Travel First Aid/Medical Kit

Here’s what my wife recommends that we bring on Safari types of trips :

1. Prescription Medications

    •    Antibiotic for Traveler’s Diarrhea (e.g., Azithromycin or Ciprofloxacin) – for moderate to severe symptoms.

    •    Antimalarial Medication – depending on where you’re going (check with your travel clinic—options include Atovaquone/Proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine).

    •    Motion Sickness Meds (e.g., Meclizine or Scopolamine patches) – for bumpy rides or boat travel.

    •    Altitude Sickness Meds (e.g., Acetazolamide) – only if visiting high-altitude regions like Ladakh.

2. Over-the-Counter Essentials

    •    Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) – for dehydration from heat or illness.

    •    Anti-diarrheal (Loperamide/Imodium) – for emergencies, but use sparingly.

    •    Antihistamines (e.g., Loratadine, Diphenhydramine) – for allergies or insect bites.

    •    Pain Relievers (Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen) – for fevers, headaches, aches.

    •    Antacid or anti-nausea (e.g., Tums, Pepto-Bismol, Ondansetron if you get queasy).

    •    Insect repellent with DEET or Picaridin – dengue and chikungunya are mosquito-borne and common.

3. First Aid & Hygiene Kit

    •    Band-aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment

    •    Hand sanitizer and travel soap

    •    Electrolyte packets

    •    Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF

    •    Thermometer (especially in rural areas)

Bonus:

    •    COVID-19 self-test kits and face masks if you’re immunocompromised or visiting crowded areas.

    •    Vaccination Record (Yellow Fever if arriving from certain countries, and up-to-date routine + travel vaccines like Typhoid, Hep A/B, Tetanus, Rabies, etc.)