 How
can I protect my health when I travel?
- If you have any food allergies, learn the names
of those foods in the languages used in the countries
you¡¯ll be visiting. This way you¡¯ll be better equipped
to stay on the look out for them.
- Find out what types of diseases are common to the
area you¡¯ll be visiting and take actions to prevent
your exposure to those diseases.
- Find out what types of vaccinations you will need
to enter the country, there may also be medications
you¡¯ll need to take before, during and even after
your trip. Get you vaccinations done early in case
you have a reaction and need some recovery time.
- You should consider a dental appointment if you
haven¡¯t had a check up in a while.
- Be careful what you eat and drink.
- Carry complete health information with you on your
trip.
- Consider joining Medic Alert or IAMAT, the International
Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers.
Where
can I find information that will help keep me healthy
while traveling?
- http://www.cdc.gov/travel
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Travel Information web page. This site contains updated
information and articles on diseases. It also includes
guidelines for travel to areas that have suffered
a recent natural disaster. The most valuable section
of the site is the destination section. This area
of the site contains detailed specific information
on diseases common to particular regions of the world,
along with the recommended precautions and vaccines
advised to avoid those diseases.
- http://www.who.int/ith/english/index.htm
The World Health Organization¡¯s International Travel
and Health web page. This site contains information
on recommended vaccinations and general health advice
for travelers.
- http://www.who.int/ith/english/region.htm
The World Health Organization¡¯s Geographical distribution
of potential health hazards to travelers web page.
This site contains information, divided by regions
of the globe, on potential health hazards for travelers
within that region.
Where
can I find information that could help me to secure
proper medical care while I¡¯m traveling?
- http://www.sentex.net/~iamat/index.html
The International Association for Medical Assistance
to Travelers homepage. This is a nonprofit organization
that helps travelers to avoid illness while traveling
abroad. It also helps guide travelers in 125 countries
to competent medical care with doctors trained in
Western countries that speak either French or English
in addition to their native tongues. There is no charge
for membership in this organization, but donations
are appreciated to help continue IAMAT¡¯s work.
- http://www.medicalert.org
The Medic Alert homepage. This is a nonprofit organization
that provides bracelets that identify diseases or
allergies from which you suffer. The bracelet also
contains a phone number that can be called so medical
personnel can have access to your medical records
24-hours a day. There is a registration and yearly
membership fee to receive this service.
What
health information should I carry with me?
- Complete and take with you a personal medical history.
Your doctor should be able to help you complete the
history. It should include:
- Your Insurance Company¡¯s name and address.
- Trip Insurance contact information.
- Contact person in case of emergency.
- Your blood type.
- A copy of your eyeglass prescription.
- A list of current medications with their generic
names, brand names can vary in foreign countries.
- A list of allergies, including any known food or
drug allergies.
- A list of immunizations with their dates.
- A basic description of your past and present medical
condition, including past hospitalizations and any
current problems.
Do
I need Trip Insurance?
- Check with your insurance agent to see if your
current medical coverage will cover you outside the
country.
- Even if you are covered, you may still be expected
to pay the bill in cash and be reimbursed from your
insurance. Make sure you receive a completely itemized
bill, in English, if possible.
- If you don¡¯t have any coverage that will apply,
you should strongly consider travel insurance that
will cover you outside the country.
- Be sure to read the trip insurance policy carefully,
noting any deductibles, exceptions or exemptions for
pre-existing conditions, activities, diseases or areas
of the world.
- You also want to see if the policy covers any medical
evacuation costs, especially if you plan on traveling
to an area of the world that may not be able to provide
you the type of medical care you will need.
- You may be making your travel plans months in advance.
Many things can happen in that time that would cause
you to have to cancel your trip and possibly lose
your deposits.
- You are susceptible to travel delays, often ones
beyond your control, which can cause you to miss all
or part of your trip.
- Check the policy to make sure you are covered for
expenses caused by travel delays, as well as, cancellation
coverage.
How
can I protect my safety while traveling?
- Do the research so you¡¯ll know the particular risks
you face.
- Know the local laws and abide by them.
- Dress conservatively and try to blend in.
- Take care when choosing your hotel and transportation
providers.
- If you haven¡¯t left your valuables at home, leave
them in your hotel¡¯s safe.
- Don¡¯t draw attention to yourself, avoid wearing
flashy jewelry and don¡¯t display large amounts of
cash. Carry only enough cash to make it through the
day and leave the rest in the hotel¡¯s safe.
- Avoid traveling alone.
- Be careful about sharing your travel plans with
strangers.
- Stick to the main roads and avoid taking shortcuts
down narrow alleys and/or poorly lit streets.
- Always be aware of what is going on around you.
- Only use taxis, tours and other transportation
services with official markings. Only select transportation
from official pickup points at transportation hubs.
- Never accept gifts or packages from unknown parties.
- Approach any "special deals" with caution,
especially if you have to go off the beaten path to
get them.
- Take precautions to protect your money and avoid
pickpockets.
How
can I avoid being the victim of a pickpocket?
- Don¡¯t travel in narrow alleys or poorly lit streets.
- When possible, avoid having crowds of people surrounding
you.
- Carry a dummy wallet and put your money in your
front pocket.
- Place a rubber band around your wallet, it will
make it much more difficult to remove from your pocket
without your knowledge.
- Carry your purse under your arm.
- Carry your money under your clothes.
- Know some of the pickpocket's tricks.
What
are some of the pickpocket¡¯s tricks?
- There are lots of situations that pickpockets use
to create opportunities to relieve you of all that
heavy cash. Be especially aware of your money when
you find yourself in the following situations.
- Getting bumped by someone else.
- Having something spilled on you or someone pointing
out a spot on your clothing.
- Someone approaching you and asking for help or
directions.
- Someone causing a disturbance that draws everyone¡¯s
attention.
- Being surrounded by a crowd, especially if you
are surrounded by groups of children.
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