Travel First-Aid Kit: The Checklist for Your Vacation

Diarrhea at the beach, a headache on the plane, an insect bite while hiking or sunburn on the first day of vacation — small health problems can spoil even the loveliest trip. A well-packed travel first-aid kit means you're prepared in an emergency, instead of searching for a pharmacy in a foreign country.

1. Why a travel first-aid kit is important

On vacation you're often far from familiar care: the pharmacy speaks a different language, your usual medications aren't available or go by a different name, and at night or in remote regions help is hard to reach. A prepared travel first-aid kit solves the most common small problems quickly and easily.^¹

• Ready to act immediately with typical travel complaints (diarrhea, headache, sunburn, insect bites)
• Familiar medications with you — instead of buying unknown products abroad
• Important with long-term medication — your own medications in sufficient quantity are indispensable
• Independence from pharmacy opening hours and language barriers
• Reassuring — you're equipped for small emergencies

Of course, the travel first-aid kit is no substitute for medical care — with serious or persistent complaints, you should see a doctor even on vacation. But for the small aches and pains, it's worth its weight in gold.

2. The basic checklist

This basic equipment belongs in almost every travel first-aid kit — regardless of the destination. We explain the individual categories in more detail in the following chapters:

• Painkiller and fever reducer (e.g. ibuprofen and/or paracetamol)
• Remedy for diarrhea (e.g. loperamide) and electrolyte/rehydration powder
• Remedy for nausea/motion sickness
• Allergy remedy (an antihistamine, e.g. cetirizine)
• Wound care: plasters, sterile compresses, wound disinfectant, an elastic bandage
• Sunscreen (high SPF) and a remedy for sunburn/insect bites
• Insect repellent
• Thermometer
• Tweezers, scissors, disposable gloves
• Personal long-term medications in sufficient quantity
• Hand disinfectant
• If needed, remedies for colds, sore throat, cough

This list is the starting point — it's supplemented depending on the destination, type of trip and the people involved (e.g. children). In the following chapters, we go through the most important categories.

3. Painkillers and fever reducers

Headache, toothache, fever or aching limbs are among the most common travel complaints. A proven painkiller and fever reducer should therefore not be missing from any travel first-aid kit:

• Ibuprofen: pain-relieving, fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory — broadly usable (head, tooth, joint pain)
• Paracetamol: pain-relieving and fever-reducing, gentle on the stomach — a good alternative, also for many with a sensitive stomach
• For children: age-appropriate products (syrup, suppositories) — no aspirin for children (risk of Reye's syndrome)

Which painkiller is the right one depends on the type of complaint and individual factors. The guide Pain Relievers Compared offers a detailed overview. Over-the-counter painkillers too should only be used at the lowest effective dose and not over a longer period without medical advice.

4. Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, nausea and the like

Gastrointestinal problems are probably the most common travel complaints — especially the notorious travelers' diarrhea ("Montezuma's revenge") on long-haul trips. These remedies are sensible:

For diarrhea

• Electrolyte/rehydration powder: the most important thing with diarrhea — replaces the loss of fluids and salts (especially important in children and older people)
• Loperamide: stops the diarrhea in the short term — handy, e.g. for long travel days; but don't use it with bloody diarrhea or a high fever (see Loperamide)

For nausea and motion sickness

• A remedy for motion sickness (e.g. on car, ship, air travel)
• With nausea/vomiting, also pay attention to adequate fluid intake

Others

Remedies for heartburn and stomach complaints can also be sensible. With diarrhea while traveling, the general rule is: drink plenty, pay attention to hygiene ("cook it, peel it, boil it or forget it") and seek medical help with warning signs.

5. Allergy remedies

Allergies can appear unexpectedly while traveling — from unfamiliar plants, insect bites, foods or sun exposure. An antihistamine therefore belongs in many travel first-aid kits:

• An oral antihistamine (e.g. cetirizine, loratadine): for allergic rhinitis, skin rash, itching, reactions to insect bites — cetirizine is less sedating than older agents
• Antiallergic/cooling cream/gel: for insect bites, itching, mild skin reactions
• With a known severe allergy: definitely take along the doctor-prescribed emergency kit (e.g. an adrenaline auto-injector)
• Eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis (e.g. with a pollen allergy)

6. Wound care and skin protection

Small injuries, blisters, sunburn and insect bites are among the most common travel aches and pains. For treatment, the following belong in the travel first-aid kit:

• Plasters in various sizes, blister plasters (for hikes/new shoes)
• Sterile wound compresses, gauze bandages, an elastic bandage
• Wound disinfectant
• Tweezers (splinters, ticks), scissors, disposable gloves
• Sunscreen with a high SPF — the best protection against sunburn
• After-sun/remedy for sunburn (cooling, e.g. with aloe vera)
• Insect repellent and a remedy for itching after bites
• Wound/healing ointment

With deeper wounds, suspected infection, animal bites or missing tetanus protection, you should seek medical help on site. When traveling to tick areas (including in Germany/Europe), think about protection and the correct removal of ticks.

