Quick answer
Reviewed · 3 min read
A good travel first aid kit handles everyday problems so they don’t derail your trip: pain and fever relievers, diarrhea and allergy medicine, bandages, blister care, antiseptic and your prescriptions in original containers. Add destination-specific items, such as insect repellent, motion sickness medicine or water purification tablets, and pack the kit in your carry-on.
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- Where to pack
- Carry-on, not checked bags
- Core four
- Pain, stomach, allergy and wound care
- Remote trips
- Add water purification and repellent
- TSA
- Small scissors and medical liquids allowed
The checklist
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What should every travel first aid kit include?
Start with the checklist above, based on CDC’s Pack Smart guidance. It covers the problems travelers most often face: headaches, upset stomachs, allergies, cuts, blisters and colds.
Keep it compact. A zip pouch with single-dose packets and small tubes takes little space and saves you hunting for a pharmacy with unfamiliar brand names, possibly at night or in a remote place.
What should you add for your destination?
Tailor the kit to where you’re going and what you’ll do there.
- Safari: insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, antimalarials if prescribed, high-SPF sunscreen and eye drops for dust; see our safari packing list
- Islands and cruises: motion sickness medicine for boat transfers, reef-safe sunscreen, antiseptic for coral scrapes and after-sun care
- Treks and high destinations: blister kit, altitude medicine if prescribed and water purification; see the altitude sickness guide
- Travel with kids: child-dose pain and fever medicine, a thermometer and oral rehydration salts
Which prescription items should you ask a clinician about?
For some trips, a clinician may prescribe standby medicines: an antibiotic for severe travelers’ diarrhea, antimalarials for malaria areas, altitude medicine for high treks or an epinephrine auto-injector for severe allergies. Book a travel-health visit four to six weeks ahead; our travel health and vaccines guide explains what to cover.
Bring enough of your regular medicines for the whole trip plus a few extra days, in original containers with copies of your prescriptions.
How do you carry a first aid kit through airport security?
Pack it in your carry-on so it’s with you if checked bags go missing. TSA allows medically necessary liquids above 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities if you declare them; everyday items like antiseptic gel can go in your quart-size bag. Scissors with blades under four inches from the pivot point are generally allowed in carry-on bags.
Some medicines are restricted abroad, so check before you pack controlled substances; see traveling with medications abroad.
Should you buy first aid supplies abroad instead?
Basic supplies are easy to find in most cities, but brand names, strengths and active ingredients differ, and labels may not be in English. The CDC also warns that counterfeit medicines are common in some countries. Bring what you’re likely to need, especially for remote trips, and buy locally only to top up from a reputable pharmacy.
Your kit also helps prevent problems: hand sanitizer and good habits around food and water stop many stomach upsets before they start; see food and water safety abroad.
Frequently asked questions
What medicines should I take on an international trip?
Can I bring a first aid kit in my carry-on?
Should I bring antibiotics when I travel?
Can I buy medicine abroad if I forget something?
What first aid items do I need for a safari?
Official sources
Rules, fees and schedules change — confirm the latest details at the source before you travel.