Summer holiday first aid kit checklist (Gold Coast edition)

Health advice ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

A good summer holiday first aid kit covers the basics (dressings, antiseptic, pain relief and a cold pack) plus a few extras for where you’re actually going: the beach, the pool, the theme parks or a long drive. Use the checklist below to pack yours, and remember that a kit only helps if someone knows how to use it.

If you’re not sure what to include for your family, our pharmacists at Pacific Fair can help you put a kit together and check what you already have at home.

When are the Queensland summer school holidays?

For Queensland state schools, Term 4 2026 finishes on Friday 11 December and Term 1 2027 starts on Tuesday 27 January, according to the Department of Education. That’s about six weeks of beach days, theme park queues and road trips. Catholic and independent schools can set different dates, so check with your school.

The first aid kit checklist: the basics

healthdirect suggests a basic first aid kit should include the following. Tick them off as you pack.

• Adhesive dressing strips: for small cuts and grazes.
• Dressing pads and gauze: to cover bigger wounds and help control bleeding.
• Crepe bandages: to hold dressings in place or support a sprain.
• A triangular bandage: works as a sling for an injured arm.
• Surgical tape: to secure dressings.
• Antiseptic swabs and antiseptic cream: for cleaning around minor wounds.
• Sterile saline tubes: to rinse sand or grit out of eyes and clean grazes.
• Eye pads: to cover an injured eye on the way to help.
• A disposable cold pack: for bumps, sprains and stings.
• Pain relief: such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, in the right formulation for each person in your family.
• Scissors, tweezers and safety pins: tweezers are handy for splinters.
• Disposable gloves and a resuscitation face shield: to protect you while you help someone else.
• A shock blanket: to keep someone warm if they’re in shock.
• A notepad, pen and a first aid booklet: to note what happened and when.

Extras for kids

• A digital thermometer.
• Children’s pain-relief medicine and a plastic dosing syringe. Doses for children differ from adults, so always check the label or ask your pharmacist. Never guess.
• Cleansing wipes.

Beach bag checklist

Summer is peak season on Gold Coast beaches, and Cancer Council recommends sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. Check the daily UV forecast before you head out.

• SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. Cancer Council recommends applying it 20 minutes before going outside and reapplying every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Hats, rash vests and sunnies. Sunscreen is only one of the five SunSmart steps.
• Water bottles for everyone.
• A small towel and saline for sand in the eyes.
• Something to note the time if anyone is stung.

Bluebottle stings: what to do

Surf Life Saving Queensland advises placing the stung area in hot water, no hotter than the rescuer can comfortably tolerate, for 20 minutes. healthdirect adds that a hot shower or running hot water over the sting also works, and that hot water is better than ice for the pain. Swim between the flags, where lifesavers can help with stings.

If you’re heading north to tropical waters, first aid for stings is different. healthdirect suggests packing vinegar, which is used on some types of tropical jellyfish stings. For any tropical jellyfish sting, or if someone looks or feels unwell after a sting, call 000.

Pool checklist

• Sunscreen and hats. Pool decks reflect sun too.
• A cold pack for slips and bumped heads on wet tiles.
• Adhesive dressings for stubbed toes and grazed knees.
• Moisturiser for kids whose skin gets dry or itchy after chlorine.
• Active supervision. No kit replaces an adult watching the water at all times.

Theme park checklist

Long queues in the sun and a lot of walking make for a big day.

• Blister dressings, especially if anyone is wearing new sandals.
• Refillable water bottles, plus oral rehydration solution in case someone gets dehydrated.
• Sunscreen for reapplying after water rides.
• Something for travel or motion sickness. There are different options for adults and children, so ask your pharmacist which suits.
• Any regular or emergency medicines, such as asthma puffers or allergy autoinjectors, kept with you rather than left in the car.
• A plan to meet up if someone gets separated.

Road trip checklist

• Burn gel and a burn dressing. healthdirect suggests adding these to car kits.
• A torch and spare batteries.
• Insect repellent and something for itchy bites. Ask your pharmacist about options for children.
• Enough of everyone’s regular medicines for the whole trip, plus a list of what each person takes.
• Your Medicare cards and emergency contact numbers.

healthdirect also advises securing a first aid kit in the car so it doesn’t become a projectile in a sudden stop.

Can you leave medicines in a hot car?

It’s best not to. Many medicines are labelled to be stored below 25°C, and the inside of a parked car on a Gold Coast summer day can get much hotter than that. Pharmacy experts warn that even a short time in a car in direct sun can be a problem, especially for emergency medicines like asthma puffers and allergy autoinjectors.

• Keep medicines in their original packaging.
• Carry them in an insulated bag and take them with you when you leave the car.
• Don’t leave medicines, or your kit, on the dashboard or in the boot.
• If a medicine looks different after being exposed to heat, check with your pharmacist before using it.

And the most important rule: Queensland Health says never leave children, older people, people with disability or pets in a parked car, even for a short time.

Check your kit before the holidays

• Check the kit at least once every 12 months, and after every use.
• Replace anything used, damaged or past its expiry date.
• Take expired medicines back to a pharmacy for safe disposal rather than putting them in the bin.
• Store the kit somewhere dry and easy to reach.

Book a first aid course

healthdirect points out that a first aid course teaches you how to use what’s in your kit. Organisations like St John Ambulance and Australian Red Cross run courses, and a short course before the holidays can give you real confidence around the pool and beach.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

• Pharmacist: minor cuts, grazes, bites, sunburn, blisters, and questions about which medicine suits a child.
• GP: wounds that are deep, gaping or won’t stop bleeding, a wound that becomes red, hot, swollen or oozing, burns larger than a small patch, or a sick child you’re worried about. Our in-store Help Medical GPs are one option.
• Call 000: if someone is unconscious, has trouble breathing, has a serious injury, a tropical jellyfish sting, or signs of heatstroke such as confusion or hot, dry skin.

Need to top up your kit without leaving the pool? Order online and pick up your first aid supplies with Click & Collect, or pop in. We’re open 7 days.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.