A List of Everything You Should Have in Your Travelers First Aid Kit

Never underestimate the importance of traveling with a solid first aid kit – in fact, this should be one of the very first things you pack.

According to a recent survey, a massive 80 per cent of us are not equipped to deal with minor medical emergencies in our own homes – let alone when we’re out on the travel trail. This means we are making thousands of unnecessary emergency visits to hospitals and GP’s for relatively minor, simple to treat conditions such as grazes, blisters and splinters.

You generally don’t have to be a doctor to help yourself, or others, in an emergency, though you do have to have the first aid skills and tools to administer the care required; you need to be traveling with a first aid kit.

Whether you’re hiking the Cochamo, or shopping in Paris for the day, use this check-list as a guide to things you may need in your travel first aid kit. You may need less or more, depending on your travel destination (don’t forget to take into account the remoteness of your visit).  The ‘perfect’ travel first aid kit will prepare you with the tools required to meet any potential problem abroad.

Find A Durable Container

If you’re looking to build a legendary, death-defying travel first aid kit you need to start with a durable container. Find something which is hard-plastic and compartmentalized like a small fishing tackle box. The length and destination of your trip will determine the size you need – i.e. if you’re hitting remote destinations and spending multiple months away you’ll need a large kit. If you’re hitting populated locations on shorter trips you can use a smaller container. What to pack in a travel first aid kit

Prioritizing something made from hard plastic instead of cloth means everything is less likely to break when being jammed into your backpack or luggage. When storing your kit, choose a dry, cool location which is easily accessible in your suitcase or pack.

Personal Medications

Stock your first aid kit with adequate supplies of any personal medication, and make sure you bring more than enough to last your entire trip. Personal medication may not be easy to find at your destination, and often they will be known locally under different names.

Make sure you travel with a doctors certificate or letter for any personal medications you take – countries will generally demand to see documentation before allowing you in which shows that any medications you’re carrying are for personal use only. What to pack in a travel first aid kit

Other personal medication to consider for your first aid kit include:

Water Filtration Device

When you’re traveling overseas, the tap water may not be safe to drink. Water in a new destination might contain microorganisms that will make you sick, and in less developed countries, you are more likely to run into water that you want to avoid. What to pack in a travel first aid kit

A water purification device of some sort should be in every travelers first aid kit, options range from water purification tablets (for those travelers trekking off the beaten path who may not have the option to drink bottled water), or water filtration devices like Life Straw and the SteriPEN Freedom.

Devices like steripens use ultraviolet light to sterilize the water so that the bacteria are unable to multiply thus making the tap water safe to drink.

For Minor Injuries

For minor injuries like bites, grazes, cuts and scrapes, make sure you travel with the following: Where do I find a travel first aid kit?

• A good first aid book;
• Adhesive dressings like band aids for minor cuts or skin injuries.  Having bandages of various sizes is always useful;
• Gauze pads – these are bandages for large wounds. If you buy a large pack these can be then cut easily to the size of your cut or graze;
• Bandages which can create support for strained limbs, reduce swelling or hold dressings in place. These can also double as a sling if need be;
• Insect repellent and an antihistamine cream;
• Sterile pack for prevention of blood-borne infections if traveling somewhere where health care facilities may be poor;
• Antiseptic for sterilizing and cleaning wounds. Antiseptic wipes will work for this; What should be in a travel first aid kit?
• Handwash;
• Cold pack (disposable and instant); and
• Eye wash for any foreign objects to the eye.

Sun Exposure

The sun should be something you’re incredibly conscious of while traveling. When traveling internationally you may be entering a country with UV Rays more fierce than you are used to at home.

Act accordingly to protect yourself and your health and travel with suntan lotion as part of your first aid kit. Pack Aloe-vera gel to sooth your skin if you do manage to walk away burnt.

I learnt the hard way. See the below before and after during a trip to the Galapagos Islands where I forgot to properly apply suntan lotion to my feet. The consequences of the sun were pretty catastrophic and I couldn’t walk for days. Which suntan lotion should I use overseas?

Miscellaneous

For every kind of travel injury possible, make sure you travel with the following:

• Pen and paper. In an emergency situation, you may need to write down the signs, symptoms and details of the accident. Also keep a note of any life-threatening allergies and blood types of all family members in case of an emergency.
• Safety pins. Helps when securing large bandages or holding slings in place;
• Scissors. Small but sharp, used for cutting bandages or dead skin;
• Tape (microfiber). Used to hold dressings in place or to protect small cuts or bruises;
• Thermometer. Digital thermometers are more accurate and often easier to read;
• Tweezers. Useful for removing splinters and other foreign objects from your skin;
• A torch (with extra batteries). If you find yourself stuck in the dark in a foreign environment;
• Condoms or other contraceptives if you are sexually active while traveling;
• Non-Latex gloves. An essential item used to avoid cross infection through blood or bodily fluids. Keep two pairs in the kit just to be safe;
• Spare Syringes. If you need to make an unexpected trip to the hospital, it is worthwhile having spare syringes on hand. The cleanliness of hospital syringes from poor countries is often questionable.

Immunization Records

If you’re visiting developing countries you’ll probably need immunizations before you go. Carry the records of your immunizations with you in your first aid kit, though make sure this is on your person.

Certain countries make specific immunizations mandatory and proof of vaccination for travel may be required as a condition of entry. Otherwise they may administer it to you on the spot. And I would personally much prefer an injection to be administered in a hygienic local clinic rather than an unknown backroom in the airport of a developing country where the needle may have been used a repeated number of times.

Health Insurance Certificate

Just as some countries won’t let you in without a record of immunization, a growing list of countries won’t let you in without health insurance. This is as such equally as important to organize before you leave and essential to carry with you in your important documents or first aid kit.

Exceptional providers like #GeoBlue stand out by providing access to this via their mobile app. 24/7 Mobile Assistance means your proof of coverage is always at your fingertips, ready to show and share with medical providers or immigration control from your phone.

Domestic health plans don’t cover international travel, so it’s essential to take out a policy which specifically covers you for your time abroad. Make sure that emergency evacuation, terrorism coverage and repatriation of remains is included in your plan. If you have no idea where to start, head on over to our post which details what to look for when purchasing international health insurance.

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Photo credits: Featured photo by DLG Images & Medisave UK. Water purification by The Legendary Adventures of Anna. Injured nose by Who Needs Maps. Torn ACL by A Southern Gypsy. Immunizations by Pan American Health.