Building a Travel Allergy Kit

🎒Why You Need a Dedicated Allergy Kit

When you travel with food allergies — whether you manage them yourself or you are a parent looking after an allergic child — your everyday routine changes. Your usual pharmacy is not around the corner. Restaurant staff may not speak your language. And if something goes wrong, you need to respond quickly.

A well-prepared allergy travel kit puts everything you need in one place. It helps you communicate clearly, respond to emergencies fast, and enjoy your trip with greater confidence. For parents, it also means you can hand the kit to another carer (a grandparent, a holiday club leader, a partner) and know that everything they need is together and clearly labelled.

💊Essential Medications

Your medication is the most critical part of your kit. Without it, everything else is secondary.

Adrenaline Auto-Injectors

Allergy UK and other leading allergy organisations recommend carrying at least two adrenaline auto-injectors (such as EpiPens or Jext pens) at all times. Here is why two matters:

• A single dose may not fully control a severe reaction
• One device could misfire or be damaged
• A second dose may be needed before emergency services arrive

Important packing rules:

• Always keep auto-injectors in your hand luggage — never in checked bags
• Store them at room temperature (avoid extreme heat or cold)
• Check expiry dates before every trip
• Keep them in the original packaging with the pharmacy label attached
• If you are carrying devices for both yourself and your child, label each clearly with the person's name

Antihistamines

Pack a supply of non-drowsy antihistamines (such as cetirizine or loratadine) for mild reactions. Bring enough for your entire trip plus a few extra days in case of travel delays. If you also use a drowsy antihistamine (such as chlorphenamine) for more severe symptoms, pack that separately and label it clearly.

For children: younger children are often prescribed liquid antihistamines such as Piriton (chlorphenamine maleate) syrup or cetirizine liquid. Liquid medications create an important packing challenge — standard airport security rules limit liquids in hand luggage to containers of 100ml or less, and Piriton syrup commonly comes in 150ml bottles.

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Important

If your child needs liquid medication that exceeds the 100ml limit, you must carry a doctor's letter or prescription confirming the medical need. Present this at security along with the medication. Most airports will allow essential liquid medicines through with supporting documentation, but without proof you risk having it confiscated at the checkpoint. See the Doctor's Letter section below for exactly what this letter should say.

Other Prescribed Medication

If you or your child take regular medication for asthma, eczema, or other allergy-related conditions, include these in your kit. Asthma and food allergies often occur together, and an asthma flare-up during an allergic reaction can make things much worse.

For children, this may include preventer inhalers, emollients, or eczema creams. If any of these are liquid or gel-based and exceed 100ml, the same liquid rules apply — carry a doctor's letter to support taking them through security.

Doctor's Letter and Prescription

Carry a signed letter from your doctor or allergy specialist. If you are travelling with an allergic child, the letter should cover them specifically (or each family member who has allergies should have their own letter).

This letter should include:

• The patient's full name and date of birth
• A list of diagnosed allergies
• All prescribed medications, including dosages and generic names
• A statement that the patient needs to carry adrenaline auto-injectors for emergency use
• For children carrying liquid medication: an explicit statement that liquid medicines (naming each one, e.g. "Piriton syrup 150ml") are medically necessary and must be carried in hand luggage
• Your doctor's contact details and signature

Why the Doctor's Letter Matters at Airport Security

This letter serves multiple purposes, but for parents it is especially important at the security checkpoint. Standard airport liquid restrictions limit containers to 100ml in hand luggage. Children's liquid medications — Piriton syrup, liquid cetirizine, liquid paracetamol — often come in bottles larger than this.

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Important

Without a supporting doctor's letter, security staff may confiscate liquid medications that exceed the 100ml limit. With a letter, most airports will allow essential prescribed medicines through. Present the letter together with the medication at the security tray, and allow extra time for the screening process.

Beyond Security: Medical Help Abroad

If you or your child need medical help abroad, local doctors can see the allergy history at a glance. The letter also helps if you need to obtain replacement medication — a local pharmacist can see exactly what has been prescribed.

Keep a printed copy in your kit and a digital copy on your phone. If you are travelling to a country where English is not widely spoken, consider having the letter translated into the local language. For families, keep one copy in each parent's bag so that either carer has it to hand.

Chef Cards and Allergy Translation Cards

A chef card (sometimes called a dining card or allergy card) explains your allergies in the local language. You hand it to restaurant staff or show it to a chef. A good allergy card includes:

• Your specific allergens, clearly listed
• A request to avoid cross-contact during preparation
• A note about the severity of your allergy
• Key phrases such as "This is a serious medical condition"

For parents: Create a card that says "my child has..." rather than "I have...". This makes it clear to restaurant staff that the allergy belongs to someone who may not be able to advocate for themselves. If your child is old enough, consider giving them their own card to carry — it builds confidence and means they are covered if they are briefly with another adult (at a kids' club, for example).

You can create custom cards using our Allergy Card Generator. It covers over 50 languages and formats the card for printing or saving to your phone.

If you prefer a ready-made option, services like Equal Eats offer professionally translated cards reviewed by native speakers. Whichever route you choose, always carry a physical copy as well as a digital one — your phone battery may die when you need it most.

Medical ID

A medical ID bracelet or necklace tells first responders about your allergies if you cannot speak for yourself. This is especially important if you are travelling alone or if your child is with another carer who may not know their full medical history.

Your medical ID should display:

• Your name (or your child's name)
• Critical allergies
• "Carries adrenaline auto-injector"
• An emergency contact number (with international dialling code)

For children: Medical ID wristbands designed for children come in colourful, comfortable styles that kids are more likely to keep on. For very young children, look for bands with a secure clasp that they cannot easily remove. Some parents also use shoe tags or clip-on ID tags for toddlers. Make sure the ID includes a parent's mobile number with the international dialling code for your destination.

