Travel First Aid Kits

When you're on the road, you don't need to be slowed down for a medical emergency. Travel is so much more fun when everyone is healthy and safe. And you can make sure they are by relieving everything from a headache to minor cut or scrape with a travel/auto first aid kit.

The travel/auto first aid kit is recommended by health care professionals, and can be as compact or comprehensive as you need it. In fact, most travel/auto first aid kits are the perfect size for your luggage, glove compartment, purse, briefcase or backpack. Some can even attach to your visor.

There are many options when choosing the size of your travel/auto first aid kit. A 1-10 person travel/auto first aid kit is all most people will need. It contains all the basics; painkillers, motion sickness pills, ointments, bandages (including elbow, knee, knuckle and butterfly), gauze pads, tweezers, a first aid guide, etc. A 10-20 person travel/auto first aid kit would be great for truckers, highway-patrol officers and tow-truck operators. But travel centers, truck stops and gas stations might find the larger kits to be more appropriate.

A good travel/auto first aid kit contains all the basics plus a booster cable, light sticks, flashlight, screwdrivers, pliers, tire inflator and help banner. The soft case travel/auto first aid kit is typically smaller. It works well in a purse, under a car seat, in a glove box or backpack. You might want a hard-case first aid kit for rougher environments like a car trunk, a truck or a motor home. And the wall-mounted first aid kit is perfect for a central location such as in a gas station or truck stop.

The price of your travel/auto first aid kit is determined by its size and style. You can find more personal or family kits for under $25. Those in the $25-$50 price range are typically organized for quick, easy access and contain more specialized equipment such as the booster cable and flashlight. And kits that are a bit more expensive tend to include more advanced products for professional groups such as the highway patrol.

So, hit the road. But be sure you pack your travel/auto first aid kit. And as always, no first aid kit is meant to be a substitute for seeking professional medical care.