Travel first aid kit

What It Means

A travel first aid kit is a compact bag of first aid supplies, everyday medicines and health documents that goes with you on a trip. CDC calls it a travel health kit and says its contents depend on where you're going and the health risks there. For a family, the core is a basic first aid kit, like the one the American Red Cross describes, plus each person's own medicines and the papers a doctor abroad would need.

How People Say It

• "Is the Band-Aid pouch in the carry-on?"
• "Pack the kids' fever medicine, not just ours."
• "Who has the insurance cards?"

The Breakdown

First aid supplies (the Red Cross list for a family of four)

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• 1 roll of adhesive cloth tape (1010,000 stepsA popular daily step goal that began as the name of a 1960s Japanese pedometer; later studies find health benefits begin well below it. See more yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets and 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each); ask your child's doctor before giving a child any medicine from the kit
• 1 emergency blanket and 1 breathing barrier with a one-way valve
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves (size large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets
• 1 gauze roll bandage (3 inches) and 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches) and 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• An oral thermometer that's neither mercury nor glass
• 2 triangular bandages, tweezers and first aid instructions

Medicines (CDC)

• Prescription medicines in their original labeled containers, with enough for the trip plus extra
• A pain and fever reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Antihistamine, antacid, diarrhea medicine and motion sicknessMotion sicknessFeeling sick from the movement of travel by car, boat, plane or train, which CDC says is most common in children from 2 to 12 years old. See more medicine
• Cough drops or a cough suppressant, a decongestant, a laxative and a mild sleep aid
• Any medicine your doctor prescribes for the trip, such as an antimalarial or an antibiotic for travelers' diarrhea

Supplies and papers (CDC)

• Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, and sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher with UVA and UVB protection
• Sunglasses and a hat
• Health insuranceHealth insuranceA plan you pay a premium for that covers part of your medical costs, while you pay your own share through a deductible, copays and coinsurance. See more card, copies of prescriptions, immunization records and your doctor's contact details
• A list of hospitals or clinics where you're staying

CDC's full list also covers earplugs, glasses and contact lens solution, high-quality masks, water purification tablets or filters, a medical alert bracelet, diabetes testing supplies, disease-specific rapid tests and condoms, and papers such as copies of your passport, lodging details, contacts for family at home and proof of yellow fever vaccination where it's required.

Good to Know

CDC says what goes in a travel health kit depends on the destination, so check its Travelers' Health page for the country you're visiting before you pack. Ask your child's doctor which medicines and doses suit them, and follow every label. Anyone with a medical condition should ask their health care professional what else to bring. In an emergency, call 911 in the United States, or find the local emergency number before you travel abroad.

Related Terms and Categories

• Emergency kit

  A packed set of water, food, light, first aid and other basics that lets a household get through several days on its own after a disaster.

• Family vacation

  A trip taken together by a parent or parents and their children, usually planned around school breaks, the children's ages and a shared budget.

• Packing list

  A written list of everything to bring on a trip, ticked off as each item goes in a bag so nothing important gets left behind.

• Sun safety

  The habits that protect skin and eyes from the sun's UV rays: shade, covering clothes, a hat, sunglasses and broad spectrum sunscreen reapplied often.

• Motion sickness

  Feeling sick from the movement of travel by car, boat, plane or train, which CDC says is most common in children from 2 to 12 years old.

• Travel insurance

  A policy bought for a trip that can repay prepaid costs if you cancel for a covered reason, and pay for medical care or evacuation while away.

Travel and outings with kids