7. Colds and sore throat

Air conditioning, temperature changes and long flights encourage colds — even on a summer vacation. Sensible remedies:

• A decongestant nasal spray (e.g. Xylometazoline) — also helpful for equalizing pressure in the ears on the plane; but only use it briefly (max. a few days)
• Sore throat/lozenges
• Cough remedies (as needed)
• Thermometer (also listed under painkillers/fever reducers)
• Saline nasal spray for moistening (a gentle alternative)

Most colds are harmless and clear up on their own. But with a high fever, breathing difficulties or persistent complaints, you should seek medical help even on vacation. The decongestant nasal spray is especially handy for equalizing pressure during take-off and landing.

8. Your individual long-term medications

The most important and most personal part of the travel first-aid kit. Anyone who takes medications regularly has to plan them carefully:

• A sufficient amount: enough for the entire trip plus a reserve (for delays, loss)
• In your hand luggage: always transport important medications in your hand luggage — not in the checked suitcase (loss, frost in the hold)
• Transport split up: part in your hand luggage, part in the suitcase/with a travel companion — in case something gets lost
• Carry a medication plan: with the active ingredient names (not just brand names, which go by different names abroad)
• A doctor's certificate for certain medications (e.g. controlled substances, injections, insulin) — multilingual
• Refrigerated medications (e.g. insulin): a cool bag, don't freeze (see the chapter on heat)
• Account for the time difference: with medications that have a fixed intake rhythm (e.g. the pill, insulin), adjust the intake plan — get advice from a doctor/pharmacist

With long-term medication, forward planning is crucial. Anyone who takes the pill should also bear in mind a possible loss of effect with diarrhea/vomiting. When in doubt, get advice from a doctor/pharmacist before the trip.

9. Adapting the travel first-aid kit to your destination

Depending on the destination and type of trip, the travel first-aid kit needs different additions:

Long-haul trips / the tropics

• A travel medicine consultation before the trip — because of vaccinations and possibly malaria prevention
• Stronger insect protection (repellent, possibly a mosquito net) in malaria/dengue areas
• Careful gastrointestinal equipment (travelers' diarrhea is common)
• High sun protection

Active/hiking trips

• Blister plasters, elastic bandages (sprains), sports ointment
• Tick protection and tick tweezers/card

Beach/swimming trips

• High sun protection, after-sun
• A remedy for ear infection/jellyfish contact depending on the region
• Gastrointestinal remedies

Before long-haul trips, with pre-existing conditions, during pregnancy or with small children, a travel medicine consultation (e.g. at the family doctor or a tropical medicine institute) is sensible — also because of recommended vaccinations. Find out in good time, since some vaccinations need a lead time.

10. A travel first-aid kit for children

If you travel with children, the travel first-aid kit needs special, age-appropriate additions:

• Child-friendly painkillers/fever reducers (syrup, suppositories) in an age-appropriate dose — no aspirin for children
• Thermometer
• Electrolyte powder — in children, fluid loss from diarrhea/vomiting is especially critical
• Sunscreen specifically for children (high SPF, child-friendly)
• A remedy for insect bites/itching suitable for children
• Plasters, wound disinfectant (child-friendly)
• The child's usual medications in sufficient quantity

With children, particular caution is needed: doses are age-dependent, and with fever, diarrhea or dehydration you should seek medical help earlier than with adults. Before the trip, get advice from the pediatrician or at the pharmacy about what's suitable for the child's age.

11. Medications on the plane and in the heat

When transporting medications, there are two important topics — the airplane and heat:

On the airplane

• Important medications in your hand luggage — not in the hold (loss, frost, no access during the flight)
• Liquids: medically necessary liquids/medications are often allowed even over the 100 ml limit — with a doctor's certificate; check in advance with the airline
• Injections/insulin/controlled substances: carry a doctor's certificate (preferably multilingual/English)

In the heat

• Protect medications from heat — many lose effect or change in great heat (see the guide Medications and Heat)
• Don't leave them in a hot car or direct sun
• Refrigerated medications (e.g. insulin) transport in a cool bag — but don't freeze
• Suppositories melt in the heat — store cool

Especially in the heat and on long trips, it's worth a look at the package leaflet about storage. More on this in the guide Medications and Heat.

12. Legal: medications across the border

An often overlooked point: not all medications may be imported everywhere without problems. Some active ingredients (especially controlled substances, certain painkillers and sedatives) are subject to strict rules abroad:

• Controlled substances (e.g. strong painkillers): within the Schengen area a special certificate is needed; outside it, different and sometimes strict rules apply depending on the country
• Carry a doctor's certificate (preferably English) for prescription medications
• Transport them in the original packaging with the leaflet
• Find out in advance: some medications that are normal in Germany are banned or only allowed to a limited extent in other countries — when in doubt, ask at the embassy of the destination country or at the pharmacy
• Carry only your personal use (the usual travel quantity)

13. How brite helps you while traveling

While traveling, several brite features come into their own — especially for people with long-term medications who have to manage the time difference, foreign pharmacies and interactions with travel remedies:

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