Providers like MedicAlert offer engraved jewellery with a membership number. Emergency services can call MedicAlert's 24-hour line to access your full medical record. This works internationally and can be a genuine lifeline. MedicAlert also offers children's sizes.

Essential Apps

Your phone is a powerful allergy tool when you load it with the right apps. Here are the categories to cover:

• Translation tools — Google Translate (download offline language packs before you travel) and our Translation Engine for quick allergen term lookups
• Emergency contacts — save local emergency numbers for each destination (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US)
• Medical ID on your lock screen — both iPhone and Android let you add medical information that is visible without unlocking your phone. If your child has their own phone or tablet, set up a medical ID on their device too
• Your insurer's app — most travel insurance providers have an app with a one-tap emergency helpline button
• Offline maps — so you can find the nearest hospital or pharmacy even without a data connection

Download everything you need before you leave home. Do not rely on airport or hotel Wi-Fi.

Travel Documents Checklist

Beyond medication and cards, you need a small set of documents. Keep printed copies in your kit and digital backups on your phone or cloud storage.

• Doctor's letter for each allergic family member (printed and digital)
• Prescription copies for all allergy medication (including children's liquid medicines)
• Allergy action plan — a step-by-step sheet explaining what to do if you or your child reacts
• Travel insurance policy documents with the emergency helpline number highlighted
• Chef cards / allergy translation cards in the local language (adult and child versions if needed)
• Copies of your passport and travel booking (in case originals are lost)
• Emergency contact list — your doctor, your insurer, your next of kin, and local emergency numbers
• Written allergy briefing for other carers (hotel kids' club, relatives, babysitters) — include allergens, medication locations, and what to do in an emergency

🎒Complete Packing Checklist

Here is everything in one place. Tick items off as you pack. If you are packing for a child as well as yourself, go through the list for each person.

Medication:

• Two adrenaline auto-injectors per person (in-date, in original packaging)
• Junior auto-injectors for children (correct dose for their weight)
• Non-drowsy antihistamines (enough for trip plus spare days)
• Children's antihistamines — Piriton syrup, liquid cetirizine, or chewable tablets as prescribed
• Drowsy antihistamine (if prescribed)
• Asthma inhaler (if applicable — including children's spacer device if needed)
• Any other prescribed allergy medication (emollients, eczema creams, etc.)

Documents:

• Doctor's letter for each allergic family member, explicitly listing any liquid medications over 100ml
• Prescription copies (including children's prescriptions)
• Allergy action plan for each person
• Travel insurance documents
• Chef cards / allergy translation cards (including "my child has..." versions)
• Written allergy briefing for other carers

Wearables and accessories:

• Medical ID bracelet or necklace (adult and/or child sizes)
• Antibacterial wipes (for wiping down surfaces, tray tables, highchairs)
• Sealable bags for carrying allergy-friendly snacks
• Labelled medication pouch for each family member (so another carer can identify whose is whose)

Digital:

• Translation app with offline language packs downloaded
• Medical ID set up on phone lock screen (and on your child's device if applicable)
• Insurer's app installed with policy details saved
• Offline maps for your destination
• Emergency contact numbers saved in your phone
• Screenshots of allergy cards and action plans in a shared photo album for other carers

💡Advice for Parents: Preparing Other Carers

One of the biggest concerns for parents is what happens when your child is not with you — at a hotel kids' club, with grandparents by the pool, or at a holiday activity. A good allergy kit is not just for you; it needs to work for anyone looking after your child.

Before you hand your child over to another carer:

1. 1
   Walk the carer through the allergy kit — show them where the auto-injector is, how it works, and when to use it
2. 2
   Give them a printed copy of the allergy action plan (a simple one-page sheet with photos of the auto-injector is ideal)
3. 3
   Make sure they have a chef card for your child
4. 4
   Confirm they have your mobile number and know the local emergency number
5. 5
   Point out the medical ID your child is wearing

Age-Appropriate Involvement

As children get older, involve them in managing their own kit. Even young children can learn to recognise their allergens and say "I'm allergic to..." in the local language. Older children and teenagers should know how to use their own auto-injector and carry their own chef card. Travelling is a good opportunity to build these skills in a supported environment.

💊What to Do if Medications Are Lost or Damaged Abroad

If your auto-injectors (or your child's) are lost, stolen, damaged, or used during your trip, act promptly:

1. 1
   Visit a local pharmacy or hospital — explain that you need an adrenaline auto-injector and show your doctor's letter or prescription. Specify whether you need an adult or junior dose
2. 2
   Call your travel insurer — they can direct you to the nearest suitable medical facility and may pre-authorise the cost
3. 3
   Contact your hotel concierge — they can often help you find an English-speaking pharmacy or doctor
4. 4
   Know the generic names — "adrenaline auto-injector" or "epinephrine auto-injector" is understood in most countries, even where brand names differ. For children's liquid antihistamines, "chlorphenamine syrup" or "cetirizine oral solution" are the generic terms
5. 5
   File a police report if stolen — you will need this for your insurance claim

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Note

Children's formulations (junior auto-injectors, liquid antihistamines) can be harder to find abroad than adult versions. If you are travelling to a destination where pharmacy availability may be limited, consider packing an extra supply.

Replacement availability varies by country. In EU countries, auto-injectors are generally available at pharmacies with a prescription. In some other regions, availability may be limited. Check before you travel by looking up your destination on our Allergen Framework Tiers page.