross several time zones. You can purchase something like ZzzQuil or try these melatonin gummies!
  • Prescription Medications
  • Vitamins and Supplements pack only the supplements that you actually take every single day. I have gotten overly enthusiastic thinking I will go on a health binge on vacation and I pack ALL of the vitamins and supplements. I end up hauling them around and bringing them home again. Know yourself.

Non-Medicine Must-Haves

Other important items that are not actual medicine but very useful to have. I always pack these:

  • Emergency contact numbers and medical information
  • Packet of tissues
  • Potty wipes – so many times we have ended up in a situation where these come in handy! Camping, on safari, hiking or even in a bathroom without toilet paper. My friends and I always pack StallMates.
  • Tweezers – it is crazy how often I need tweezers on a trip, for everything from cactus stickers to bee stings to stray hairs.
  • Nail clippers and emory board – my husband is an obsessive nail clipper and I often get a snaggled nail or a hangnail.
  • Lip Balm with SPF (both heat and air conditioning, especially on a plane, dry out your lips and if you are somewhere sunny, your lips can easily get burned and then it is no fun.  I had one trip where I looked like I got lip injections because my burned lips swelled up… and not in a pretty way, lol). I am a fan of Coola (lightly tinted) and Burt’s Bees.
  • Skin lotion (travel dries out your skin and different climates will affect your skin differently. So, be prepared with a good cream or lotion)
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent depending on where you are vacationing
  • 4-6 small clothespins if you need to hand wash a couple items
  • A small packet of laundry powder but honestly the little bar of hotel soap or shampoo or bodywash will work in a pinch for sink washing.  I do usually keep a packet of laundry soap (or a laundry pod if you use those at home) for those times that our Airbnb has a washing machine.
  • Scissors/small sewing kit – This is the smallest portable sewing kit I could find and it only has the basics but that is all that I feel like I need. However, don’t count on the scissors to do anything other than the most minor cutting.
  • Safety pins
Extras to consider for your travel first aid kit.

Extras to Consider

Personally, I am most concerned with blisters, allergies, headaches, colds, motion sickness, diarrhea or constipation.  So, I am diligent about medications for these issues.  However, if you have room in your bag or have different concerns than I do, here are a few other things you might consider adding:

  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Medical tape
  • Disposable gloves
  • Digital thermometer
  • Calamine lotion (for soothing rashes)
  • Elastic bandages (for sprains or strains)
  • A small first aid manual or instruction booklet
  • An additional set of glasses

Medicines by Ailments

This list is organized by the ailment so you know what you have packed in your Travel First Aid Kit to relieve any particular issue. If I use a particular brand, I have included it but there are many options including generics that you could choose.

Aches and Pains

  • Pain relievers – Tylenol or Advil or Alleve
  • Digital thermometer
  • First aid manual 
  • Ace bandage 

Tummy Troubles

  • Anti-diarrheal medication – Immodium, Pepto Bismal tablets (I pack both…TMI here…I use Pepto for gurgling and unhappy intestines, I use Immodium when all heck breaks loose!)
  • Constipation relief/laxative – Dulcolax Chews
  • Antacids – Tums, Pepcid or Alka-Seltzer  (I pack Tums for heartburn or over-eating and I use Alka-Seltzer the morning after one too many beers…sometimes these things happen on vacation)
  • Nausea Natural Remedies – Ginger Chews, Peppermint Drops
  • Motion sickness medication – Dramamine

Blisters and Wounds

  • Antibiotic ointment –  Neosporin with Pain Relief
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Bandages
  • Moleskin or blister bandages (important if you will be doing a lot of walking)
  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Medical tape
  • Disposable gloves

Colds and Allergies

Skin and Eyes

Sleeping

Non-Medical Issues

  • Emergency contact numbers and medical information
  • Packet of tissues
  • Potty wipes – StallMates
  • Nail clippers
  • Emory board
  • Tweezers
  • Sanitizing hand wipes or hand sanitizer
  • Scissors/small sewing kit
  • Safety pins
  • Laundry powder
  • 4-6 small clothespins

Vitamins and Supplements

  • pack only those vitamins and supplements that you will honestly take every day. Otherwise, you are just carrying extra stuff for no reason.
Stomach troubles will make you grateful for packing your travel first aid kit.

Just the List & Nothing But the List

This list includes the brand names of the medications I use. Feel free to substitute other brands or even the generics if you prefer. This is a pretty extensive list. Pick and choose which items seem right for the trip you are taking.

Luckily, you probably have many of these items in your medicine cabinet already. Simply pack a couple doses (with directions) into your travel first aid kit.

Remember to check the expiration dates of all medications and supplies regularly and replace them as needed. Additionally, if you have any specific medical conditions or allergies, consult with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the necessary medications or equipment tailored to your needs. Have a wonderful trip!

For more information on Healthy Travel, CLICK HERE.

Live well. Be well.
Laura

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