First-aid kit with a checklist – for a worry-free holiday

The answer to this question depends not only on the travel destination but also your personal safety requirements. Nobody needs a first-aid kit for a three-day city break to Paris – you just need to pack enough of the medication you usually take at home. For minor and more significant emergencies, provision from local pharmacies, doctors and hospitals is generally comparable with that in Switzerland. It’s very different if you’re off to explore the foothills of Nepal on your own for a six-week trekking adventure. In this case you really won’t want to do without a well-stocked (according to our checklist) first-aid kit.

This question also needs an answer. And it’s surprisingly simple! Anything that is just as easy and cheap to get hold of as it is at home. Of course, it’s a good idea to have a small quantity of painkillers to hand, as well as plasters and sanitizer, so you can provide immediate care quickly. But everything else can be found locally in many travel destinations – and often at a significantly lower price than in Switzerland. Some foreign medication has a similar name to products available in Switzerland but contains different substances and so has a different effect. It’s always good to get professional advice!

Things are a little different if you regularly take prescription medication. In this case, the recommendation is to rely on the tried-and-tested product and to take appropriate supplies with you. Otherwise, you run the risk of having to make do with insufficiently effective generic medication – or even getting counterfeit medication. For travellers with visual impairments, a sufficient stock of contact lenses and one or more pairs of replacement glasses with the appropriate prescription also belong in the first-aid kit. Wearers of hearing aids should also make sure they have sufficient replacement batteries on hand. And last, but not least: sexually active travellers shouldn’t forget condoms, the pill and/or other contraceptives. Any medication you need every day belongs in your hand luggage.

Depending on the destination country, medication can be classed very differently by the authorities. Things that are readily available here, often without a prescription, must be prescribed by a doctor in other countries. And some medicines – especially strong painkillers – are even classified as illegal narcotics abroad. The penalties for possession and consumption of these substances are correspondingly harsh. Find out in advance about the legal situation in your travel destination. It’s good to check this information with the foreign representatives (consulates and embassies) in Switzerland, which are listed on the FDFA website (The link will open in a new window eda.admin.ch).

The classification of medication is treated very differently, even within the Schengen area. For this reason, you should take the relevant prescription for each prescription medication with you in a document folder – ideally in the national language for your destination or at least in English. You should also take important documents, such as your vaccination record, blood group card, allergy card, emergency contact information, organ donor card and patient decree (if available). Important health documents belong in your hand luggage alongside your ID and/or passport.

Searching for a suitable payment method has become considerably easier for travellers in recent times: credit cards, debit cards and many digital payment systems (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay etc.) can be used easily these days in many destinations. Depending on your destination, it can still be a good idea to carry a small amount of cash. While foreign currency for the most popular travel destinations is available immediately from most financial institutions, more exotic currencies must usually be pre-ordered. If you suddenly need more cash when abroad, withdrawing it from an ATM is often cheaper than going to a bank or a currency exchange. It’s vital that you know the advantages and disadvantages of using different payment methods (credit card, debit card, cash) abroad so you can keep transaction and exchange fees as low as possible and avoid errors.

Find out more about credit cards

Before a (longer) trip to an exotic destination, getting advice from specialists is always recommended – for example from the Travel Clinic at the University of Zurich (The link will open in a new window reisemedizin.uzh) or the Centre for Tropical and Travel Medicine at the University of Basel The link will open in a new window (travelmedicine.swisstph.ch). The specialists at these institutions have current data from all countries and can provide expert advice on all questions of health and hygiene. These centres also offer recommendations regarding preventative measures (travel vaccinations, medication for your holiday) and tips on putting together your first-aid kit and storing it correctly. As some vaccinations and prevention measures are only effective after a few weeks or after a booster, you should book your appointment in plenty of time before your departure.