So you’re heading off for a family holiday, the first thing you should pack is your family holiday first aid kit.  While a basic first aid kit is fine, it’s much better if it contains things that are useful for your travel destination.

Whether your taking a road trip, going camping in a remote area, or spending your days lounging around a resort, there’s a chance you’ll need a first aid kit at least once during your travels. If you’re heading to remote areas or doing a lot of outdoor activities, not only is it essential to pack a well equipped first aid kit, it could save your life.

For families who do a lot of remote travel, it’s a great idea that one parent has a first aid certificate, or at least attends a first aid course to teach the basics. If that isn’t an option, then a good first aid guide that fits into your kit is a great option too.

What Basic Things Should A First Aid Kit Contain?

Every first aid kit should contain the following essential items:

• Band-aids
• Sterile gauze
• Saline (can be used to flush wounds or eyes etc)
• Insect repellent
• Burn cream
• Bite cream
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• Tweezers
• Sunscreen
• Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
• Sterile gauze
• Non adherent dressings
• A couple of bandages
• Notepad & pen/pencil
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gloves
• Paw paw cream
• Tea tree oil
• Resuscitation protective shield

For more remote travel you should also consider adding the following to your first aid kit:

• Emergency thermo blanket
• Cold packs or heat packs (instant type)
• Snake bite kit, containing compression bandages, a sharpie, gloves and a sling
• EPIRB in case of needing remote or urgent assistance
• A Satellite phone for remote/out of service travels
• Gauze swabs
• Thermometer
• Torch
• Senekot or similar
• Sudafed or similar
• Immodium or similar
• Menstruation pads/tampons
• Oil of cloves

Choosing A First Aid Kit

If you’re really wanting to have a specific kit with particular items, then designing and purchasing your own kit is definitely a great idea. Either that, or purchasing a ready made kit and adding your own touches to it could be less expensive and more thorough. Brands such as St Johns Ambulance or Red Cross offer thorough, high quality kits for sale. No matter which kit you purchase or how you put it together, it’s important that each time you head out (or if you’re on the road full time) that you check the expiry date of your first aid kit contents regularly or before you head away on holidays.

Do you have any tips,  advice or preference when it comes to Family holiday First aid kit ideas for travellers? Let us know below in the comments…