Travel health checklist

What to pack to stay safe and healthy abroad, including first aid essentials.

Basic travel health kit

The exact contents of your travel kit will depend on your travel plans.

A basic kit can include:

First aid kit

A basic first aid kit includes:

• antiseptic
• painkillers
• wound-cleaning gauze
• sterile dressings
• bandage tape
• plasters
• tweezers
• scissors
• thermometer
• antihistamines
• sunburn treatment
• insect repellent
• insect bite treatment
• medication for pre-existing medical conditions
• condoms

For more detailed information, read Your medicine cabinet.

Sunscreen

The sunscreen label should have:

• the letters "UVA" in a circle logo and at least four-star UVA protection
• at least SPF15 sunscreen to protect against UVB

Country-specific advice

For more adventurous travel and depending on where you're going, you could consider:

• anti-diarrhoea medication
• rehydration sachets
• anti-malaria medication
• mosquito net
• water disinfectant

For country-specific health and safety advice, go to:

• GOV.UK: foreign travel advice
• TravelHealthPro (formerly NaTHNaC)

Sign up for email alerts from TravelHealthPro and the FCO to get the latest updates for that country.

Follow @NaTHNaC and @FCOtravel on Twitter to get the latest travel updates and advice.

Don't travel without health insurance. If you're travelling in the EU, also apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover costs of any essential treatment while you're abroad.