Travel safety tips to know before you go
Sometimes the difference between travel tales you can't wait to share with everyone and ones you can't wait to forget is blind luck. But relying on luck is risky - and often painful.
Smart travelers know that planning is the best protection when away from home. While exploring the unknown is part of the adventure, we can live without medical surprises. To ensure your trip is noteworthy for all the right reasons, do your travel homework before leaving home.
Check travel health alerts before you leave home
Travel alertsThe only constant when you're traveling is change -
especially when disaster strikes. If you've ever watched an episode of CSI, you
know natural disasters can spread disease to normally malady-free zones
quickly. Whether you're in LA or Nigeria, you need to know when it's time to
pack your bags and go home - or when to stay where you are until it's safe to
move.
While many sites claim to offer health notices for travelers, stick to the official site for your home country:
- American travel health notices
- United States travel warnings
- Canadian travel health notices
- Canada travel warnings
To stay abreast of any developments while on the road, download an app that "can help you prepare for the worst case scenarios and could possibly even wind up saving your life abroad." Read more at GlobalTV.com.
Your first aid kit and why you need one
First Aid KitI travel outside of my country (Canada) an average of
once a month. During the H1N1 breakout in 2009, I arrived in Chicago with a
fever and a throat that felt like an open wound. When I asked the concierge to
recommend a clinic she informed that if I told her I was sick, she was required
to call an ambulance and that I would not be permitted back in the hotel until
I was declared healthy. I asked for directions to the nearest drugstore
instead.
But I've also had strep throat while on a cruise ship and the antibiotics were a mere $20.
The bottom line - prepare ahead of time for being your own first line of defense. Whether you're enjoying the quiet beaches of Florida or the wild nightlife in Las Vegas, your first aid kit might prevent an unnecessary medical expense and hours of frustration. Start with the basics and customize depending on your destination and planned activities:
- Pain reliever that's also anti-inflammatory - Motrin
- Antibiotics - many doctors will prescribe for the possibility of need when traveling across international borders
- Band-Aids and Polysporin
- Sanitary napkins - they work great as a gauze for a larger wound
Protect yourself with travel insurance
Consider travel insuranceDepending on your destination, a passport,
travel insurance and return ticket may be your only paperwork. Don't assume
that your health insurance will cover your medical expenses while traveling
though. Call your insurance broker and ask if your health insurance covers you
in:
- A foreign country?
- A foreign-flagged vessel, such as a cruise ship sailing in international waters?
- A medical evacuation and repatriation home
If you've used a credit card to book your trip, you may be covered - but maybe not. Credit card coverage is often limited to flight accident insurance, rental car insurance and baggage insurance. Read your credit card's terms and conditions, or call your credit card provider's toll-free line for guidance.
If you don't already have a travel insurance provider, the following companies can help answer your questions.
During the month of August we'll be discussing travel safety and sharing safety advice from a wide variety of experts. Call it our worst case scenario month to help you be better prepared in case of emergency. From earthquake warnings to floods to medical emergencies, we've got travel safety all wrapped up ... no luck involved!
Got a travel safety advice? Share it here or follow us on Twitter and Facebook and let's start talking!
Comments
I make it a point now to
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