Travel First Aid Kit for Asia and Safety Guidelines
Updated: Nov 27, 2024
These are the medications you should bring for your vacation in Asia! Based on potential risks and hazards, we've put together a first aid kit specifically for travel to Asia, to make planning your next backpacking adventure a bit easier.
Of course, this is just our personal recommendation—you might be fine with fewer medications depending on the country, or you might need to add more.
However, it's important to prepare your travel first aid kit in advance, as buying medications abroad can sometimes mean you're not getting the original product. Even if the packaging looks right, the contents may not be the same.
Need help packing your backpack for Asia? Check out our Asia packing list here. At the end of the article, you'll also find other useful travel and safety tips for your trip to Asia!
Table of Contents
1. Medication for Nausea, Diarrhea, and Stomach Issues
Traveling to distant countries with different hygiene standards or unfamiliar cuisine can quickly cause stomach troubles while on vacation. To avoid this, it’s best not to drink tap water or eat unwashed fruits, etc.
For emergencies, we always keep the following medications handy:
Perenterol for mild diarrhea
Imodium akut for severe diarrhea
Reisetabletten for diarrhea & vomiting
Vomex for nausea (also helps with seasickness on boat trips)
2. Medication for Headaches, Fever, and Sore Throats
A long flight in an overly air-conditioned plane can cause sore throats—annoying, especially if you fall ill before even arriving at your vacation spot. That’s why we always pack lozenges in our hand luggage just in case.
You should also remember to bring:
Painkillers (z.B. Ibuprofen 400)
Lozenges for sore throats
3. Disinfectants, Bandages, and First Aid Supplies
What we definitely need on every trip are blister plasters. We also come prepared for minor injuries.
Blister plasters (to prevent blisters, use an anti-blister stick)
Healing ointment (e.g., Bepanthen)
Pain relief gel (e.g., Voltaren)
4. Sun Protection
The sun can be quite intense in some parts of Asia, so it's crucial to have good sun protection (sunscreen and a hat).
Sunscreen with SPF 50
Hat
Sunglasses
Optional: After-sun lotion
5. Insect Protection
Insect protection is essential when traveling to Asia, as insects can transmit serious diseases like malaria or dengue fever.
In addition to using special sprays, in areas with a high risk of malaria, it's advisable to wear light, long-sleeved clothing and sleep under a mosquito net. There are even mosquito-repellent clothes available now (for men/women), which can be super practical.
6. Important Vaccinations for Asia
Depending on your route, certain vaccinations may be necessary when traveling to Asia. If you're planning to venture away from major cities, it's especially important to get protected—hospitals might not always be nearby.
Before getting vaccinated, it's wise to visit your general practitioner or a travel medicine specialist with your vaccination booklet to discuss what’s necessary for your trip.
Some of the recommended vaccinations may already be part of your standard vaccinations, so don’t be alarmed by the long list!
According to the Tropical Institute, the following vaccines are recommended for travel to Asia:
Typhoid vaccine
Diphtheria vaccine
Yellow fever vaccine
Hepatitis A and B
Tetanus vaccine
Polio vaccine
Cholera
Japanese encephalitis
Optional: Rabies vaccine
For diseases like malaria, dengue fever, or the Zika virus, no vaccinations are available, so it's crucial to protect yourself from insect bites.
7. Other Safety Precautions for Your Asia Trip
Before your trip or during the planning stage, make sure to check the current security situation of the country (or countries) you plan to visit.
The best way to do this is via the Foreign Office website of your home country, where they provide up-to-date information on the security and political situations, potential crime risks, and other hazards (such as natural disasters) in each country.
Additionally, you'll find important information about legal considerations and the infrastructure in each country.
Want more insights from our travels? Check out our Instagram channels tom_rbg_ and anna_rbg_! If you have questions about our routes, feel free to reach out to us via these channels anytime!
