What to pack to stay safe and healthy abroad, including first aid essentials.
Basic travel health kit
The exact contents of your travel kit will depend on your travel plans.
A basic kit can include:
First aid kit
A basic first aid kit includes:
- antiseptic
- painkillers
- wound-cleaning gauze
- sterile dressings
- bandage tape
- plasters
- tweezers
- scissors
- thermometer
- antihistamines
- sunburn treatment
- insect repellent
- insect bite treatment
- medication for pre-existing medical conditions
- condoms
For more detailed information, read Your medicine cabinet.
Sunscreen
The sunscreen label should have:
- the letters "UVA" in a circle logo and at least four-star UVA protection
- at least SPF15 sunscreen to protect against UVB
Country-specific advice
For more adventurous travel and depending on where you're going, you could consider:
- anti-diarrhoea medication
- rehydration sachets
- anti-malaria medication
- mosquito net
- water disinfectant
For country-specific health and safety advice, go to:
- GOV.UK: foreign travel advice
- TravelHealthPro (formerly NaTHNaC)
Sign up for email alerts from TravelHealthPro and the FCO to get the latest updates for that country.
Follow @NaTHNaC and @FCOtravel on Twitter to get the latest travel updates and advice.
Don't travel without health insurance. If you're travelling in the EU, also apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover costs of any essential treatment while you're abroad.
Article provided by NHS Choices