| All travelers must have a contingency plan ready | | | | known allergies and pre-existing medical conditions |
| in case of a medical emergency while traveling | | | | and medications are essential for physicians to |
| abroad. Illnesses and injuries can occur without | | | | determine the appropriate medical procedure to |
| warning. Therefore, you must be ever ready to | | | | follow. |
| deal with it when and if it happens. | | | | If your medical emergency involves serious |
| It is cliche, but I'll say it anyway: better to be safe | | | | surgery, make sure the local medical institution is |
| than sorry. Do not opt for long distance travel if | | | | able to provide a quality operation service. Call |
| you are not in perfect condition. Go for a physical | | | | your doctor at home and discuss the matter with |
| medical examination, a few weeks before the | | | | him or her. If you do not need to have the |
| planned trip. You want to ensure that there is no | | | | operation performed immediately explore the |
| virus or bacteria brewing a war against the | | | | possibility of getting transported to a better |
| immune system. If undetected, you could end up | | | | equipped center for the procedure. |
| spending their vacation nursing a disease in a | | | | If you want to be transported back home, you |
| crowded hotel or hospital room. | | | | can hire international health care providers for |
| Ensure you have a comprehensive health | | | | medical evacuation or medical assistance. This |
| insurance policy. Your insurance should cover | | | | usually involves air ambulance flights in a helicopter |
| medical emergencies, hospitalization, medical | | | | or fixed wing aircraft. They are not cheap, so |
| procedures and evacuation or transport. You may | | | | make sure that medical assistance is included in |
| have to pay more for health insurance that | | | | your insurance coverage. |
| provides good coverage while abroad. Just | | | | You can also hire a doctor accompanying you to |
| remember that the financial support of this policy | | | | return home. They are medical professionals, |
| that may result in the case of an emergency is | | | | usually registered nurses or paramedics, |
| worth every penny you paid for it. | | | | accompanying a sick or injured person home. |
| Brush up on how to call emergency numbers in | | | | They ensure that all travel arrangements are |
| your destination. If you can not trust yourself to | | | | complete for the trip. They also monitor the |
| memorize a string of numbers, be sure to save | | | | patient's condition and administer the necessary |
| them in the phone book or on a piece of paper | | | | drugs and other medical procedures during the |
| so you can easily access them. If you have a | | | | trip. |
| pre-existing medical condition that can lead to an | | | | Finally, if you are a member of international |
| emergency situation, it is recommended that you | | | | medical organizations such as International SOS |
| always carry a mobile phone with roaming | | | | and the International Association for Medical |
| activate. You will be immediately able to seek | | | | Assistance for Travelers, take advantage of their |
| medical help if needed. | | | | services to help take the measures and |
| It is important to carry relevant medical | | | | recommendations for you in the event of an |
| information about yourself. Your blood type, | | | | emergency. |