When getting ready to travel it’s always a good idea to make safety a priority. Whether you’re traveling abroad or on a weekend trip, planning can help you avoid potential misadventures. From flare-ups of pre-existing conditions to contagious illness or injury—planning for what might happen can allow you to enjoy your vacation without any nagging worries about what-ifs. Follow these simple pre-travel safety tips to ensure your vacation is not just fun and relaxing but safe.
Pre-travel Safety Tip- Know before you go
Especially when travelling abroad, a lot of pre-travel planning well in advance of your trip can be very beneficial. Do you know the safety risks and recommendations for where you’re going? Are you bringing attire that is both weather and culturally appropriate? Have you gotten vaccinated against endemic diseases, especially the mosquito-borne variety, like yellow fever? For those with serious pre-existing health concerns like diabetes, COPD, or cardiovascular disease, are there medical facilities available to treat an exacerbation of your condition?
It’s not surprising that some countries have standards of care that are lower or less accessible than the United States. You may actually be surprised that, even in countries with similar levels of medical care, you would be expected to pay for your healthcare in advance of services being provided. Unlike the United States, EMTALA laws, which guarantee lifesaving care be provided without regard to insurance or payment status, these protections are not always available abroad.
Be sure to use resources from the federal government, like the State Department’s travel advisories, to learn about your destination before you go and leave time to get any recommended or required vaccinations. Have a supply of your regular medications available in excess, in case your travel is delayed. Leave funds available on a credit card to pre-pay for your medical care and plan to be medically repatriated if your condition requires on-going care, to avoid further out-of-pocket expenses.
Pre-travel Safety Tips- Maintain your health while away from home
Do you exercise and eat healthy foods while at home? Are you generally in good shape? Do you have mobility issues? If you can not or do not walk miles while home, eat unfamiliar foods, or have trouble with your mobility, don’t be tempted to start behaving differently while on vacation. Many people find themselves in trouble when they become more or differently physically active while traveling.
If you are sedentary, days of walking in high temperatures, over uneven terrain while not properly hydrated can cause serious problems when you change your lifestyle on vacation. From an increased risk of heart attack due to overexertion or lack of sleep, injury from strains, sprains or even fracture for those who are unsteady on their feet, to lack of hygiene with handwashing and foodborne illness- changing too much can ruin a vacation*.
Honestly assess your physical abilities and maintain a vacationing lifestyle similar to the one you have at home. Remain well hydrated, take medications as usual and be conscientious about hand sanitizing. Stick to familiar and professionally prepared foods and don’t drastically change your alcohol intake. In short, if you aren’t able to do something at home, vacation is probably not the best time to try to.
Prepare for the what ifs
Even the best planned vacations at home or abroad can be foiled by illness or injury. Remember to have access to cash to pay for any needed medical care and plan to get home to your own doctor and local hospital as quickly as possible. Thousands of travelers add air ambulance membership to their pre-travel safety plan. For one low annual price, you can ensure that finances will not be a barrier to getting U.S., ICU level pre-hospital care brought to the scene,when you need it most.
AirMedCare Network (AMCN) emergency air ambulance care and Fly-U-Home International memberships cover your entire household. When treated by one of our providers, there are no out-of-pocket costs for your care. Learn about making air ambulance membership a part of your travel planning and have more financial peace, and hopefully lots of fun, on your next vacation.
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