• CDC Features

Travelers' Health Kit

Attention, international travelers! Save room in your suitcase for your Travelers' Health Kit. Use this as a guide for packing items you will need to stay healthy on your trip—such as sunscreen and insect repellent, prescription medicines, and basic first-aid items.

There's a lot to think about when you are preparing to travel to a different country! When you're planning what to take on your trip, don't forget to pack a Travelers' Health Kit in your luggage. It's a good idea to keep all medicines, especially prescriptions, in your carry-on bags. Because of airline security rules, sharp objects and some liquids and gels will have to remain in checked luggage.

Here are a few items you might want to include in your kit.

1. Basic First-Aid Items

• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze
• Elastic wrap for sprains
• Antiseptic
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Digital thermometer
• Antibacterial and antifungal ointments/creams
• 1% hydrocortisone cream
• Moleskin for blisters
• Aloe gel for sunburns
• Lubricating eye drops
• First-aid quick reference card

2. Medicines

• Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or another medicine for pain or fever
• Antacid
• Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine (such as bismuth subsalicylate or loperamide)
• Antibiotic for self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhea
• Oral rehydration solution packets
• Mild laxative
• Antihistamine
• Decongestant (alone or in combination with antihistamine)
• Cough suppressant/expectorant
• Throat lozenges
• Personal medicines:
  • Any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you take on a regular basis
  • Epinephrine auto-injector (such as EpiPen), if you have a severe allergy
  • Anti-malaria drugs, if needed

3. Other Important Items

• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen (at least SPF 15)
• Antibacterial hand wipes or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol)
• Other items, depending on your destination and possible activities:
  • Water purification tablets
  • Mild sedative (such as zolpidem) or other sleep aid
  • Anti-anxiety medicine
  • Medicine to prevent or treat altitude illness
  • Latex condoms

4. Contact Card

• Address/phone numbers of area hospitals or clinics; see Doctors/Hospitals Abroad (US Department of State)
• Address/phone number of the American Embassy or Consulate in your destination; see Web sites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions (US Department of State)

When you travel with medicines:

• Make sure you carry them in their original containers with clear labels, so it's clear what medicines they are.
• If you are taking any prescription medicines, carry along a copy of the prescription, including the generic names for medicines.
• If you are carrying any controlled substances or injectable medicines, carry a note on letterhead stationery from your doctor to explain your reason for having this medicine.

More Information

• See the Travelers' Health Kit section of the CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008.
• Remember that CDC recommends you talk to a doctor familiar with travel medicine 4-6 weeks before your trip to make sure you have any vaccines or medicines you need to stay healthy. See the Travelers' Health Web site for more information.