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What To Pack In A Travel First Aid Kit

If you travel, you should put together a Travel First Aid Kit for your car or suitcase. Find out what to put in it here. Plus, find out how to get a free sample of Salonpas Pain Relief Patches in the post as well.

For more ideas, check out all of our travel posts.

A travel first aid kit on a suitcase with the words "What To Pack In A Travel First Aid Kit" digitally written on top.

There have been so many time where I’ve been in my mom’s car and started rummaging around her glove compartment. “You have aspirin, right?” I always say. I know it’s in there somewhere.

Having a travel first aid kit in your car, with all your necessities, can be really necessary. You never know what your passengers — or you — might need while you’re on the go.

For that reason, a travel first aid kit is a great thing to have. You can make one for your car and one for your luggage. Wherever you travel, this is necessary.

A suitcase on a porch with the words "The Ultimate List Of Packing Lists" digitally written on top.

Speaking of packing, this is just one of the packing lists we have on the site. For more, check out The Ultimate List Of Packing Lists.

What To Put In A Travel First Aid Kit

Affiliate links are included in this sponsored post and Drugstore Divas may make a small commission if you use them.

Adhesive bandages

This list is in alphabetical order but honestly, if you carry nothing else in your travel first aid kit, pack adhesive bandages. You never know when you’re going to accidentally cut yourself and need a bandage or walk too much and need one to place over a blister.

Packing various sizes is a good idea too because you really don’t know what size you’ll need.

Claritin Chewables in front of the Freeosk machine.

Allergy medicine

You never know if you’ll be traveling and stumble upon the thing that sets off your allergies. Maybe it’s dust or pollen or pineapples. Whatever it is, make sure you are prepared with allergy medicine.

If your allergies are really bad and you usually have an EpiPen handy, maybe consider one for your travel first aid kit (of course, be sure to talk to a doctor about this first).

Alcohol prep pads

My grandma needed alcohol prep pads for her insulin shots, so I grew up with those always being around. But, if you didn’t, you may not think about how important they are in a first aid kit.

You can use them to clean scrapes or even just wash your hands if you can’t find any hand sanitizer.

They’re also really handy if you’re traveling to Las Vegas and are playing the slot machines. You can grab one out of your travel first aid kit and keep it in your pocket while you’re playing. Then, use it to wash your hands before you go out to eat.

Antacids

Antacids are good to keep on you at all times, but especially in your travel first aid kit. You never know when someone might eat something that doesn’t agree with them on vacation and need an antacid tablet.

You could carry liquid antacid with you, but that would require a fridge after you open it, and not all hotel rooms have those. So your better bet is to pack antacid tablets.

Bug Bite Thing being used on a foot.

Bug Bite Thing

This time of year, mosquitoes are all over the place. Every time we go out, we come back with fresh bites. It’s awful — and itchy. I used to keep anti-itch cream accessible in our home at all times until we found the Big Bite Thing. This thing works and we’re obsessed.

The Bug Bite Thing suctions out the insect saliva/venom from under the skin. Your body fights the saliva/venom (according to the creators’ pitch on Shark Tank) and that’s what causes the itch. So when you remove the saliva/venom, your body doesn’t need to defend itself. So you don’t itch. And you don’t scratch.

We use this all summer long. So if you’re doing any summer traveling, you need one in your travel first aid kit.

Cough drops

A dry throat is a pain, especially on vacation. You don’t want to be checking out museums and coughing the whole way through, ruining everyone’s good time.

At the first sign of a scratchy throat, grab a cough drop. It will help soothe your throat (and the ears of everyone around you).

Goo Gone Hand Sanitizer being poured into someone's hand.

Hand sanitizer

There was a time when no one carried hand sanitizer. And then there was a time when no one left home without it.

We’re in the in-between time now, but I still have hand sanitizer in my travel first aid kit (and my purse). You never know when you might need it.

Insect repellant

The aforementioned Bug Bite Thing is great for when you get bit. But, if you want to try to avoid getting bit altogether, pack some insect repellant in your travel first aid case.

Spray it on you before you go out, and hopefully you’ll avoid being a bug’s next meal.

Motion sickness tabs

I remember the first time I was traveling in Japan, I got motion sickness so bad. I never got it before then, but it was awful. Now, if I text in the car, I don’t feel so great. Pete is the same way. So having some sort of motion sickness tabs just in case is a great idea.

It’s good for motion sickness in a car or on a boat (which you may end up on when you’re on vacation). So have some handy.

Pain reliever.

