Travel Tip Tuesday | First Aid Travel Kits

What to Pack in Your First Aid Kit

When deciding what you need for your next guided tour, whether it is by air or by motor-coach, it is always smart to pack for common medical emergencies. The American College of Emergency Physicians and the CDC encourages travelers to pack a number of items to keep with them at all times. These items can easily be stored in a special pouch or case in a carry-on, backpack, or pocketbook. 

You might want to use this checklist to pack for your next trip whether it is a day trip, overnight or international guided group tour.

^{_{1) Prescription Medications}}

Always keep your prescription medications with you. Depending on your destination you might also want to take along an antibiotic,  traveler’s diarrhea antibiotic, and malaria medication.

_{^{2) Over the Counter Medicine}}

Our motto is to pack for every contingency in order to avoid stress and feeling sick while on the go. In a ToD first aid kit we always have:

• Imodium or Pepto-bismal 
• Antacid
• Antihistamine/Decongestant
• Cough drops and cough expectorant or suppressant
• Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen
• Mild laxative
• Antibacterial and antifungal ointments
• Antiseptic wound cleaner
• Aloe gel for sunburns

^{_{3) Medical Supplements}}

If you use certain medical items daily, it is good to make sure that they are packed and easily accessible.

• Glasses and contacts plus cleaners
• Medical alert bracelet
• Testing supplies for diabetes and other conditions
• Insulin, eye drops, inhalers, EpiPens
• Digital thermometer
• Bandages, cotton swabs
• Disposable gloves
• Face masks

_{^{4) Preventative Supplies}}

We believe that it is better to be safe than sorry so we always include these items on our list depending on our destination.

• Hand Sanitizer and anti-bacterial hand wipes
• Insect repellent (in material areas make sure it has DEET in it)
• Sunscreen UVA and UVB  30 or higher
• Sunglasses and a hat

We hope that this list comes in handy when you are packing for your next guided group trip with Tours of Distinction.