First aid kit for travellers

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Revision as of 22:10, 19 July 2005 by Pjamescowie (Talk | contribs) (various edits and clarification)

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Whilst Wikitravel is not a medical encycopedia, the following topical article offers some suggestions for a First aid kit for travellers. Note that you may not be able to purchase, or even require all the items on this list (depending on where you are and where you are travelling), and in some cases you may need a doctor's prescription to avoid having the items confiscated by border police or customs officers if your bags are inspected. If in doubt, consult a competent medical professional for advice.

Many people have different ideas on what is necessary for them - some people take more stuff, others are better at improvisation.

Basic Items

  • Antidiarrhoea: Loperamide Hydrochloride (Imodium) is the most common form of anti-diarrhoeal medicine for over the counter use. NEVER use it if there is blood in the feces - this could be an indication of something much more serious and requires immediate medical attention
  • Anti-inflammatory: Ibuprofen (Nurofen) is good both as an anti-inflammatory and also as a general analgesic (pain killer). Other people prefer to use Paracetamol, or an Aspirin Paracetmol combination
  • Condoms: HIV and Hepatitis are much more common in some parts of the world than others, and unprotected sex is highly risky. If you're a guy travelling with a female partner who uses some other form of protection, it's still worth taking condoms as a precaution, as even minor stomach upsets can decrease the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. (Having said that, if she's not feeling well, you probably won't need them!)
  • Sunscreen: Make sure you take an appropriate level of protection for your skin and the area you are visiting. An after-sun lotion might help, too.
  • Feminine protection: worth listing as part of the checklist.
  • Insect repellent: if you are travelling to an area where biting insects are a problem.

Off the beaten Track


Now that you have your kit assembled, why not go here?
