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home / health essentials / travel first aid essentials for your medical kit

travel first aid essentials for your medical kit

check out this comprehensive list of must-have items available on amazon to equip you with reliable first aid so you’re better prepared.

by karen hawthorne
published apr 10, 2024
last updated feb 20, 2025
read time 6 minute read
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read time 6 minute read
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keeping a fully equipped first aid kit with you during your travels serves as a safeguard against small wounds and injuries. getty images
reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
whether you’re heading out on a cross-country road trip or flying to a distant destination, having a well-stocked travel first aid kit is a non-negotiable part of your journey. accidents and minor health issues can happen anytime, anywhere, so it’s crucial to be prepared with the right essentials. plus, your immunity and alertness can be compromised when you’re on vacation because of what’s called the “let-down effect” when you leave the stress of work and routine behind. research has linked the letting go of stress with an increase in flare-ups of pain and other ailments.
check out this comprehensive list of must-have items available on amazon to equip you with reliable first aid so you’re better prepared.

summary

mini first aid kit
vicks digital thermometer
advil extra strength ibuprofen pain relief liquid gels
band-aid comfort-flex assorted strips bandages
allegra 12 hour allergy medication
eyebrow tweezers stainless steel eyebrow trimming scissors kit
non-stick sterile gauze pads
nexcare gentle paper first aid tape

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mini first aid kit

price: $35.91 for 140-piece kit
rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (74 ratings)
a compact travel first aid kit is convenient and easy to pack with your gear. depending on where you’re travelling, over-the-counter drugs and supplies for sale in canada aren’t always as available in other countries. having the supplies at hand for minor injuries and illnesses, like headaches, diarrhea and allergies, will give you peace of mind and be quick to use when you need them. this 140-piece kit from atickyaid is packed with items like bandages, medical tape, scissors, burn cream and a first aid manual. it has a waterproof nylon bag with a clip for your backpack.
 

vicks digital thermometer

price: $7.29
rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (919 ratings)
fever, headache, body aches, chills and fatigue can all be signs of stomach flu, a common illness for travellers – especially if you’ve vowed to sample and instagram as many local eats as possible. stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, can strike from bacteria or viral infection. a digital thermometer will determine if you have a fever so you can treat and monitor it. this is important to track as experts recommend seeking medical help for any fever above 103 °f. vick’s digital thermometer has a 30-second reading, can be used orally, rectally or under the arm with memory recall, and has an automatic shut-off to save the battery.
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advil extra strength ibuprofen pain relief liquid gels

price: $14.29 for 24 capsules
rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,921 ratings)
a fast-acting pain reliever will help with headaches, muscle and back pain, and the nausea and sensitivity to light of migraines. the u.s. centers for disease control and prevention has pain medicine, like acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen (the active ingredient in advil) on the essential checklist for packing for a trip. it’s multi-purpose and delivers reliable relief of symptoms. the gel form by advil can be easier to swallow than tablets.
 

band-aid comfort-flex assorted strips bandages

price: $6.48 for 80-pack 
rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,773 ratings)
according to the cleveland clinic, caring for a wound or cut properly helps protect it from getting infected. the pain, redness and swelling of infection is not only uncomfortable, but it can also lead to serious complications like sepsis that is an immune reaction when infection gets into your bloodstream and lead to organ failure. after cleaning a cut or scrape, get a bandage on it for protection and healing. clean the wound daily and put on a fresh bandage. these bandages from band-aid come in a variety of versatile shapes in a breathable and sheer “comfort-flex” adhesive.
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allegra 12 hour allergy medication

price: $16.97 for 37 tablets
rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (163 ratings)
antihistamines are the most common medicines used to treat allergies that bring on sneezing, runny nose, throat irritation and watery, itchy eyes. they work by blocking histamine, which is the chemical produced and released in allergic reactions that causes many of the symptoms. these tablets by allegra are non-sedating so you won’t have the mental cloudiness or sleepiness, and the effects of the. non-drowsy formulations reportedly last longer than sedating types.
 

eyebrow tweezers stainless steel eyebrow trimming scissors kit

price: $10.96 (was $12.99)
rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars (197 ratings)
a travel kit with tweezers and eyebrow-trimming scissors is multipurpose, if you need to do any fingernail or toenail maintenance, eyebrow trimming, you’re covered. the tweezers are important in first aid for removing any small pebbles or splinters in a wound (sterilize them first with rubbing alcohol). scissors can be used for cutting gauze or bandages. this six-piece set in a compact case will keep the tools organized and tidy for when you need them.
 

non-stick sterile gauze pads

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price: $13.99 for 25-pack
rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (236 ratings
these gauze pads come individually wrapped for safety and sterility, so they’re convenient to use and take on-the-go. the 10cm x 7.5cm rectangle in this package will cover most wounds and is designed to be absorbent and flexible with a non-woven fabric that is also laminated on both sides to prevent sticking to the wound.
 

nexcare gentle paper first aid tape

price: $7.25 for two-pack
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,398 ratings)
gauze pads and dressings need to be secured with specialty first aid tape, also called surgical and paper tape. the adhesive sticks to wet, damp skin but removes easily. this one-inch tape from nexcare is hypoallergenic and non-irritating, making it ideal for the recommended frequent gauze changes to heal a cut or wound. it also tears in both directions if you didn’t pack scissors.
 

nitrile disposable gloves

price: $9.69 for 100-pack (was $15)
rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (206 ratings)
as first aid experts from st. john ambulance note, disposable gloves are a vital part of first aid to protect you from contamination. while vinyl gloves can split and latex gloves can cause allergic reaction, nitrile powder-free gloves like these are recommended for first aid where contact with body fluids is possible. another tip: take care to remove gloves safely so your hands don’t come into contact with the harmful substance.
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polysporin complete ointment

price: $12.98
rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (5,637 ratings)
minor burns and cuts are best protected by an effective ointment to keep the injury clean. this complete formulation has three antibiotics to speed healing and added medication lidocaine hydrochloride to provide pain relief. this is a key part of the first aid three-step process: clean the wound, treat with ointment and cover with a gauze dressing or bandage.
 

dlugopis medical condition and emergency contact id wallet card

price: $21 (was $22.29)
rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)
having your emergency contact and medical information on a designated visible red wallet card could be life-saving in a situation where you can’t speak. this folded version is the size of a standard credit card and comes with a protective red sleeve with a highly visible “star of life” symbol. the card is simple to fill out with your medical condition details with fields for the cardholder’s name, date of birth and address, along with fields for drug dosage and frequency of use. the canadian red cross recommends including contact for family members or friends, your personal doctors and your local poison control centre. this pick is a 12-pack so you can share with family and have extras for updating information.
karen hawthorne
karen hawthorne

karen hawthorne worked for six years as a digital editor for the national post, contributing articles on health, business, culture and travel for affiliated newspapers across canada. she now writes from her home office in toronto and takes breaks to bounce with her son on the backyard trampoline and walk bingo, her bull terrier.

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