Travel kit: what to take, what is legal across borders, what to declare

You are off on holiday, on a work trip or camping in the Carpathians. A well-prepared kit is the difference between a quick dressing and a visit to the local A&E. Here is what to pack for the usual destinations, what is legal across borders and what you must declare at customs.

The basic list — essentials for any destination

Wounds, bruises, burns

• adhesive plasters — assorted sizes (10-20 pcs);
• sterile compresses 5x5 cm and 10x10 cm (5 pcs each);
• elastic bandage 6 cm and 10 cm (2 pcs);
• small scissors, tweezers (in checked baggage — TSA/aviation rules);
• betadine (povidone-iodine) or chlorhexidine — wound solution;
• antiseptic / topical antibiotic cream (gentamicin — Rx in RO, OTC in many EU countries; alternatively: fusidic acid cream, OTC);
• waterproof dressing for the shower;
• burn cream (panthenol, silver sulfadiazine — Rx).

Pain, fever, inflammation

• paracetamol 500 mg (10-20 tablets);
• ibuprofen 200/400 mg (10-20 tablets);
• aspirin 500 mg (5-10 tablets) — caution for children under 16: contraindicated (Reye's syndrome);
• diclofenac gel 1% (small tube) — for bruises, muscle pain;
• digital thermometer.

Digestive tract

• smectite (Smecta) or loperamide (Imodium) — traveller's diarrhoea;
• oral rehydration salts (ORS — Hidrasec or equivalent);
• antacids (algeldrate-magnesium);
• antiemetics — metoclopramide (Rx in RO) or dimenhydrinate (OTC, Vomex);
• medicinal charcoal — flatulence, mild diarrhoea.

Allergies, bites, stings

• oral antihistamine — loratadine 10 mg or cetirizine 10 mg (10 tablets);
• hydrocortisone cream 0.5-1%;
• after-sting insect spray (with menthol or witch hazel vinegar);
• insect repellent (DEET 30-50% for mosquito areas, picaridin for sensitive skin).

Colds, sore throat, ENT

• nasal spray with sea water (hygiene);
• xylometazoline spray (decongestant — caution, max 5 days);
• throat lozenges (chlorhexidine, ambazone);
• cough syrup for dry cough (dextromethorphan) or productive cough (acetylcysteine / ambroxol).

The kit for children — what changes

Paediatric forms are mandatory — syrup, suppositories, drops. The dose is always per kg of body weight (see the weight-dose table in the patient leaflet).

• paracetamol syrup 120 mg/5 ml (Panadol baby, Calpol);
• ibuprofen syrup 100 mg/5 ml (Nurofen for children) — NOT under 3 months;
• accurate rectal or tympanic thermometer;
• nasal saline solutions + nasal aspirator;
• ear drops (lidocaine — Rx, or Otipax — over 1 year);
• paediatric ORS (Humana, Hipp);
• sunscreen SPF 50+ for children.

Aspirin and acetylsalicylic acid are contraindicated under 16 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. The „travel” aspirin you put in the adult kit — keep it away from children.

Chronic medication — how to take it legally across borders

For your chronic medicines (antihypertensives, antidiabetics, antidepressants, insulin, etc.), the EU rule is simple:

• a quantity for the duration of the trip + a maximum 30-day reserve;
• original, sealed packaging;
• the original prescription or a scanned copy of it — accessible on your phone;
• for long trips or outside the EU, ask your doctor for a medical letter in English (or the language of the destination) with the INN (international nonproprietary name), the dose and the indication.

For medicines containing controlled substances (opioids — tramadol, morphine; benzodiazepines — diazepam, alprazolam; psychostimulants — methylphenidate), you need a Schengen Article 75 certificate issued by the dispensing pharmacy, endorsed by the county DSP (Public Health Directorate). The procedure takes 5-10 working days. The list of controlled medicines: ANMDMR (Romanian National Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices) + the Ministry of Health, narcotic lists I, II, III.

