When traveling, even to a developed country, a first aid kit should be packed safely with your luggage. You never know what type of emergency you can encounter while traveling and away from home, so it's important to be prepared. A well-stocked first aid kit for your travels can ensure that you're ready for any emergency or sudden sickness so it doesn't ruin your trip altogether.
Basic Items
Every first aid kit should have a few basic items, like gauze and medical tape that can be used in place of bandages or to stop bleeding. Tweezers and scissors are a good idea, but make sure you check with airline regulations; you may have to check the bag containing these items. Cotton swabs are useful for cleanup, antiseptic items like rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer can ward away infection and an athletic bandage can help stabilize a body part in case of strain or sprain.
Medications
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends traveling with all of your prescription medications. You may need to check with the country you're traveling to, to ensure that the medications you're traveling with are permitted. If you have allergies, carry and Epi-pen or equivalent with you at all times, especially when going somewhere foreign. A variety of over-the-counter drugs can make you feel more comfortable, including antihistamines, painkillers and anti-diarrheal medications.
Protection
Protect yourself when you travel. When you'll be out in the sun, take along a sunscreen of at least SPF 15, according to Disney's Family Fun website. When traveling to an area where you'll be faced with bugs and mosquitoes, you'll need insect repellent. In some cases, anti-malarial pills will be necessary if traveling to an area where malaria is a concern. Visit your doctor for a prescription to add them to your first aid kit. Bring along medications for other travel sicknesses, according to StartBackpacking.com.
Contact Card
Some travelers may forget one of the most important components of a first aid kit in favor for some of the other items--the contact card. When you're traveling on your own or with your family, you need to carry an identification card and a list of people to contact in case of emergency. Slip the contact card into your first aid kit, and then transfer it into your pocket or wallet while you're out sightseeing. If something happens to you, the authorities will find it and can contact your loved ones. If traveling to a foreign country, ask someone who speaks English to translate the information on the card for you so you have one in English and one in the native language of the country.
