When traveling abroad for higher studies, it's crucial to carry the necessary medicines to ensure your health and well-being. Congratulations, students, on obtaining your student visa and embarking on a life-changing journey abroad. Transitioning from being a Mumma's boy or daddy's little girl to an independent adult with career aspirations, you're ready to take on the world!
Every year, from August to September, approximately 750,000 students from India travel to countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and many others for higher education. Amidst packing clothes, utensils, shoes, laptops, and all necessary documents, along with the food items secretly slipped into your bag by your mom, one crucial item often gets overlooked - a customized first aid kit.
Imagine arriving at your destination and experiencing discomfort due to unfamiliar food or weather, resulting in a cold, fever, or diarrhea. Where would you go to find medicines? However, with a first aid kit, you and your family can rest easily.
You might wonder whether carrying a first aid kit is allowed at the airport. The good news is, that carrying your daily medicines and a first aid kit is permitted.
Essential Medicines for Your Travel First Aid Kit:
1. Sanitizer or Antibacterial Wipes: Crucial for preventing infections, including severe illnesses like COVID-19. Always use before and after touching wounds, shaking hands, or eating to eliminate germs.
Suggested product: Dettol Hand Sanitizer
2. Instant Hot Pack and Cold Pack: Hot packs provide relief from cold, while cold packs can soothe burns or bruises.
Suggested product: Flamingo Cool Pack | Heating Pad
3. Thermometer: Vital for checking your body temperature.
Suggested product: Hicks Digital Thermometer
4. Bandages: Include various sizes of adhesive bandages for different wounds.
Suggested product: Band Aid
5. Antiseptic Liquid: Use antiseptics like Dettol or Betadine to clean cuts or wounds.
Suggested product: Dettol Antiseptic Liquid
6. Antibiotic Cream or Ointment: Apply locally for cuts, boils, and skin infections. Use a thin layer to prevent allergic reactions.
Suggested product: Mupicip 2% Ointment
7. Pain Relief Ointment: Useful for muscle aches or back pain caused by traveling, long sitting, or lifting heavy luggage.
Suggested product: Omnigel Ointment
8. Oral Rehydration Solution: Helpful for treating dehydration due to indigestion, loose motion, or vomiting.
Suggested product: Electral Powder | Sodium Chloride IP 2.60 gms, Potassium Chloride IP 1.50 gms, Sodium Citrate IP 2.90 gms, Dextrose Anhydrous IP
9. Fever and Pain Medicine: Treats fever, headaches, and body pain due to weather changes, infections, or tiredness.
Suggested product: Tab Calpol or Tab Crocin | Paracetamol 650mg
Precautions: Avoid if you have liver disorders.
10. Pain and Anti-inflammatory Medicine: Relieves pain and swelling from injuries.
Suggested product: Tab Combiflam | Ibuprofen (400mg) + Paracetamol (325mg)
Precautions: Avoid if you have kidney issues or are taking similar medications.
11. Muscle Relaxants: Useful for muscle sprains caused by weakness or nutrient deficiencies.
Suggested product: Tab Flexinol | Flupenthixol (0.5mg) or Cap Ace Proxyvon | Aceclofenac (100mg) + Paracetamol (325mg)
12. Gastric Medicine: Relieves acute gastritis or gas from skipping meals.
Suggested product: Tab Rzole | Rabeprazole (20mg)
13. Chewable Digestive Tablets: Relieves indigestion and acidity after meals.
Suggested product: Tab Digene chewable | Aluminum Hydroxide (300mg) + Magnesium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate (50mg) + Magnesium Hydroxide (25mg) + Simethicone (25mg)
14. Anti-Allergic Medicine: Treats allergies, itching, cold, sneezing, insect bites, and asthma.
Suggested product: Tab Alerid | Cetirizine (10mg)
15. Medicine for Vomiting: Used for nausea and vomiting; take ½ hour before travel for motion sickness.
Suggested product: Tab Domstal | Domperidone (20mg)
16. Anti-diarrheal Medicine: Reduces the frequency of loose motions.
Suggested product: Cap Imodium | Loperamide (2mg)
17. Medicine for Severe Diarrhea: For severe diarrhea, use under medical supervision; also treats urinary tract infections.
Suggested product: Tab Cifran CT | Ciprofloxacin (500mg) + Tinidazole (600mg)
18. Multivitamins and Probiotics: For general body weakness and diarrhea treatment.
Suggested product: Nutrolin B capsules (lactobacillus spores) | Multivitamin + lactobacillus spores
19. Eye Drops: Treat bacterial eye or ear infections. Avoid driving and contact lenses until the infection clears.
Suggested product: Ciplox eye drops | Ciprofloxacin (0.3% w/v)
20. Nasal Drops: Relieves nose blocks from sinusitis or allergies.
Suggested product: Otrivin Oxy fast Relief Adult Nasal Spray | Oxymetazoline (0.05% w/v)
21. Antibiotics: Treats lung, ear, throat, sinus, bone, joint, and urinary tract infections. Complete the dose as prescribed by a physician.
Suggested product: Tab Ceftum | Cefuroxime (250mg) or Tab Augmentin | Amoxicillin (500mg) + Clavulanic Acid (125mg)
22. Abdominal Pain Medicine: Relieves stomach pain or menstrual cramps.
Suggested product: Tab Cyclopam | Dicyclomine (20mg) + Paracetamol (500mg)
23. Sinusitis Medicine: Treats colds, sinusitis, and allergic infections with headaches; may cause drowsiness.
Suggested product: Tab Sinarest | Chlorpheniramine Maleate (2mg) + Paracetamol (500mg) + Phenylephrine (10mg)
24. Medicine for Motion Sickness: Prevents and treats nausea and vomiting from motion sickness.
Suggested product: Tab Stugeron | Cinnarizine (25mg)
25. Pain Relief for Joint Ache: Effective for joint pain relief.
Suggested product: Tab Meftal P | Mefenamic Acid (500mg)
26. Pain Relief for Stomach Cramps: For stomach aches or cramps during periods, including dysmenorrhea.
Suggested product: Tab Meftal Spas | Dicyclomine (20mg) + Mefenamic Acid (500mg)
27. Lozenges for Sore Throat: Relieves throat irritation and cough.
Suggested product: Alex 5mg Lozenges | Ambroxol Hydrochloride (5mg)
28. Antibiotic for Respiratory Infections: Treats respiratory tract infections and amoebic intestine issues (mucus with cramps).
Suggested product: Tab O2H | Ofloxacin (200mg) + Ornidazole (250mg)
29. Antibiotic for Severe Infections: Treats severe bacterial infections, including intestinal infections (blood, no cramps).
Suggested product: Tab Floxip | Ciprofloxacin (500mg)
30. Natural Laxative: For relieving constipation; take it at night.
Suggested product: Powder Softovac | Natural fiber blend
How to Safely Use Your First Aid Kit
After packing all these medicines, it's essential to know how to use them wisely. Follow these points:
- Take medicines only after consulting a doctor and avoid self-medication.
- Discard any expired medicines.
- Always keep medicines with their labels to identify their uses.
- Carry the prescription for your medicines.
- In case of an emergency, seek medical assistance.
Now that you're all set with your packing, you can travel with peace of mind and handle any pain, cuts, or bruises during your journey. Safe travels and best wishes for your new adventure!
Remember to consult your doctor before assembling your medical kit. Additionally, if you’re carrying essential liquid medicines in containers larger than 100ml, ensure you have proof of prescription. Safe travels and best wishes for your new adventure!
Visit for more details- Travel Essential Medical kit
