Don’t think you need a First-Aid Kit?

Most travelers never think to bring one until the one day they need it and they don’t have one. The reality is that most of the time you can find what you need at the hotel gift shop or a local drug store. First-Aid Kits are for those times that you can’t—like when you’re stuck on a plane; stranded at the train station at an odd hour, or traveling the remote countryside. Whatever the case may be, it’s a good idea to have a first-aid kit. You don’t need anything too fancy, just enough to get you to your next stop. We like the “World Travel” kit from Adventure Medical Kits. It has pretty much everything you’ll need and it comes in a nice sized travel case that fits in any luggage or backpack.

You might also try to put together your own first-aid kit. It can be as simple as a small Ziploc bag with a few useful items to help get you through the minor mishaps of travel. Here are some things we recommend you start with and keep up-to-date.

• hand sanitizer
• stomach medicine (think Imodium)
• headache medicine (we like Excedrin)
• cold medicine
• pain relievers
• allergy medicine
• Band-Aids (assorted sizes)
• bug wipes (Benz makes a 30% DEET formula)
• toilet paper/flushable wipes
• all-in-one soap/shampoo/conditioner
• A&D or Neosporin ointment (for cuts/burns/chaffing/etcetera)