Traveling Sick

I’m sick as a dog. It’s bad enough suffering through the coughing and sniffling in the comfort of my own home. When you’re traveling, getting sick presents a whole new set of challenges. Will you have access to medical care and medication if you need it? How much will it cost? Will you be able to effectively communicate the problem if you don’t speak the local language?

Falling ill or getting injured while on a trip is something you can’t entirely prepare for because you never know when and where it will occur. I was on a romantic trip through Ireland recently and had actually ponied up the cash for a luxury hotel in Dublin. How I was looking forward to room service, plush beds and champagne on the balcony, because that’s not how I normally travel. And then I got sick. I spent the entire time in that fabulous hotel miserable and feverish. Although I’d brought some simple medications along with me, I didn’t get better and struggled to enjoy of the rest of the trip.

While in Hawaii a few years ago, my husband cut his foot badly on a piece of coral, derailing many of our plans for the vacation. When our hotel’s medical center wanted to charge us hundreds of dollars to look at his injury, we had to call our insurance company and discuss hospital visits and deductibles. While you certainly never want this to happen while on a trip, there are some simple things you can do before you travel to prepare for unexpected illness and injury. Here are some some suggestions:


Pack some simple medicines and first aid
You’ll be able to get basic supplies at any pharmacy when you travel, but if you’re headed overseas and aren’t familiar with over-the-counter medications in that country, or are planning a trip someplace very rural, it definitely pays to come prepared. Bring along some Asprin, band-aids and cold medication. If you have specific medical concerns, like asthma or allergies, bring medications related to your issue and any paperwork you may need to transport them through airports. If you are going someplace where you will not have access to medical care, ask your doctor to prescribe you some antibiotic, just in case. Better safe than sorry.

Bring along your insurance information and contact information for your doctor
If you are traveling within the USA, keep this information on you. A simple clinic or hospital visit could end up costing you big time if you can’t get it approved by your insurance company. If you need medical attention while away from home, a call to your doctor and/or your insurance company can save you a lot of time and money.

Learns some basic medical terms in the language of the country you’ll be visiting and research their health care practices
This may be as simple as reading a guidebook. It’s always good to know how to say simple things like “doctor,” “hospital” and “first aid” in another language. Also, you should know how to access a medical professional in the area where you are traveling. Where is the nearest hospital? Will they treat foreigners? How much will it cost? If you’re staying at a large hotel, you can often rely on the staff there to assist you, but do your homework before you go.

Take care of yourself while on the road. If you get sick, don’t push yourself too hard. Sometimes you will have to deviate from your itinerary and cancel some plans if you become ill or injured. Remember that your health takes priority.

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