How to be prepared for exigencies? It is advisable to carry a travel health kit equipped with the essential items which would come handy while travelling.
Table of Contents
Top Things to Pack in Your Travel Health Kit – Travel Medical Kit Checklist
One of the seven wonders of the world stretches out in front of you, the guide is waxing eloquent on the monument and its history when all of a sudden you feel the all too familiar piercing headache, the sign of an imminent migraine. An all too familiar scenario, I am sure, and one of the worst nightmares of a traveller. How to be prepared for such exigencies? It is advisable to carry a travel health kit equipped with essentials which would come in handy when required. We bring to you here a compact travel health kit that would come handy when you travel.
Travel Health Kit
Emergency First Aid Essentials
- Gauze and adhesive bandages
- Antiseptic liquids like Dettol with which you can clean wounds
- Disposable gloves
- Sachets of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts), especially when you are traveling in hot and humid conditions
- Any antiseptic or antiburn cream
- Scissors
Other Essential Medicines
- Painkillers to tackle those annoying headaches and/or fevers, like Asprin, Paracetamol, etc..
- Anti Diarrhoeal medicines, never know what would disagree with your tummy
- Antacids to take care of any acidity issues you may face
- If you are travelling to the top of a mountain at a high altitude where oxygen levels are likely to fall, then it is prudent to stock some altitude sickness related medicines
- If you are prone to motion sickness, then it makes sense to pack some medicines to specifically tackle this issue
- Any other medicines that you are taking on a regular basis
Some Other Essentials
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun as well as make a fashion statement
- Headgear as required, especially if you are going to be out in the sun
- Sunscreen, to get some protection from those UV rays
- Earplugs to shut out the cacophony when required
- An eye mask to get some beauty sleep without bright lights irritating you
- A neck pillow to get comfy in your plane or bus seat
- Hand sanitizer and hand tissues, to keep your hands germ free
Please note that this is in no way a comprehensive list, also be sure to check with your doctor regarding the medicines that you would like to carry with you.
What else do you think would be an essential item to carry in your travel health kit?
Were the tips helpful? You may want to check out our other travel tips posts:
- Top 5 Tips for planning a perfect Family Trip (published on Huffington Post too)
- 7 Tips to Keep Oneself Fit and Healthy While Traveling
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These make for a perfect first aid kit. For me, it’s always just TWO basic things in my so-called-kit –
1. Painkiller (Combiflam – this works for everything – I call it the “magic pill” – Be it a hangover, migraine, body ache, flue or fever – its perfect coz it contains Paracetamol)
2. Band aids
That’s about it 🙂
Well that is good. 🙂 We always dread having stomach upsets during travel. So we tend to be extra careful with what we eat.
My emergency kit only consist of paracetamol, anti-diarrhea tablets and anti-histamine. I have to up my game on this, your kit actually made more sense. :p
Thanks. We do need to carry the most essential ones because we never know when we may need it!
I often wonder how many people take some sort of first aid kit with them. Having 2 kids we take some band-aids, bandages, paracetamol, and hydration fluid. Believe me we have had to use it
It is always better to carry first aid and medical kit. And if we are traveling with kids, it makes sense to be all the more careful.
This is a part of traveling that concerns me every time I got anywhere: getting sick on the road. Definitely agree with your list, especially with the stomach medication – you never know when you’ll need it.
Yes, we cannot afford to fall sick while traveling. It is better to be cautious.
Some great tips here, my partner is in charge of all that kinda stuff (he loves it) so will get him to have a read! It’s so important to have a first aid kit when travelling especially if you’re going to remote places like we do.
I see. 🙂 Thanks. You are right. While traveling to remote places, this kit really comes handy.
Great tips! I can’t think of anything you’ve missed! I travel with my kids and we always make sure to have a medkit with us wherever we go.
Thanks Kevin. I know it is always good to carry a med kit especially while traveling with kids.
Great list! I’m actually bookmarking this because I always seem to forget something or the other. What kind of bag do you recommend using to carry these things?
