What to pack in a travel first-aid kit
Miniaturize items at home to be prepared for vacation mishaps, expert says
IN THE NEWS: While injury and illness aren’t necessarily on a vacation bingo card, they can indeed happen.
That’s why it’s important to pack a first-aid kit with over-the-counter medications and supplies, such as bandages, ointments and creams, according to Dr. Emilie Chow, a pediatrician and internal medicine physician with UCI Health. She shared with The New York Times what to consider when pulling together a travel kit: “Miniaturize what’s in your home.”
Chow also spoke about why it’s not necessary to carry prescriptions in their original bottles and the importance of labeling all medications to reduce confusion.
Her travel first-aid kit must-haves include:
- Ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Claritin (loratadine) for allergy sufferers
- Gastrointestinal remedies like antacids and anti-diarrheal medications
- Anti-motion sickness medications, such as cyclizine or dimenhydrinate
- Hydrocortisone ointment to relieve any rashes or bug bites
- Artificial tears to sooth dry eyes
Chow is also a professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. She specializes in preventive care for children, teens and adults, and women's health. Chow is fellowship-trained in pediatric infectious diseases.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves nearly 5.7 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).