Travel Advice – A first aid kit for travelers
We recommend that vacationers carry a small first aid kit for emergencies. Most destinations have pharmacies equipped to meet your needs for lotions, pain relievers, and first aid medicines. Other first-aid supplies are much harder to find in third world countries and adventure travel destinations, so plan accordingly. Regardless of your destination, plan to carry a small kit for those times when you need minor “first-aid” but are unable to find a local pharmacy
Kit Contents
Carry a small supply of:
- Aspirin (or the pain reliever of your choice)
- Antacid (e.g. Zantac)
- Bandages (suitable for blisters or minor cuts for scrapes)
- First-aid antibiotic ointment (e.g. Neosporin)
- Anti-diarrhea medication (e.g. Kaopectate)
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant (Deet based)
- Hand-sanitizing lotion (e.g. Purell)
Although you first aid supplies could be available at your destination, they may be expensive and hard to find Cost and convenience are two good reasons for taking a medical kit with you.
Buy small or trial sizes of the items mentioned above and put them in a sealable, freezer-grade, sandwich or quart sized, clear plastic bags such as those sold by Zip-Loc.
- Keep this “first-aid kit” in your carry-on luggage, so that it is available during the transport segment of your journey.
- When sightseeing, take a sandwich-sized bag equipped with bandages, aspirin, sunscreen, and first-aid ointment.
- A fanny-pack is a good place to carry this an other small items.