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Health Information

Travel first aid kit

Published by Bupa's health information team, August 2008.

This factsheet is for people who are travelling abroad and are planning to take a first aid kit with them.

When you're travelling abroad, it's important that you carry a first aid kit and know how to use it. This factsheet describes some of the basic items you need in your travel first aid kit, and where and when you might need to include others. It also advises on how you should deal with accidents and injuries while you're abroad.

About your travel first aid kit
What to include in your basic travel first aid kit
Additional items for your travel first aid kit
Emergency medical kits
Dealing with accidents and injuries
Questions and answers
Related topics
Further information
Sources

About your travel first aid kit

No matter where in the world you're travelling, you should always carry your first aid kit. It should contain all the supplies that you're likely to need for the full length of your trip. When putting together your travel first aid kit, consider where you're going and what you're likely to be doing.

It's important that you and those travelling with you know how to use the first aid kit. A good first aid manual can be helpful. For more adventurous travellers, it may be worth completing a basic first aid course before your trip.

What to include in your basic travel first aid kit

You should consider including the items below in your travel first aid kit, as they will be useful in most destinations. The list isn't exhaustive. The quantity of each item you take will depend on the number of people who are travelling with you.

The components of your first aid kit should be stored in a suitable container (preferably waterproof) with a secure lid, or in a re-sealable plastic bag.

Basic first aid items

Your travel first aid kit should contain items for dealing with minor injuries such as cuts and grazes. These include:

antiseptic wipes
antiseptic spray or cream
gauze squares
non-sticky dressings
fabric plasters
blister plasters
skin closure strips (for holding the edges of a wound together)
bandage
surgical tape
scissors (for cutting tape, plasters and bandages)
safety pins (for securing bandages)
tweezers (for removing objects such as splinters)
thermometer

See Dealing with accidents and injuries for more details about using some of these items.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines

These include medicines that relieve pain or help to reduce a fever (for example, paracetamol or ibuprofen). It's better to keep tablets in blister packs (the moulded plastic in which tablets are usually packaged) because loose tablets may absorb moisture from the air and this can stop them from working properly. Remember to take any patient information leaflets for the medicines with you as well.

Many people suffer from diarrhoea while abroad, so you may wish to take some anti-diarrhoea tablets with you. These are more suitable for older children and adults. For younger children, ready-mixed rehydration salts can be added to drinking water. You may wish to carry water purification tablets in your kit for when bottled water isn't available.

Insect repellent creams and devices can be useful. But in case you do get stung or bitten, include some antihistamine (bite relief) cream and tablets in your kit. Antihistamine tablets such as chlorphenamine (eg Piriton) are also useful for allergic reactions.

Prescription-only medicines

If you, or someone who is travelling with you, regularly take medicines that have been prescribed by your GP, make sure you pack enough for your whole trip. Allow enough for a couple of days delay either side.

You should keep your medicines in their original labelled packaging with their information leaflets. For all medicines, ask your doctor for advice and always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

It's useful to carry a letter from your GP stating which medicines you need and what they are for, as you may be asked for this at customs. Your GP may ask you to pay for the letter. You should also check with your GP that your medicines are legal in the countries you're travelling to.

It's also important to be prepared if you have medical conditions that occur or flare up occasionally, such as migraine, asthma or eczema.

Additional items for your travel first aid kit

Depending on your destination and your individual requirements, you may need to include some extra items in your travel first aid kit.

Sun and sea protection

It's vital that you protect your skin in the sun. Take a water-resistant sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and helps block out ultraviolet (UV) rays.

A small sachet of vinegar can help relieve jellyfish stings.

Contraception

If you're sexually active, include some condoms in your travel first aid kit to reduce the chances of an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.

If you're currently taking the contraceptive pill, make sure you take enough with you to last the full length of your trip.

Antibiotics

If you're venturing away from good medical facilities on your trip, it may be worth taking some antibiotics with you. Generally, they will cover the most likely problems that you will encounter such as diarrhoea or wound infections. Your GP will need to prescribe these antibiotics for you. He or she will discuss with you when and how to use them. Always ask your doctor for advice and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Antimalarial medicines

Malaria is a disease that's transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected mosquito. It's widespread in many warm countries. If you're planning to visit a country where malaria is common, you're advised to take antimalarial medicines before you travel to reduce your risk of developing malaria.

Consult your GP or a travel clinic before your trip to discuss the risk of malaria in the areas you're visiting and for advice on appropriate medicines to help prevent it. These medicines aren't usually available on the NHS, so you may have to pay for them.

Depending on which antimalarial medicine you're prescribed, you may need to start taking it at least one week before you travel to a malaria zone. Like all medicines, antimalarial medicines may cause side-effects in some people. If you have any side-effects, these can be dealt with before you leave home. You may also need to continue taking antimalarial medicines for up to one month after you leave a country where there is malaria.

It's important to remember that antimalarial medicines aren't 100 percent effective. If you're travelling to a region where malaria is common, you also need to reduce your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes. DEET (diethyltoluamide) is the most effective mosquito repellent. DEET products include wrist and ankle bands, and it can also be bought in skin lotions, sprays or roll-on formulations which you should apply regularly. They can be bought from most pharmacies.

For more information on malaria and antimalarial medicines, see Further information.

Emergency medical kits

If you're visiting an area where good medical facilities and equipment can't be guaranteed, you may want to carry an emergency medical kit. These kits contain sterilised and sealed medical equipment such as syringes, stitches and needles. Your kit should be handed to the doctor or nurse in a medical emergency.

You can buy emergency medical kits from pharmacies and travel clinics. Provided that your kit is well packaged and clearly labelled, you shouldn't encounter problems at customs.

Dealing with accidents and injuries

Simple cuts and injuries

A first aid kit should help you to deal with simple cuts and injuries. All wounds need to be washed first - preferably with sterile gauze rather than cotton wool. If clean water isn't available, you might want to use some antiseptic wipes instead. Antiseptics will also ensure that your wound is clean. Opt for an iodine-based dry powder antiseptic spray because organisms may get into tubes of antiseptic cream that are frequently opened. Cover your wound with a non-sticking dressing to prevent insects and dirt getting in.

Serious injuries and accidents

Accidents and injuries can be a cause of serious health problems abroad, particularly if there are no good medical facilities nearby. In some countries there are shortages of qualified GPs and other health professionals.

Travel insurance that covers injuries as well as illness while travelling is essential. If you, or someone who is travelling with you, have an accident or serious injury that requires medical assistance, contact your insurance company as soon as you can and keep any receipts.

You should be aware of your blood group before you leave home.