Pain killers

I’m always looking for pain killers when I’m traveling. I get headaches often and take aspirin to get rid of them quite a bit. Plus, if you’re traveling anywhere that requires a lot of walking, you might need some at the end of the day to help your feet or calves.

So always have pain killers for any aches and pains or headaches — especially if I’m ever traveling with you.

Prescription medicine

If you have any prescription medications, be sure to pack your medicine in your travel first aid kit. I wouldn’t suggest leaving your prescriptions in the car because the heat could affect the efficacy (and I’m not a doctor, so ask yours for sure). But they’ll be fine in your suitcase.

When you’re traveling, you might want to take your prescription bottles with you as well. They’re handy to have in case someone ever asks you for proof of what you are carrying and why.

Salonpas Pain Relief Patches on a shelf.

Salonpas Pain Relief Patches

The last time my father-in-law was in town, his girlfriend had terrible back pain. Pete told her that we had a disposable pain relief patch in our home first aid kit and we gave it to her to use. She was so happy. We always have them in our home and travel first aid kits because our bodies are getting older and we never know when we might need one.

You don’t want a sore back or pulled muscle to get in the way of your good time.

An advertisement for a Salonpas free sample.

If you don’t have a pain relief patch right now, you’re in luck. Head over to TrySalonpas.com and you can request a free sample of a Salonpas Pain Relief Patch. Quantities are limited, so request yours now. With your free Salonpas patch, you’ll get coupons worth up to $9 to use to purchase Salonpas in stores.

You can use your Salonpas patch on back, shoulder, neck, or knee pain (or more, if you have pain in other areas). It directly delivers an inflammatory medicine to the pain site and offers up to 12 hours of relief. It’s not a heating pad, which loses its heat and benefit quickly.

Sunscreen sitting in sand.

Sunscreen

I always have sunscreen on me at all times. Anytime we put together a packing list, we always suggest sunscreen.

So of course, I’m going to suggest one for your travel first aid kit. It will be there, waiting, in case you forget your suitcase one and the one in your purse runs out (which actually happened to me in Vegas! Not the best place to not have sun tan lotion so thank goodness for a backup).

Thermometer

How do you know if you have a fever if you can’t check to see if you have a fever? Exactly. That’s why having a thermometer in your travel first aid kit is great.

You can pack a digital thermometer, which is very accurate, or a thermometer strip, which is less precise but easier to pack in a travel kit.

Tissues

We always have napkins in our glove compartment in case we spill or something needs to be cleaned, but those are too rough if you have to blow your nose.

So a small pack of travel tissues is a perfect thing to keep in your travel first aid kit.

Tweezers

Tweezers are great to have in your travel first aid kit. Mostly for splinters and things of that nature, but sometimes because you just need tweezers to reach somewhere your fingers can’t. Which isn’t the point of tweezers, but it’s sure a benefit.

Travel First Aid Kits: Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bring first aid kits on a plane?

For the most part, yes, you can bring first aid kits on a plane. There are some items that won’t be allowed in your carry on, like any liquids over 3.1 oz.

Tweezers, which we recommend for your travel bag, and small scissors, which we don’t, can go in your carry on as well. But some other sharp items must be packed in your checked luggage.

Double check the TSA’s website if you’re unsure about an item that’s in your travel first aid kit.

Should you pack full size items in a travel first aid kit?

We recommend that you pack trial size items, rather than full sized items, in a travel first aid kit. You want to keep it small and light, so packing smaller quantities of items makes it easier to carry.

Just remember to replace any items that you used on your trip so that you have them available for next time.

Thrive First Aid Kit.

Purchase A Travel First Aid Kit Online:

If you don’t want to purchase all these items separately, you can purchase pre-made travel first aid kits, like the 66-piece Thrive First Aid Kit above, online. You may have to purchase a few additional items, depending on your personal needs, but these will get you started.

You can purchase travel first aid kits at the following stores:

Double check a store’s minimum cart total to qualify for free shipping before you check out. Also, consider instore or curbside pickup to save on shipping.

What else would you put in your travel first aid kit? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

Helen Fern

Monday 6th of June 2022

That is a great comprehensive list!

Linda @ Linda's Lunacy

Friday 3rd of June 2022

I had to use the first aid kit in my car for my son recently. Oh boy, does it ever need updating! Thanks for the tips!

Joie Mojica Gahum

Tuesday 3rd of October 2017

i got my travel kit at roadeavour

vickie couturier

Friday 8th of September 2017

i have a kit in both my cars ,,with grandkids you never know what you need,