Travelin g should be a positive experience but sometimes travelers do get ill no matter how prepared they are for the journey. What to do you if you get sick in another country? Where do you go to get medical treatment, what will it cost, is it safe? These are questions that come to mind when you find yourself seeking medical aid during your vacation.
Before you leave on a trip, make sure you are prepared for a medical emergency. Bring any prescription medications you will need along with a copy of the prescription in case you run out or loose your medication.
Buy adequate health insurance. Do not leave home without travel health insurance. Know what your policy covers and how it works, and how to file a claim if you need to. Keep the heath insurance providers contact information with you in case you need to call for approval for treatment.
Research your destination for health risks prior to leaving on your trip. Get any required vaccinations before trip. If you are going to an area where there are health risks, bring medication for those risks or get vaccinated before you leave.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has information on vaccinations and health precautions the Traveler’s Health page of their website.
Information on other health issues including foot and mouth disease, pandemic influenza and biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear incidents can be found at the US Department of State travel website.
There is also a US Government website that contains information about pandemic influenza outbreaks in the US and abroad . Infectious disease information can be located on the (WHO) World Health Organization website which also contains other health information for travelers.
IAMAT – International association for Medical Assistance to Travelers is “the leading provider of reliable and impartial health advice” for travelers. You need to become a member to access their services but membership is free and this website is a valuable resource for travelers.
A new travel medical site TravMed, contains destination reports, a travel clinic directory, online version of “The International Travel Health Guide” (book) and essential products for the traveler. Destination reports contain vaccination requirements, disease risk summaries, outbreak news, malaria maps, embassy contact information and list of hospitals and physicians. There is also a useful travel preparation checklist for medical and personal care items.
Have the telephone numbers and locations of your country’s embassy with you. Embassies can help you find doctors and clinics that provide safe medical treatment. This is especially important in developing nations. For information on US citizens, the Bureau of Consular Affairs can help you.
For Canadians, the Department of Foreign Affairs can provide emergency assistance and information.
Often the hotel concierge can refer you to a local doctor or hospital for medical treatment and assist with any language problems you may encounter. If you have a list of clinics or doctors from one of the websites, the concierge or even your tour director can help you contact them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, the people who work in the tourist industry want you to have a favorable impression of their country and will be more than willing to help you find medical aid if you need it.
So if you do get ill when you are traveling, contact your local embassy for assistance or visit one of the various travel health websites to help you local a suitable doctor or clinic. Make sure you have the contact numbers for your travel health insurance provider and are aware of what you policy covers. Contact them as soon as possible to make sure any treatment you require will be covered. Ask locals such as the hotel concierge or a tour director for help. The better prepared you are prior to your trip the easier it will be for you to deal with any health issues that may occur while you are traveling.
