Remind your patients to pack health and safety items.

 

Prescription medicines

• Your prescriptions
  
• Travelers' diarrhea antibiotic
  
• Suture/syringe kit
  Kit is for use by local health care provider & requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery
• Altitude sickness medicine
  
• Medicine to prevent malaria
  

Medical supplies

• Glasses
  Consider packing spare glasses in case yours are damaged
• Contact lenses
  Consider packing spare contacts in case yours are damaged
• Needles or syringes (for diabetes, for example)
  Requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery
• Suture kit
  Kit is for use by local health care provider & requires a letter from your doctor on letterhead stationery
• Diabetes testing supplies
  
• Insulin
  
• Inhalers
  
• Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens)
  
• Medical alert bracelet or necklace
  

Over-the-counter medicines

• Antacid
  
• Diarrhea medicine
  Examples: loperamide [Imodium] or bismuth subsalicylate [Pepto-Bismol]    
• Antihistamine
  
• Motion sickness medicine
  
• Cough drops
  
• Cough suppression/expectorant
  
• Decongestant
  
• Medicine for pain and fever
  Examples: acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen
• Mild laxative
  
• Mild sedative or other sleep aid
  
• Saline nose spray
  

Supplies to prevent illness or injury

• Hand sanitizer or wipes
  Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol or antibacterial hand wipes
• Water purification tablets
  See CDC recommendations: Water Disinfection.
• Water purification tablets
  May be needed if camping or visiting remote areas
• Insect repellent
  Select an insect repellent based on CDC recommendations: Avoid Bug Bites
• Permethrin
  Permethrin is insect repellent for clothing. It may be needed if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Clothing can also be treated at home in advance.
• Bed net
  For protection against insect bites while sleeping
• Sunscreen
  (SPF 15 or greater) with UVA and UVB protection. See Sun Exposure.
• Sunglasses and hat
  Wear for additional sun protection. A wide brim hat is preferred.
• Personal safety equipment
  Examples: child safety seats, bicycle helmets
• Earplugs
  
• Latex condoms
  

First-aid kit

• 1% hydrocortisone cream
  
• Antifungal ointments
  
• Antibacterial ointments
  
• Antiseptic wound cleanser
  
• Aloe gel
  For sunburns
• Insect bite treatment
  Anti-itch gel or cream
• Bandages
  Multiple sizes, gauze, and adhesive tape
• Moleskin or molefoam for blisters
  
• Elastic/compression bandage wrap
  For sprains and strains
• Disposable gloves
  
• Digital thermometer
  
• Scissors and safety pins
  
• Cotton swabs (Q-Tips)
  
• Tweezers
  
• Eye drops
  
• Oral rehydration salts
  

Documents

• Health insurance documents
  Health insurance card (your regular plan and/or supplemental travel health insurance plan) and copies of claim forms
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination
  If required for your trip, take your completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis card or medical waiver
• Copies of all prescriptions
  Make sure prescriptions include generic names. Bring prescriptions for medicines, eye glasses/contacts, and other medical supplies.
• Contact card
  Carry a contact card containing the street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the following:
  • Family member or close contact remaining in the United States
  • Health care provider(s) at home
  • Lodging at your destination
  • Hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) in your destination
  • US embassy or consulate in the destination country or countries