International travelers and students studying abroad are advised to P-A-C-E themselves. WorldClinic at Lahey, a leading provider of distance medicine services to those who travel and work abroad, offers advice on Preparation-Alertness-Care-Equipment for your journey.
Be Prepared
- Develop a plan for dealing with a medical emergency. (For example, you might purchase travel or health insurance to cover costs of care overseas and medical evacuation.) Your current health insurance plan might not cover you, and many foreign healthcare providers require payment for services BEFORE care is provided.
Be Alert
- