Travel health checklist
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.
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 circular logo and at least 4-star UVA protection
- at least SPF15 sunscreen to protect against UVB
Country-specific travel health kit extras
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:
Sign up for email alerts from TravelHealthPro and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) to get the latest updates for that country.
Follow @NaTHNaC and @FCOtravel on Twitter to get the latest travel updates and advice.
Do not travel without health insurance. If you're travelling in the EU, also apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover the costs of any essential treatment while you're abroad.
Page last reviewed: Thu Apr 2019 Next review due: Mon Apr 2022
