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