How should you handle a medical emergency when you are abroad? Heading overseas is one of life’s great adventures. But when you head abroad, whether it is for work, pleasure, a holiday or for a travel adventure you need to be smart and ultimately prepared for anything that life can throw at you.
If a medical emergency were to happen right now at your chosen destination, would you know what to do? Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll feel a lot more confident in how to approach and manage an emergency while abroad.
Get your travel insurance Sorted
Before you step foot on a plane, you need to put in place international medical coverage. It’s
shocking how many travelers risk their adventures and even their lives by skipping this important
step. If you have an accident while you’re travelling, if you fall and break a limb, get an infection,
become ill or even have a dental emergency then your medical cover will ensure you get the best
treatment available to you.
Vaccinate
To reduce the risk of falling ill abroad, you need to head to your GP before you travel and get yourself vaccinated against all the diseases and illnesses that might cause a threat to you while you’re in a particular area.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you’re ill, or you think that your condition is worsening then don’t be afraid to ask for help. Yes,
there might be a language barrier but if someone can see that you’re in pain or discomfort they will
try their best to assist you. If in doubt, try Google Translate, or try to learn a few native phrases
before you travel.
Find your nearest Embassy
If something more serious has occurred, a criminal matter, a vehicle collision or something worse
then getting in touch with your country’s Embassy will help. Although they won’t pay for services,
they can assist you with helping you get home, assist with money being wired to you from home or
even get you airlifted back to your own country in extreme circumstances.
Pack a First Aid Kit
Thankfully, most ailments that happen when abroad can be treated by what you would normally find in a first aid
kit. Most common things can be treated with bandages and bandaids or plasters, antihistamines, eye solution,
skin rash remedies as well as things like diarrhea medicine which might be difficult to translate in
precarious situation in a pharmacy a hundred miles from anywhere that speaks English. Make sure
you pack your own and don’t go anywhere without it.
Allergies
Staying at a hotel, B&B or hostel? Wherever you go, if you suffer with allergies you need to make all
staff and even your fellow travelers aware of your condition. If you have medicine that you should
take in case of an emergency, either keep the information on you somewhere – a medical bracelet,
or a card in your wallet – or better yet, let those around you know where your medicine is and
instruct them how to assist you if needs be.
Be safe when you travel and have a great time!
A collaborative post.
