First Aid Kit for Travelers

A first aid kit is an essential part of packing for any amount of travelling – even if you’re just going on a small hike up the road.  Generally these don’t take up much space.  If you have a small bag (preferably waterproof) then feel free to make your own first aid travel kit.  I have found a couple packaged first aid kits on Amazon that may make good starter kits.  I have found buying a basic kit first then add some of these missing recommendations works the best for us.  Also consider a small day travel kit that can be separated from the larger kit for your  day trip bag.  My ideal kit may be a little more involved than most but that’s what having 3 kids, traveling frequently and working as a Physician Assistant for 12 years will do.

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What to Put in Your First Aid Travel Kit

Here is a list of what I recommend you put in your overall kit:

• Band-aids and gauze – It is more important to have a variety of sizes then an excessive number of the same type of band-aid.  Also a few non-stick or gauze pads are helpful
• Athletic or paper tape – was very helpful when I had to make a splint for my daughter in Costa Rica out of a plastic spoon
• Koban – This stuff is so useful when dressing a wound or making a splint.  I use it all the time.  It self sticks which is a lot easier than tape.
• Small Scissors (it’s nice to have a small sharp pair of scissors for around the house things too) but make sure they get put back in the first aid bag.  I like them to be small, sturdy and sharp with a pointed end – a curved end can be handy too.
• Small but good tweezers – we remove a lot of splinters.  A good pair of tweezers can make the difference in hours of chasing down a screaming child vs removing a splinter before they even know what you’re up to.  We end up using tweezers a lot for random tasks.
• Small nail clippers – if you are gone for a while you will need clipper, plus – it’s not uncommon for my kids to snag a nail on something.  The clippers work better.  I’ve used them to cut off dead skin from blisters too – not as scary for the kids as the scissors.
• Nail file – mostly to fix nail snags, I’d probably make sure you have 2
• Needles – for draining abscesses or large pimples, getting splinters out, and crushed nails that are bleeding
• Steri-strips – Most smaller lacerations will heal just fine steri-striped together.  I’ve had great success taping back many a wound without getting sutures.  If the wound is on a joint or really deep it will need to be numbed, cleaned and sutured.
• Tegaderm – for more significant cuts or blisters that you do not want to get wet.  Sticks better than typical band-aids
• QuickClot – for real emergencies to get bleeding to stop faster
• Super glue – so this may not be exactly medical related (although if you clean a smaller wound really, really well you can use superglue to put the wound back together). I do recommend going to a doctor first.  If closing a wound in a medical office is not an option – using superglue can work.  I do carry dermabond (this is similar) in my medical kit for certain lacerations – but the stuff expires. The main reason, however, that we carry superglue is that my kids break things so we superglue them back together.  We’ve even superglued shoes at the end if their life.
• We keep a small sewing kit with just a spool of thread and a couple of needles.  It may be easier to store this in your first aid kit especially since your scissors are already here.  I do not use it to sew people up – just to sew broken toys, shirts, and bags.
• Mole Skin or something to help or prevent blisters.
• Cleansing wipes and alcohol wipes
• 1-2 pairs of plastic gloves – I’m more likely to use these to clean up something really yucky left by some slimy kid then a bleeding wound but they are nice to have around

Medicines for the First Aid Kits:

I’d have at least 6-10 pills of each of these.  It’s good to have enough on hand to make it through the emergency and give you time to find a store if you need more.  I recommend these stay individually packaged.  You can by partial first aid kids that have most of these.

• Ibuprofen pills (if you have young kids keep some liquid on hand as well) – for fever, pain
• Benadryl pills aka Diphenahydramine  (also keep liquid if you have young kids – they use to have single sizes available) – This is for moderate or worse allergic reactions.  Benadryl can be a dangerous medication for young kids.  Do not give it to them to help them sleep of for general mild illnesses.  If they get bit by a bee and swell up then it’s likely worth the risk.  Always monitor children for excessive sleepiness after taking this medication.
• Tylenol Acetaminophen pills- for fever or pain.  You can also take liquid for the kids but since I carry Ibuprofen I skip the liquid Tylenol
• Triple antibiotic cream
• Aspirin – for heart attack symptoms (then call an ambulance).  Generally these pills are unlikely to be used by your family but I have known several people who ended up using it for people they passed on trails having chest pain and waiting for help.
• Meclizine (if you are prone to car sickness or motion sickness)
• Immodium (for travelers Diarrhea – see this section for more information)
• Pepto Bismal ( for Travelers Diarrhea – see this section for more information)
• Tums
• Make sure you have all of your regular medications as well
• I also consider taking Melatonin  for jet lag – for more information on jet lag click here.
• Probiotics – not a bad idea if you are prone to upset stomach or you are traveling to an area higher in travelers diarrhea
• A few honey packets – for cough and sore throat
• Zyrtec or Xyzal – My husband has a cat and horses allergy that’s pretty bad.  We also keep Flonase (or whatever steroid nasal spray is OTC) and I’d like to keep an albuterol inhaler if possible.  Since he only uses the inhaler every other year – they expire.

In my bag I also have Zofran, Decadron (my kids have a history of bad croup and I like to have it as an in casefor an allergic reaction), Amoxicillin, and Cipro (although Zithromax may be a better choice with the newer guidelines for travelers diarrhea treatment).   Hopefully I will not need to use any of these but I have them if I need them.  These are all prescription and if you do take any with you, please get specific instructions from your medical provider on their use.

COVID Specific Additions:

2020 has been a difficult year but one day we will all get to travel again.  If you are venturing out in 2020 (to a social distanced location and not interacting with other people – this germ is nasty, please don’t spread it) then I also recommend adding:

Good Quality Masks – at least 2 layer cotton with a pocket for a filter, surgical mask or KN95 (especially if flying).

Eye protection – if flying or you have times that you are closer to other people.

Pulse Ox – if you do get sick, then you will want to monitor your oxygen levels, if you’re dropping — then ER

Thermometer – Any one in your family gets a fever, everyone isolates.

Pepcid, vitamin D, Zinc and Vitamin C – we currently don’t have great studies that anything helps but these meds might (very low on the might).  Regardless they are pretty low risk of causing issues.

There are relatively safe trips you can take during this pandemic – think outdoors and away from others but most trips should be postponed.  Please think of others and safety first when planning trips.

Wrapping things up

Yes, sounds like a lot but if you’re thinking it out you can fit everything you may need in a really small space.  It’s so much better to be prepared and not need it than getting stuck somewhere without supplies.

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Article originally published in 2018 and updated in 2020

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We’re a family of 5 taking a gap year from normal life to travel.  For blog posts, locations, and more information on how we did it and how you can to click here.

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