First Aid Kit

Traveller’s First Aid Kit: What to Pack & Why It Matters

When travelling, especially to remote or unfamiliar destinations, having a well-stocked first aid kit can make all the difference. Whether you're exploring urban cities, hiking through national parks, or heading overseas, a basic kit helps you manage minor illnesses and injuries—and can prevent small issues from becoming big problems.

Why Carry a First Aid Kit When Travelling?

Access to medical supplies may be limited, expensive, or unavailable in some destinations.
Helps you manage common issues like cuts, blisters, stomach upset, or insect bites quickly.
Provides peace of mind and can be customised to suit your health needs and destination.

If you're travelling with children, older adults, or have a chronic condition, packing a personalised kit becomes even more important.

What to Include in Your Travel First Aid Kit

Basic First Aid Supplies

✅ Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
✅ Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
✅ Antiseptic wipes or solution (e.g. iodine or chlorhexidine)
✅ Tweezers and small scissors
✅ Safety pins
✅ Digital thermometer
✅ Disposable gloves
✅ Crepe bandage or compression bandage (for sprains)
✅ Blister pads or moleskin
✅ Cotton swabs

First aid Kit to buy

Medications (Over-the-Counter)

✅ Pain relief: paracetamol and/or ibuprofen
✅ Antihistamines: for allergies or insect bites (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine)
✅ Anti-diarrhoea: loperamide (Imodium)
✅ Oral rehydration salts or electrolyte tablets
✅ Antacids (e.g. for indigestion or heartburn)
✅ Travel sickness medication (e.g. Kwells, Dramamine)
✅ Mild laxatives (e.g. senna or fibre tablets)
✅ Topical creams: antiseptic, hydrocortisone (for bites/rashes), antifungal, and burn cream

For Insect Protection

✅ Insect repellent (with DEET or picaridin)
✅ After-bite lotion or soothing gel (e.g. calamine)
✅ Mosquito nets or insect screens (depending on your destination)

Additional Items

✅ Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and lip balm with SPF
✅ Aloe vera gel (for sunburn)
✅ Eye drops (for dry or irritated eyes)
✅ Water purification tablets or filter (for remote travel)
✅ Hand sanitiser and travel-size soap
✅ Small torch or headlamp (with spare batteries)
✅ Emergency contact card and a basic first aid manual
✅ Personal medications (in original packaging, with prescriptions)

Customising Your Kit

Your travel health kit should reflect:

Your destination (urban vs. remote, tropical vs. cold)
Local health risks (malaria, altitude sickness, etc.)
The length of your trip
Any personal health conditions
Whether you're travelling solo, with kids, or in a group

Tips for Travellers

🧳 Pack your first aid kit in your carry-on luggage—especially any essential medications.
📝 Carry a copy of your prescriptions, including generic names, in case you need to replace them overseas.
✈️ Check airline and customs regulations for travelling with medications or medical equipment.
🌍 Visit a travel health clinic before departure to discuss recommended medications (e.g. antibiotics for traveller’s diarrhoea, altitude sickness pills, or malaria prophylaxis).

Need Help Putting a Kit Together?

Our clinic can assist you in selecting the right items for your destination, and offer travel health advice tailored to your needs. We can also issue prescriptions for standby medications and provide vaccinations, insect protection tips, and more.

First Aid Kit

​

Traveller’s First Aid Kit: What to Pack & Why It Matters

​

Why Carry a First Aid Kit When Travelling?

​

Access to medical supplies may be limited, expensive, or unavailable in some destinations.

Helps you manage common issues like cuts, blisters, stomach upset, or insect bites quickly.

Provides peace of mind and can be customised to suit your health needs and destination.

​

If you're travelling with children, older adults, or have a chronic condition, packing a personalised kit becomes even more important.

​

What to Include in Your Travel First Aid Kit

​

Basic First Aid Supplies

✅ Adhesive bandages (various sizes)

✅ Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape

✅ Antiseptic wipes or solution (e.g. iodine or chlorhexidine)

✅ Tweezers and small scissors

✅ Safety pins

✅ Digital thermometer

✅ Disposable gloves

✅ Crepe bandage or compression bandage (for sprains)

✅ Blister pads or moleskin

✅ Cotton swabs

​

First aid Kit to buy

​

Medications (Over-the-Counter)

✅ Pain relief: paracetamol and/or ibuprofen

✅ Antihistamines: for allergies or insect bites (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine)

✅ Anti-diarrhoea: loperamide (Imodium)

✅ Oral rehydration salts or electrolyte tablets

✅ Antacids (e.g. for indigestion or heartburn)

✅ Travel sickness medication (e.g. Kwells, Dramamine)

✅ Mild laxatives (e.g. senna or fibre tablets)

✅ Topical creams: antiseptic, hydrocortisone (for bites/rashes), antifungal, and burn cream

​

For Insect Protection

✅ Insect repellent (with DEET or picaridin)

✅ After-bite lotion or soothing gel (e.g. calamine)

✅ Mosquito nets or insect screens (depending on your destination)

​

Additional Items

✅ Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and lip balm with SPF

✅ Aloe vera gel (for sunburn)

✅ Eye drops (for dry or irritated eyes)

✅ Water purification tablets or filter (for remote travel)

✅ Hand sanitiser and travel-size soap

✅ Small torch or headlamp (with spare batteries)

✅ Emergency contact card and a basic first aid manual

✅ Personal medications (in original packaging, with prescriptions)

​

Customising Your Kit

​

Your travel health kit should reflect:

Your destination (urban vs. remote, tropical vs. cold)

Local health risks (malaria, altitude sickness, etc.)

The length of your trip

Any personal health conditions

Whether you're travelling solo, with kids, or in a group

​

Tips for Travellers

🧳 Pack your first aid kit in your carry-on luggage—especially any essential medications.

📝 Carry a copy of your prescriptions, including generic names, in case you need to replace them overseas.

✈️ Check airline and customs regulations for travelling with medications or medical equipment.

🌍 Visit a travel health clinic before departure to discuss recommended medications (e.g. antibiotics for traveller’s diarrhoea, altitude sickness pills, or malaria prophylaxis).

​

Need Help Putting a Kit Together?

Our clinic can assist you in selecting the right items for your destination, and offer travel health advice tailored to your needs. We can also issue prescriptions for standby medications and provide vaccinations, insect protection tips, and more.