Planning your Travel First Aid Kit
As a thumb rule, all travelers carry a first aid kit. Some of us carry full fledged ones while others carry light ones. Below is a list that makes up my first aid kit. This has evolved over a long period of travel and includes the essential medical care for backpacking and remote trips that don’t have easy access to hospitals and medical facilities. I pack my medicines in a small medicine pouch and the rest of the stuff in zip loc bags and prefer not to include anything that breaks.
Do note that the below medicines have been procured from India. They may or may not be available in your country. You can refer your doctor or pharmacist for the closest match. I have also mentioned their medical composition to help you search it in your country.
Medicines
This list includes tablets, capsules and chewable tablets that can be consumed and external application products like skin creams, ointments and spray.
| Common Name | Medical Composition | Use |
| Tiger Balm | A Herbal Balm (manufactured in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India) | Magic Balm and a must in all first aid kits. Useful for pain relief, flatulence, headache, insect bites and more. |
| Gelusil | Activated Dimethicone, Magnesium Hydroxide, Dried Aluminium Hyrdoxise Gel | Acidity, Heartburn, Gas |
| Pudin Hara | Herbal compoisiton | Stomach Ache, Indigestion |
| Eldoper | Loperamide Hydrochrolide | Loose Motion (Weak Stools) |
| Vicks Vaporub | Cold, Cough, Blocked Nose | |
| Diamox | Acetazolamide | Acute Mountain Sickness (to help lungs adjust to low oxygen levels; has side effects that vary from person to person) |
| Zetlog | Ranitidine Hydrochrolide | Stomach Ulcers and heartburn – to be had before food while on an antibiotic course |
| Penicillin, Erythromycin, Amoxycillin or any antibiotic that works for you | To prevent infection from spreading before you reach a hospital | |
| Domstal | Domperidone | Prevents vomiting. Especially handy for those who are prone to motion sickness either on land or on sea |
| Crocin | Paracetamol | Fever, high body temperature |
| Laridox | Pyrimethamine and Suplhadoxine | Anti-malarial tablet (double check this with your doctor and the country you are visiting as the mosquitoes there might be immune to this drug) |
| New Probisa | Probiotic | Aids in improving digestion and in regenerating digestive enzymes |
| Painkillers | Aceclofenac or Diclofenac or Ibubrufen | Reduces pain. Use in moderation |
| Odomos Mosquito repellant spray | N,N- Diethyl benzamide and Isopropyl alcohol | Prevents mosquito and other insect bites |
| Refresh Tears | Carboxy-Methylcellulose Sodium Lubricant | Eye drops to help in eye dryness and irritation |
| Soframycin Skin Cream | Framycetin | Burns, Scalds, Wounds, Cuts, Ulcers, Boils, Impetigo, Furunculosis, Sycosis Barbae, Otitis Externa, Paronychia and secondary infections in Scabies and Lice |
| Tiger Balm | Herbal | Muscular Aches, Pains and Sprains |
| RingGuard | Miconazole Nitrate, Neomycin Sulphate | Ringworm and skin infections |
| Betadine | Providone Iodine | Germicide Gargle to protect from throat infection |
| Relispray | Herbal products | Joint pain, sprain, backache, muscle pain or bodyache |
| Cough Syrup such as Benadryl/DUCOF, etc. (Check with your doctor for what works for you) | Cough, Dry throat | |
| Candid Powder | Clotrimazole | Prevention or treatment of fungal infections such as ringworm, dhobie itch, athlete’s foot and infections resulting from excessive sweating |
| Betadine Microbicidal solution | Povidone – Iodine Solution | To clean wounds |
| Dettol/Savlon Antiseptic Liquid | Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Strong Cetrimide | To clean wounds |
| Himalaya Lip Balm | Herbal composition | Prevents drying and chapping of lips |
| Smyle | Herbal composition | Mouth Ulcers |
Miscellaneous
1) Thermometer – to measure your temperature
2) Bandages – To cover a wound
3) Cotton Roll – to clean a wound properly
4) Adhesive Tape – to ensure bandage doesn’t fall off
5) Cotton Crepe Bandage – to cover body part/joint that has sprained or is in pain
6) Tweezers – To remove splinters or other foreign objects stuck in skin
7) Scissors – to aid in cutting
8) Nail Cutter – to clean nails and to ensure broken nails can be cut effortlessly
