Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General information from government travel-health sources, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or travel-health service about your own conditions, medicines and destination.
A travel first aid kit is a small, personalised set of wound-care items, topical products, documents and preventive supplies that you carry on a trip. Checklists from CDC, UK TravelHealthPro and the Government of Canada agree on the core, and all say to tailor the kit to the traveller, the destination and the plans. This page lists what each source names, shows where they differ, and covers the carry-on, labelling and paperwork points that most item lists skip.
Purpose and setting
This guide is for travellers assembling or checking a personal kit, including for international trips. It is not a workplace kit (see the OSHA-compliant workplace first aid kit guide), a clinical or group kit (see the medical mission trip supply checklist), or a trail kit (see the hiking first aid kit guide). CDC’s Yellow Book describes two kit types: a basic personal travel health kit, and an extended kit for a group going to a remote area. CDC presents its kit contents as suggested items to be personalized.
What to put in a travel first aid kit
Typical contents are wound-care supplies, a thermometer and tweezers, a few topical products, items for common minor problems, your own prescription medicines, and documents. The table groups items named by CDC (Yellow Book 2026, “Travel Health Kits”), the Government of Canada (“Travel health kit checklist”) and UK TravelHealthPro (“First aid kits”). Quantities depend on trip length and group size.
| Category | Items the sources name (typical) | Named by |
|---|---|---|
| Wound care | Adhesive bandages in various sizes; gauze pads and non-stick dressings (CDC gives 2×2 and 4×4 inch); medical adhesive tape; self-adhesive bandage wrap; elastic bandage for sprains; adhesive felt or gel pads; wound closure strips | CDC; Canada (bandages, tape, gauze, tensor bandages) |
| Tools | Small bandage scissors; tweezers; digital thermometer; headlamp; safety pins | CDC (scissors, tweezers, thermometer, headlamp); Canada (safety pins, scissors, thermometer, tweezers); UK (thermometer) |
| Cleaning and topical | Antiseptic wipes or solution; antimicrobial ointment; hydrocortisone cream; antifungal cream or powder; anti-itch lotion; aloe vera gel; alcohol-based hand sanitizer | CDC; Canada (antiseptic wound cleanser, hand sanitizer, aloe gel) |
| Blisters and comfort | Blister pads or moleskin; ear plugs; saline eye drops; lip balm with sun protection | Canada (blister pads, ear plugs, saline eye drops); CDC (lip balm) |
| Over-the-counter product types (names only) | Antacids, antihistamines, over-the-counter pain and fever relievers, cough drops, decongestant, anti-diarrhoeal, motion-sickness product, mild laxative, oral rehydration salts. Follow the product label. | CDC; Canada (oral rehydration salts) |
| Protection | Sunscreen (CDC: SPF 30 or greater); insect repellent (Canada: DEET or icaridin); mosquito net; water purification tablets, filter or device; exam or disposable gloves; face mask or N-95; condoms or barrier protection | CDC; Canada |
| Vision and regular medicines | All regular personal prescriptions; spare glasses or contact lenses (Canada also accepts a copy of the prescription) | CDC; Canada; UK |
| Paperwork | Medical summary; advance directive copy; emergency contact card; International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (Yellow Card) if required; insurance details; travel-sized first aid manual | CDC; Canada (contact card, proof of insurance, immunization record) |
How the three sources differ
CDC adds a headlamp, wound closure strips, an N-95 option and a copy of an advance directive. Canada adds blister pads, ear plugs, safety pins and a contact card listing family, home health provider, accommodation, local hospitals, the embassy and the insurer’s emergency number. UK TravelHealthPro adds the point that a commercial kit should come with a certificate stating the contents are “for personal emergency medical use only”, and suggests a carbon monoxide monitor. No single list is complete, so combine them for your own trip.
International travel first aid kit: what changes
Medicines and paperwork matter most across borders. These points come from the sources above:
- Original packaging. UK TravelHealthPro advises keeping medicines in original labelled packaging and carrying a copy of the prescription. CDC says narcotic and psychoactive medicines for personal use should be carried in the original prescription container, and that many countries limit them to a short supply.
