The medical kit varies from one traveller to another: destination, activities, illnesses, etc. This list is not exhaustive, but it can help you assess your needs.
Practical Considerations
Bring along medicines that are practical to use: those that can be taken without water (chewable or dissolving tablets, powders, etc.), single-dose packaging, wet compresses, etc.
No suppositories, because they melt easily in hot conditions.
Avoid syrups and glass bottles, because they can break easily.
First-aid kit
For skin injuries
To avoid infection, any injury must be washed with water (make sure to use bottled water when in countries where there are risks of contaminated water), then disinfected and protected.
- An antiseptic: antiseptic-moistened towelettes are very practical
- Sterile compresses to clean wounds
- Bandages
- A pair of scissors
- Gauze
- Individually wrapped plasters (Band-aids): for minor cuts and scrapes. When travelling to the seaside, bring waterproof plasters
- To treat small, superficial burns (except for burns on the joints or the face): soothing, healing creams, thick plasters or lipocolloids.
- Tweezers
- Epingle de sureté
- Antiseptic eye drops
- Hydroalcoolic solution for hygiene of the hands
Other ills
Sun protection
- Clothing that covers the body, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, high-protection sunscreen.
Insect bites
- Repellents for skin should be chosen based on your destination: temperate, tropical or high-risk zones.
For tropical and high-risk zones: repellents for skin (Moustifluid High Protection Lotion), repellents for clothing (Moustifluid Lotion For Fabrics and Clothing Tropical Zones), and mosquito nets for nighttime. - Soothing creams in case of bites.
- For those with allergies: a specialized kit anaphylactic shock according to a doctor's advice.
Treatment for motion sickness
Treatment for pain and fever
- Unbreakable thermometer
- Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, etc.
Anti-malaria treatment
- Check with your doctor.
Digestive disorders
- Traveller's diarrhoea :
- Anti-diarrhoea treatments, treatments to prevent intestinal spasm, water purifying products, oral rehydration packets (especially for young children and the elderly).
- Constipation :
- Laxatives
Bumps and scrapes
- Cooling spray or cold pack.
- Arnica (cream or granules), anti-bruise cream.
For athletes
- Cream or gel to fight pain and muscle cramps.
- Compression wraps: elastic or self-adherent wraps.
- Hydrocolloid bandages to fight blisters. For prevention, use a silicone gel.
A sufficient amount of your usual treatments
Approved condoms
To learn more about medicines, consult this article.