The Perfect Travel First Aid Kit

Over the years, we’ve concluded as a family that “it’s not really a holiday without a trip to the pharmacy” for some reason – allergic reactions, eye infections, dodgy tummies – to the point where, going to a foreign pharmacy or drugstore has become like a holiday activity itself (we now love an American Walgreens!). This works in locations where you can find an open pharmacy quickly, but what should you pack in your Travel First Aid Kit for those first aid emergencies which happen when you don’t have access to an open pharmacy?

Travel First Aid Kit – Essentials you shouldn’t travel without…

Without sounding like a family of hypochondriacs, over the years we’ve pretty much used everything in our Travel First Aid Kit, so keep it well stocked, you never know when or what you might need!

Some items you will want to carry in your hand luggage so that you have access to them on long trips (and in case your main luggage goes missing). Some can go in your main luggage until you reach your destination. Here are the essentials:

Travel First Aid Kit, Part 1 – Hand Luggage

EpiPen for allergies

For us, an EpiPen for allergies (or other auto injector) is number one on the list as our Son has a severe nut allergy. Sadly we have needed to deploy his EpiPen for allergies before outside the home environment which is scary, and we have a constant worry about nuts being served on airplanes, but that’s for another blog…

Antihistamines

For more minor allergic reactions, or to use alongside an EpiPen for allergies in the case of anaphylaxis. We have used ours for hay-fever, sun rashes, wasp stings and allergic reactions to cats owned by an AirBnB we stayed in!

Note – some brands cause drowsiness, so take care if you plan to drive after taking. The drowsiness is why some people choose to take them before flights to help them sleep, but I’ve not tried this, yet…

Pain relief

Ibroprofen and paracetamol are always winners – for headaches, aches and pains, or heavy colds. I would add Antacids to this list, as for those who suffer from heart burn, or acid reflux, you will want some quick relief from this if you are on the move.

Imodium

Traveller’s diarrhoea may strike if you consume contaminated food or water, usually related to a bacterial infection. There are certain areas of the world where this is more likely to happen (google them!), but also have some Imodium to hand in case of need, or if you have a delicate constitution and travel affects your stomach.

Any special personal medications

You should be carrying any medication for personal health, such as asthma inhales, the contraceptive pill, or pills for heart conditions, in your hand luggage in case the main luggage goes astray.

Travel First Aid Kit, Part 2 – Main luggage

There are some items which you are less likely to need access to whilst on the move, so these can go in your main luggage until you get to destination. Then you should ideally carry them in your day bag in case needed when out and about.

Bite and Sting cream

Does what it says on the tin and helps take the pain or itch out of a sting. Ours was deployed recently on a trip to Venice when a random wasp appeared and decided to sting one of us. It was also used in Australia when Ricardo stepped on a scorpion on the bedroom floor, although the cream didn’t really touch the sides of the pain – ouch!

Rehydration powders or electrolyte tablets

Rehydration powders and electrolyte tablets contain glucose and salts to help replace lost fluids and salts in our bodies – useful if you have short term Travellers’ diarrhoea, or if you have too much sun or humidity and you feel dehydrated. We noted on a holiday to Mexico, that ‘electrolytes’ were available on the bar menu in some restaurants (spotted at a beach bar in Tulum), which I’d never seen before but has probably been around for ages – good idea!

Plasters and bandages

There are a huge number and variety of options here, but the key ones being:

• Blister plasters – the most common type of plaster we use on holiday, probably because we do a lot more walking than usual when we’re away.  Note – don’t take a new pair of trainers or boots on a walking holiday or you will pay in blisters!
• Waterproof – I always pack waterproof plasters as they just seem to work better.  In our world, mostly deployed after scrapes on rocks after water activities, or from biking incidents.
• Bandage, tape, scissors – actually, I think this is the item which we haven’t used on holiday (yet!), but it’s a standard Travel First Aid Kit item so I feel like it should be in there, just in case, although you probably don’t need it in your day bag.

Antiseptic wipes

This item goes with the plasters, so you can clean up any cuts and grazes before putting the plasters on.

Minor burn treatments

If you have a minor burn, from touching something hot, after running the area under cold water for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to put a thin layer of petroleum jelly or aloe vera on it. I carry a small pot of Sudacrem (it’s actually nappy cream but 20 years on it still comes in useful) as it creates a protective barrier on the area. Aloe Vera is the best for sunburn.

Again, it probably doesn’t need to be in your day bag, just on hand at your accommodation if needed. If the burn is bad, seek medical assistance.

Tweezers and tick removers

Tweezers are useful for removing the occasional splinter and a tick remover is good to have on standby should you walk through areas where you might pick them up, such as grasslands areas, or fields with grazing sheep.

And finally…

You don’t need large amounts of everything, just small tubes, and a few plasters – just enough to cover you until you can find a pharmacy if needed. Then, choose a suitable bag for your Travel First Aid Kit and remember to replace anything you’ve used on your trip, so you are ready for the next one.

All that said, I truly hope you don’t need to use your perfectly put together Travel First Aid Kit whilst you’re away!

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