- Prescriber letter. UK TravelHealthPro advises that a letter list the actual drug names, not brand names.
- Legality varies. Some over-the-counter medicines from one country, such as pseudoephedrine decongestants in the UK example, are illegal in others. UK TravelHealthPro advises checking with the destination’s embassy or consulate.
- Regular self-injectors. CDC advises carrying syringes and needles with a copy of the prescription (insulin is its example). UK TravelHealthPro says sterile needle and syringe kits are not for the traveller to use, are meant for a nurse or doctor in an emergency, and should be packed in the main hold rather than hand luggage.
- Medicines overseas. UK TravelHealthPro advises against buying or sharing medicines abroad.
What varies by trip type
CDC lists these factors for personalising a kit: local access to care and evacuation, itinerary and activities, trip duration, number of people, group medical expertise, space and weight limits, and how the kit is carried. CDC describes a basic personal kit and, for a group going to a remote area, an extended kit, which includes items such as an emergency space blanket, pocket CPR masks, a padded splint, a fingertip oxygen saturation monitor and a blood pressure cuff, and some items that CDC says may be brought by a licensed medical professional. For children, CDC lists age-appropriate products and safety equipment such as a car seat, flotation device or helmet.
Packing, carry-on and documents
- UK TravelHealthPro advises regular medicines in hand luggage with an extra supply in the hold.
- TSA allows “medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip” through US checkpoints; declare them to the officer, and note that “the final decision rests with the TSA officer” (TSA, updated Oct 9, 2024).
- For a pre-assembled kit, UK TravelHealthPro lists these features: a clear item list, written instructions, a secure water-resistant bag, a clear first aid label and the personal-use certificate.
Storage, expiry and restocking
The government checklists do not set expiry or storage rules for travel kits, so check the date and storage instructions printed on each product’s own packaging. The sources do say to keep medicines in original labelled packaging and to use a secure water-resistant bag for the kit. For one common item, see hand sanitizer expiration, dates and storage. Review the kit before each trip, replace used or out-of-date items, and update the contact card and prescription copies.
Guidance that applies
Source pages checked 2026-11-01.
- CDC Yellow Book 2026, “Travel Health Kits” (page dated Apr. 23, 2025).
- UK TravelHealthPro, “First aid kits” (last updated 3 Sept 2024).
- Government of Canada, “Travel health kit checklist” (modified 2026-08-11).
- TSA, “Medications (Liquid)” (updated Oct 9, 2024).
FAQ
What should I put in a travel first aid kit?
Start with bandages, gauze and tape, scissors, tweezers, a thermometer, antiseptic wipes, a few topical products, sun and insect protection, your regular prescription medicines and copies of your documents, then personalise by destination, activities and trip length (CDC, Canada, UK TravelHealthPro).
What is on an international travel first aid kit list?
The same core items, plus extra attention to medicines in original packaging, a prescriber letter with generic drug names, prescription copies, vaccination records and insurance details.
Can I take my first aid kit in hand luggage?
Regular medicines are advised in hand luggage with a spare supply in the hold (UK TravelHealthPro). Sterile needle kits belong in the hold. Declare medically necessary liquids at US TSA checkpoints; rules elsewhere depend on the airport and airline.
Is a ready-made kit suitable, or should I build my own?
UK TravelHealthPro says commercial kits can suit most travellers if they have a clear item list, written instructions, a water-resistant labelled bag and a personal-use certificate. Either way, add your own medicines and documents.
Sources
All pages checked 2026-11-01.
- CDC Yellow Book 2026: Travel Health Kits – https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/preparing-international-travelers/travel-health-kits.html
- UK TravelHealthPro: First aid kits – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets/first-aid-kits
- Government of Canada: Travel health kit checklist – https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/checklist
- TSA: Medications (Liquid) – https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/medications-liquid
