What I Pack in My Travel First Aid Kit

This Post Was Last Updated January 2022

When I went to Southeast Asia for 3.5 months a few of years ago, I didn’t put together much of a travel first aid kit. Let me tell you, this was a mistake. I actually ended up being sick for a big chunk of this trip. I found myself in all kinds of strange situations trying to self-diagnose and find medications. In Don Det, I dug through a literal pile of medications on the floor of a store. In Vietnam, while on the hunt for antibiotics for a respiratory infection, I was mistakenly sent home with antibiotics for a vaginal infection. I will never make the mistake of leaving without a travel first aid kit again.

Things to Think About Before Preparing Your Own Travel First Aid Kit:

⋙ Remember everyone’s travel first aid kit will look a bit different. Don’t forget to stock up on the things you know that you might need.
⋙ I always consult my doctor before leaving on trips, and I would recommend anyone else do the same. My doctor knows my medical history + gave me lots of good advice.
⋙ Keep in mind your upcoming destinations. What you take may be different depending on where you’re going.
⋙ The most important arsenal in a “first aid kit” for any trip I take is Travel Insurance. I never leave the country without it! My World Nomads policy covered both a broken arm and an emergency surgery I had to have while traveling. Check out their policies to see if they’re a good fit for you!

In My Travel First Aid Kit, I Never Leave Home Without…

PAIN MEDICINE
You don’t have to go overboard here. Just whatever you would normally take for muscle pain, headaches, etc. I personally have ibuprofen and acetaminophin in my travel first aid kit. These typically take care of any of the pains I get along the way.

DIARRHEA ESSENTIALS
I have been a victim of traveler’s diarrhea more times than I would like to discuss. Luckily, an anti-diarrheal medicine was one of the things that I brought with me last time, and it was a life-saver. However, I didn’t think about how dehydrated all that diarrhea would make me. Therefore, I also highly recommend bringing along Emergen-C packets. Although they aren’t the best-tasting things I’ve consumed (raspberry is my personal fav), when you’ve had a horrible case of TD you need to get those electrolytes back into your system and this is an easy way to do that. Plus, they give you different vitamin and mineral boosts depending on the type you purchase.

ANTI-NAUSEA MEDICINE
I get motion sickness very easily on windy roads if I’m in a back seat, which you often are on bus rides. I can’t travel without Dramamine. Plus, after a rough case of food poisoning in Bali, I swore I would never go without anti-nausea medicine again. It also is helpful for flu-like illnesses, bugs or even hangovers.

HEARTBURN AND GAS RELIEF
I don’t know if this is because I’m at the ripe old age of 30, but I can’t leave home without Tums to soothe my heartburn anymore. Gas relief medicine is great on those days you feel gross and bloated. Let’s be real, we’ve all had them and eating foods you’re not used to often causes both. 

COLD, SINUS + ALLERGY RELIEF
I caught a cold the first time I was in Asia which turned to bronchitis, which I had for almost three months and ever since then, I’ve had asthma. Now, I understand that this is an extreme circumstance, but definitely take something to nip those nagging colds in the bud so this doesn’t happen to you too. Allergies are just miserable. So be sure to bring some non-drowsy allergy relief.

BANDAGES + ANTIBACTERIAL CREAM
These are perfect for the cuts and scrapes that happen along the way. It’s great to have an antibacterial cream, like Neosporin, just to make sure that they don’t turn into something bigger. Bandages are easier to find than the Neosporin, so if you only have room for one, bring that. But I highly recommend Patch bandages because they’re so much better for the environment than traditional bandages.

ANTI-ITCH CREAM
Bug bites. Enough said. Ha!

FACE MASKS
Face masks are more common than ever since the Covid-epidemic. But even pre-Covid, I carried a couple in my first aid kit for really dusty roads or smoky conditions. Because I have asthma, that is a game changer for me. Now, we’re all more conscious of using them when we don’t feel well or are in large crowds. I throw a couple fabric ones in now.

HAND SANITIZER
I love those little pocket-sized bottles. These are perfect for sanitizing as best as possible when washing your hands isn’t possible. Especially if you’re traveling where squat toilets are prominent.

COVID TESTS
Because this is the world we live in now, it’s nice to keep a couple of Covid Tests handy. Keep in mind some tours, cruises, etc still require negative tests.

Feminine Products for Every Woman’s Travel First Aid Kit

Ladies, we have a unique set of issues that befall us. Let me tell you, you wanna be prepared for those. For periods, remember to bring something for cramping and feminine products (tampons can be hard to find in certain parts of the world). Many women travelers use a menstrual cup.
If, like me, you’re prone to yeast infection if you take antibiotics, bring yeast infection medicine. This can be hard to translate. Matt had to mime it out in a pharmacy in Thailand when I got a YI post-op in Bangkok. Then, we tried to get medicine for one in Germany after a round of bronchitis antibiotics, they tried to treat me for an STD. Haha. Save yourself the trouble and bring it with you.
Birth control is something you should sort out before leaving as well. Pills are easy to find in Asia and Mexico, for example, but in many European you need a prescription. 

Other Things to Remember:

⋙ Are you going to be in high altitudes? Bring medicine for that – altitude sickness is a real thing! Stacey had it terribly on the Inca Trail!
⋙ Are you a single traveler? Planning on being sexually active? Keep condoms in your travel first aid kit. An STD would be a crappy souvenir to take home with you. Always be in control of your own health.
⋙ How long are you traveling? Do you have prescriptions that you may need extra of? I know I’ve gotten extra inhalers to take with me on our 12-month journey. Talk to your PCP and they can help you work with your insurance company.
⋙ Can you easily find these materials abroad? If I know I’m going to go on somewhere in the middle of nowhere for an extended period of time, I’ll pick up a couple of extra materials. Like medical wrap and gauze. Just in case.
⋙ Don’t forget your vaccinations! Call around to price these. We managed to get some expensive vaccines completely covered by price-checking.
⋙ Keep all of your medications with their original labeling, otherwise they may not make it through customs.

You always hope that you’ll never have to use any of these things, but the reality is, you will. Nothing is worse than getting ready to embark on a long bus ride and have a headache, diarrhea or nausea. Being prepared is always the best policy!

Is there something I’m missing from my travel first aid kit? Have you ever had an experience where you wish you had had something with you?

The Travel First Aid Kit information I have provided here is for general travel health advice and information only. It’s based off of my experience travel, but it is not a replacement for a personal consultation with a travel nurse specialist, your GP, or a doctor specializing in travel medicine who can tailor advice to your individual medical history and needs. Always check with them before taking off for personalizing your own travel first aid kit. 

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