What should I pack for first aid?

Your first-aid kit should have what you need to take care of mild illnesses and injuries. No travel emergency kit is complete without these basics: Antibacterial wipes: Wipes that kill germs can be helpful for cleaning tools and hands. Hand sanitizer: Before touching any cuts or scrapes, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Instant cold pack: These disposable packs turn cold quickly to relieve bumps, bruises and minor burns. Pain reliever: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is helpful for headaches or sprains. Include a children’s formula if you have kids. Scissors: You might need this tool to cut gauze, bandages or open medication packages — but if you’re flying, be sure to pack them in your checked luggage, rather than your carry-on. Self-adhesive wrap: Wrap up sore knees, ankles or other injuries with self-adhesive wrap, which doesn’t require pins or other tools. Thermometer: Check for a fever with a reliable thermometer, and clean it with an antibacterial wipe when you’re done. Tweezers: They’re the essential tool for removing bee stingers, splinters and ticks. Aloe vera gel: This multi-tasker is great for sunburns and irritated skin. Antibiotic ointment: Apply antibiotic ointment before sticking on a bandage. Antiseptic: An antiseptic in the form of a spray or wipes is perfect for cleaning dirt and germs from minor cuts and scrapes. Bandages: Include small, medium and large sizes. Calamine lotion: This can relieve poison ivy, hives and other itchy conditions. Gauze: Keep gauze pads and a roll of gauze for bigger injuries that need more than a bandage. Medical tape: You’ll need medical tape to attach gauze to the skin. Antacids: These will tackle heartburn or mild indigestion. Anti-diarrhea medication: Diarrhea remedies are a quick fix if you get traveler’s diarrhea. Laxatives or stool softeners: These are helpful if you’re really bound up, but be careful — they can cause diarrhea or painful cramps. Motion sickness medication: Even if you’re not prone to motion sickness, keep a few tablets in your kit just in case. Antihistamines: Loratadine or diphenhydramine can be helpful for seasonal allergies. Cold relief medication: Bring daytime and nighttime formulas to help with a stuffy nose, cough and headache. Cough suppressant: This can help you stop hacking and get some much-needed rest. Saline nasal spray: Gently clean out your nostrils for some relief from allergies and congestion. Hand sanitizer: Wherever you go, whether you’re traveling or just going about everyday life, remember to carry hand sanitizer and extra face masks to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

A good first aid kit can help you self-manage basic health problems and help avoid buying potentially dangerous medications abroad. The contents of any first aid kit should be tailored to your individual itinerary, taking into consideration the type of travel you are undertaking, your destination, the duration and any existing medical conditions you have. Basic First Aid: first aid quick reference card disposable latex-free exam gloves adhesive plasters in assorted sizes hydro-colloid blister plasters gauze adhesive first aid tape elasticated bandage wrap for sprains and strains steri-strips cotton swab. antiseptic and antibacterial such as iodine or alcohol based preparations saline sachets to wash out wounds aloe Vera gel for treatment of minor burns topical corticosteroids for symptomatic relief of bites, stings and other skin irritations thermometer tweezers scissors. If undertaking remote or high risk travel then consider taking sterile equipment such as: lancets, assorted syringes, needles, IV Cannula, dental needle. Adequate supply of regular medication for duration of trip and additional in case trip unexpectedly extended. If you have a history of severe allergic reaction carry Epinephrine auto-injectors. Antibiotics should not be part of a first aid kit unless travelling to a remote area where medical facilities are difficult to access.

Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need. Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers or other items your health-care provider may suggest. The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following: 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches) 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes) 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch) 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram) 5 antiseptic wipe packets 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each) 1 emergency blanket 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) 1 instant cold compress 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large) 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each) 1 3 in. gauze roll (roller) bandage 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide) 5 3 in. x 3 in. sterile gauze pads 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches) Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass) 2 triangular bandages Tweezers Emergency First Aid instructions

The American College of Emergency Physicians and the CDC encourage travelers to pack a first aid kit or a travel health kit for common medical emergencies. Pack the following items in your carry-on bag and keep it with you at all times: Medicines you take on a regular basis at home. Take enough medicine for the planned trip plus extra in case your return home is delayed. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains Antihistamines to relieve allergies Antacid medicine for upset stomach Anti-nausea or motion sickness medicine. You may also want to include medicine for altitude sickness if traveling to high altitudes. Antibacterial hand wipes or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (should contain 60% alcohol or more) Masks, disposable or cloth Bandages of assorted sizes to cover minor cuts and scrapes Bandage closures, such as butterfly bandages, to tape edges of minor cuts together Triangular bandage to wrap injuries and make an arm sling Elastic wraps to wrap wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries Gauze in rolls, as well as 2-inch and 4-inch pads, to dress larger cuts and scrapes Adhesive tape to keep gauze in place Scissors with rounded tips to cut tape, gauze, or clothes, if necessary. Antiseptic wipes to disinfect wounds or clean hands and tweezers, scissors, or other utensils. Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection in cuts, scrapes, and burns Hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect wounds Disposable, instant-activating cold packs to cool injuries and burns, as well as for use in strains and sprains Tweezers to remove small splinters, foreign objects, bee stingers, and ticks from the skin. Disposable rubber gloves to protect hands and reduce the risk for infection when treating wounds Thermometer (no mercury and no glass) to take temperatures in case of illness Calamine lotion to relieve itching and irritation from insect bites and poison ivy Hydrocortisone cream to relieve irritation from rashes Sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher Aloe gel for sunburns Insect repellent. Medicine to prevent malaria, if needed where you are traveling Over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea. Cough and cold medicines Epinephrine medicine for people with severe allergies List of prescription medicines and generic names Latex condoms Water purification tablets Extra pair of contact lenses or prescription glasses

Any essential medication and a first aid kit. A battery-operated torch and spare batteries, or a wind-up torch. First aid kit. Ready-to-eat food, a warm drink in a flask and bottled water. Baby and pet supplies if needed. Learn first aid so you can help deal with emergencies such as strokes, choking and burns. No first aid kit? No problem. Read our guide to how everyday items can help in an emergency.

A minimum first aid kit might contain a leaflet with general guidance on first aid, individually wrapped sterile plasters of assorted sizes, sterile eye pads, individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile, safety pins, large and medium-sized sterile, individually wrapped, unmedicated wound dressings, disposable gloves. If you are buying a kit look for British Standard (BS) 8599. Many items, particularly sterile ones, are marked with expiry dates. Replace expired items, disposing of them safely. If a sterile item doesn't have an expiry date, check with the manufacturer to find out how long it can be kept. For non-sterile items without dates, you should check that they are still fit for purpose.