What to declare at customs

Within the EU / Schengen — there is no active customs. Only if you are stopped at a random check, you show the prescription and the Schengen certificate for controlled substances. For non-EU destinations:

• USA — original packaging + medical letter in English. Controlled substances (CIII, CIV) — TSA declaration. Medical marijuana — banned.
• UAE / Dubai — extreme controls. Many OTC medicines from the EU are Rx or banned (codeine, dextromethorphan, melatonin). Request approval from the UAE Ministry of Health before travelling, via the online form.
• Singapore, Japan, Turkey, Egypt — check the banned list on their embassy website. Generic — paracetamol/ibuprofen freely allowed. Specific (psychostimulants, opioids) — mandatory customs declaration.

How to buy the kit in Romania

All of the products above can be found in authorised pharmacies. At Dona, Catena, Tei there are often pre-assembled „holiday kit” sets — but check the contents: it is often minimal. Buying individually is more economical.

For a complete kit for an adult + 1 child, the budget is ~150-250 RON including supplements, paediatric products, repellents. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the prices of each product before you go to the pharmacy.

What never misses from the home kit (regardless of travel)

The home kit is broader and more complete. In addition to the travel one, it should contain:

• digital upper-arm blood pressure monitor (for BP monitoring — important after 40);
• glucometer with lancet and test strips (if you have diabetes or are at risk);
• pulse oximeter (oxygen saturation — useful in pneumonia, respiratory failure);
• digital clinical thermometer + infrared forehead one;
• extended first-aid kit — triangular bandage, rigid splints, large compresses;
• sterile saline (10-20 ml vials) for cleaning wounds;
• 10% povidone-iodine solution (Betadine) — primary antiseptic;
• tourniquet (know how to use it — only for massive arterial bleeding);
• dry ice bag (reusable cold pack);
• medicinal charcoal (in case of suspected minor food poisoning).

For families with children under 5 — additionally: a nasal aspiration kit, paracetamol suppositories in various strengths (80 mg / 150 mg / 300 mg depending on weight), an accurate rectal thermometer, oral rehydration solution, small paediatric sterile compresses.

Specific destinations — kit adaptations

The contents of the kit are adjusted according to destination and activity:

• Beach, Black Sea / Mediterranean: sunscreen SPF 50+, after-sun with panthenol, paediatric ORS for heatstroke, cream for sunburn, insect repellent (mosquitoes, beach lice), menthol gel for jellyfish stings.
• Mountain / Carpathian hiking: elastic bandage for sprains, arnica gel for bruises, blister plasters (Compeed), SPF cream (UV radiation increases with altitude), bottled oxygen in spray form for altitudes above 2500 m.
• Tropical countries (SE Asia, Latin America, Africa): malaria prophylaxis (mefloquine, atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline — Rx, consult a travel medicine doctor), DEET 50% repellent, ORS, antibiotic for traveller's diarrhoea (azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, Rx beforehand), injectable serums for rabies / snake bite (destination-specific consultation).
• Skiing / winter sports: dressings for frostbite, ibuprofen gel, ORS, zinc paste for cold irritation, thermal belt.
• Travelling with children under 2: rectal thermometer, paracetamol syrup 120 mg/5 ml, ibuprofen syrup (over 3 months), nasal saline + aspirator, ORS, nappy rash cream (zinc oxide), bath water thermometer.

Aviation rules — hand baggage and hold

For air travel, the European Commission 1546/2006 rules on liquids apply, with exceptions for medicines:

• Medical liquids (syrups, drops, ampoules) — allowed in hand baggage in a quantity sufficient for the duration of the flight + layover + 24h reserve, even over 100 ml/container. They require the prescription or medical letter for the check.
• Insulin, EpiPen, GLP-1 (semaglutide, liraglutide) — in the cabin, in a thermal bag. Never in the hold (risk of freezing at altitude).
• Sprays (salbutamol inhalers, nasal decongestant) — allowed in the cabin.
• Injection needles — allowed in the cabin if they are accompanied by the corresponding medicine. For insulin-dependent travellers, keep an extra set in your checked baggage in case you lose your hand baggage.
• Mercury thermometers — banned (toxic liquid). Use a digital or infrared one.

How to store it at home and while travelling

• A cool, dark, dry place. Never in the bathroom or in the car in summer.
• Check the expiry once a year. Throw away anything expired at medicine collection points — most large pharmacies have a special container (Dona, Catena have visible programmes).
• On the plane — keep it in your hand baggage. The cabin is pressurised, but the hold can reach -30°C. Insulin, vaccines, GLP-1 — absolutely in the cabin in a thermal-insulated bag.