Sunglasses are always a must for me 🙂
Thanks Shayan. 🙂 We ususally pack all of them in small kit bag which is always handy.
This is a really good starting point. I think that the anti-diarrhoeal medication is so important, especially here in Africa! When I travelled around South America for 5 months with a friend I was so lucky. The worst I had was a head cold and some mosquito bites, whereas my friend got salmonella, a thorn through her foot and a mosquito bite on her eyelid. I think it’s also important to note that you should get to a clinic asap if you can’t self-medicate/things are getting worse!
Oh! that was bad for your friend. It is quite difficult to cope up if you fall sick or hurt yourself while traveling and knowing a clinic or a hospital in that place helps.
My next ten day trip includes a wedding, so I am definitely going to need a hangover kit so I don’t miss a day of touring! With a bridesmaids dress and a custom hat, I will definitely be checking a bag. So much for the carry on travel days of my past!! Thanks for the great tips!!
Sounds exciting! Have a great time. Thanks Stephanie. 🙂
Great post! I would definitely bring my medication as I’m anaemic and I’ve underactive thyroid. However, I never really think of bringing painkillers, anti-diarrhea tablets or plasters because I can get them when I arrive at my destination if I need to. But it’s good to be prepared!
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Thanks Marteen. I agree but sometimes it is wise to carry if you are traveling with family/kids etc.
Great tips. I think it’s often something that is forgotten by many travellers. I always took some stuff with me when I travelled, but it took a trip to South America for me to really realise that I need much more. I now travel with a complete first aid kit.
I see. I understand… through the years and experience we tend to realize what all we would need while traveling.
Great guide! I honestly almost always forget about first aid items! 🙁 I’m not sure why! It’s no fun being in another country not knowing how to get what you need to feel better or feel more comfortable.
I know, we tend to forget so it is better we have a checklist so that we make it a point to carry all essentials while traveling.
It’s surprising how often people forget to pack a first aid kit with them – it’s one of those less glamorous things we do tend to forget, but nonethleless it’s essential. When I got sick out in Tanzania, the rehydration sachets I took were very much appreciated, that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Joe. I know it is so tough falling sick while traveling.
Great suggestions for a travel first aid kit. We have spent the last 18 month travelling S E Asia and we defiantly have the anti-diarrhoea medication and paracetamol on hand. We also have anti-nausea medication and electrolyte tablets.
Those listed by you are a absolute necessity. It helps a lot atleast to control initially.
Great tips. Remembering to be prepared is probably the most important thing. We tend to travel in the wilderness, so our kit is different, but our car kit is a lot like yours.
Thanks Tara. It is easier to pack and take things along while traveling in our own vehicle.
For sea or motion sickness I use seabands, they go around my wrists. It is nice not to have to take medication that can then have other side effects.
Great. I agree and we only carry those meds that suit our body and in most cases prescribed by our family doctor.
Some great tips for a hassle free travel,
Thank you 🙂
Carrying first aid is really very important during our travels as we are unware of the situations and how the place of visit would be, And your post is a great handy checklist every time we gonna pack to a new place. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Rashmi. Glad you find the list useful.
Good tips! Definitely some things that I didn’t think of!
Thank you Taylor. 🙂
Health kits are so important. As a hiker, I carry the “Ten Essentials”, one of which is first aid. Always be prepared!
Exactly. They are quite important.
Thank you for this great practical guide for packing. I will print it out for my next trip.
That’s great. Thanks. I am happy it is helpful. 🙂
I am the biggest clutz ever so a well stocked med kit is a must when I travel!!! Great list of must need meds!
Thank you Anna.
I cant travel without ciprofloxacin which is great if you get Typhoid fever ( very common in Africa).
Oh that’s interesting to know. We will keep this in my when we travel to Africa.
This is so useful! Whenever I am about yo travel and pack a health kit I always feel like I am forgetting something. Such a great list! Thanks
Thank you Adina. 🙂 Glad you find it useful.
I have a first-aid kit but have yet to bring it with me during travels. Instead, I make sure I always have alcohol, a roll of tissues and tablets for headache and indigestion. Reading this list, I’m thinking maybe I should add rehydration salts or any equivalent as well.
True, having some essential meds while traveling is always good.
As someone who finds it very important to carry out a health kit, this is a great article. I see I’m missing a few things from my bag 🙂 Thanks!
A basic kit with essential meds is always to good to have.
A great list! Too many people overlook the basics, and there is nothing worse than being stuck somewhere without simple medication which could have been avoided! This is definitely a tick-list to be used prior to any trip!!
Thank you Angie. Glad you liked the tips. 🙂
One other tip regarding medications: be sure medications are in original packaging in the event that your bags are searched and it looks like you’re transporting pills. I’ve been told this directly by a TSA agent and customs agent.
This is something we have put off for a while. After getting sick on our last trip to Zanzibar I vowed to be more prepared for emergencies on our next trip. Sound like you got just about everything covered so will be refering back as a checklist 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Great list. we have our own list : http://revolvingcompass.com/wp/handy-travel-medicine-kit/ but definitely not as exhaustive as yours. we got to include few things from here. Nice writeup
Thanks Neha. 🙂
Couldn’t agree more about painkillers. Although you can typically find pain relief while on the go, it’s nice to have something there in case of a sudden need. Also dosages can get lost in translation, which could lead to adverse reactions or other health problems. I bring my own pain relief when traveling abroad for sure.
You are absolutely right Carlie. Better to carry our own medicines while traveling.
An emergency kit is something I always forget to pack when I’m packing for a road trip. For some strange reason I remember to pack a kit for international travel but not for domestic travel. This is a great list and I am saving it for my future travels 🙂
Meds for an upset tummy are ALWAYS good to have on hand. You never know when something is going to give you a stomach ache.
This is so helpful. I feel like I always need something I don’t have packed. We are on vacation right now and I thankfully remembered most stuff!
With my kiddos, bandages are a must! I also pack sunscreen and bug spray to prevent burns and bites.
This is a great idea. I don’t carry a travel health kit but now I really think I should. I got sick on my last holiday and had to make so many trips to the pharmacy!
Great, detailed kit! There are definitely some items in there I wouldn’t have thought of.
Nobody carry health kits while travelling, but sometimes it is really useful. One should keep it with themselves, so that in case of emergency they can handle the situation. This is really a nice tip. From onward I’ll always carry a first aid kit with me.
These are great tips! My hubby is a nurse so he is kind of my real-life medicine kit. Lol But it is always nice to have these items on hand in emergencies!
I’ve only ever packed ibuprofen and anti-diarrhea medicine. I’ve found it intimidating to buy pharmaceuticals in other countries where the labels are written in a different language. I need to add some of your suggestions to my list for my next travel adventure though!
I thought I was going to be able to say, hey – you missed this. But your kit is so complete! I see nothing missing!
Thank you for the tips on how to put together a travel health kit. You have everything, every need pretty much covered. But you know, I would put together a kit like this and keep it handy in the house for in the event of a natural calamity, all our emergency medications are in just one bag.
I always bring a medicine kit whenever we travel, complete with a nebulizer haha! We never leave home without it. 🙂
It’s good to have a health kit in your bag wherever you go. I think this is pretty mucb all you need inside it! Awesome guide!
All good tips for sure. I always take my hand sanitizer along when I travel!
This is a great idea! I never pack a health kit in my travels! Now, i think i should!
We always make sure to keep a bag like this in the car, not just for trips, but all the time. You never know when it may come in handy! You reminded me that it’s time to do a bag check and maek sure nothing needs refilling or replacing.
Great points and ideas! Our kits have changed a bit since the babies came along, as you can imagine LOL It’s good to remember the essentials, for sure!
What a brilliant tips! Its going to be a useful and helpful for many people. I will duly noted on this.