What to Keep in Your Travel Medical Kit

Why Pack a Travel Medical Kit

I have always been one of those people who are firmly in the “better safe than sorry” camp. Ok, maybe I overdo it a bit.. lol. But I like having peace of mind.

We’ve been unprepared in the past, and it is such a pain to try to find even simple pain relievers when you are unfamiliar with the country. When my oldest daughter was three years old, we were travelling to Paris when she spiked a fever. It was so stressful trying to find a pharmacy and then a fever reducer, especially with my not-so-good French.

After this situation, especially now that we have three kids, I’ve always decided to travel prepared.

I like knowing that if someone gets sick, I’ll have what I need, matter where we are in the world.

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The 15 Must-Haves I Pack in My Travel Bag

1. PAIN RELIEVER: I’m sure most people already carry pain reliever with them, so sorry if this is a no-brainer! In the medical Kit: Adult and Child pain reliever.
2. COLD & SINUS MEDICINE: You never know what you may pick up along the way when travelling. In the Medical Kit: Cold & Sinus Pills
3. ALLERGY MEDICINE: Travelling to another country always puts in contact with new allergens. In the Medical Kit: Adult & Child medication such as Reactine and Benadryl.
4. EARACHE DROPS: I always take these with us, especially when we travel to the USA. Here in Canada, I can go to my local drug store and buy them right off the shelf, whereas in some states (Hawaii) we’ve needed to see a doctor and get a prescription. In the Medical Kit: Polysporin Earache drops.
5. VAPOUR INHALER: I like these for clearing out stuffy noses. I usually get stuffed up on the airplane, and this helps me breathe again. And a bonus is it gets rid of some of the gross airplane smell! In the Medical Kit: Vicks Vapour Inhaler
6. PEPTO: Yep, sore tummies are inevitable when travelling. Between drinking different water and eating new foods. In the Medical Kit: Pepto Bismol Chewable Tablets
7. GRAVOL: I cannot go on a boat without getting sea-sick. This will help settle your upset tummy. I also keep the kid’s version handy to use as a sleep aid, when the kids are struggling with time changes. In the Medical Kit: Gravol Adult & Children’s Chewable
8. BAND-AIDS & BLISTER PADS: The chances you’ll need a band-aid for a cut are pretty small, I find I need them more often on my feet to avoid painful sores and blisters from all the walking. The first important lesson about travelling – make sure you break in brand new shoes before you leave on a trip! In the Medical Kit: BandAids of various sizes and cushion blister pads.
9. SALINE SPRAY: Keep your nose hydrated while travelling into different climates and on the plane. This is one way to help you prevent most illnesses you’ll come in contact with. In the Medical Kit: Saline Nasal Spray
10. ANTI-BIOTIC CREAM: We use this for cuts and scrapes to prevent them from becoming infected. Also, use a cotton swab and put a little bit just inside your nostrils to catch germs from entering your respiratory system. In the Medical Kit: Polysporin Antibiotic Cream
11. MUSCLE CREAM: Sore muscles from trying new activities, walking miles a day or sleeping funny in a new bed. In the Medical Kit: Voltaren or something like Tiger Balm.
12. LOTION: Changing climates can be tough on your skin. I like to carry a good moisturizer to keep our skin healthy. In the Medical Kit: Lotion of your choice.
13. HAND SANITIZER: Can’t wash your hands? Then this is a great alternative. In the Medical Kit: Purell Aloe Hand Sanitizer
14. ANTI-BACTERIAL WIPES: I use these on the plane all the time. Wipe down your area to clean up all the germs and bacteria left by previous passengers. In the Medical Kit: Individually wrapped Wet Ones.
15. MELATONIN: Feeling jet-lagged? Taking Melatonin will help with disrupted sleep schedules. In the Medical Kit: Melatonin supplement.

And number 16 is a small cosmetic bag to keep the travel medical kit in.

The clear bag is especially handy when travelling. You can easily see what’s inside and grab out what you need.

Want to make sure you stay healthy on your vacation? Check out our post How to Stay Healthy During Air Travel

Conclusion

Having one of your kids get sick when you’re travelling to a foreign country can be difficult. By having your travel medical kit packed and ready to go, you’ll save yourself from so much stress and hassle.