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