Topic Overview

What you pack in your first aid kit will depend on where and how long you plan to travel and the medical care available there. Here is a general list of items to include.

• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen (SPF 30 to 50) and lip screen
• Thermometer
• Oral rehydration solution packets
• Basic first aid items (adhesive bandages, gauze, elastic bandage, antiseptic, tweezers)
• Antibacterial hand wipes
• Moleskin for blisters
• Extra pair of prescription glasses or contacts

Talk to your doctor about which of the following medicines to include and how to take them:

• Antibiotic for self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhea
• Antihistamine, decongestant, and cough suppressant, alone or in combination
• Motion sickness medicine
• Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medicine for pain or fever. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Antidiarrheal medicine, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)
• Mild laxative
• Antacid
• Antifungal ointment
• Antibacterial ointment
• 1% hydrocortisone ointment
• Medicine to prevent malaria, if you are going to a place where malaria is a problem

Other items that may be useful in certain circumstances:

• Mild sedative
• Antianxiety medicine
• High-altitude sickness preventive medicine
• Water purification tablets or water filtering system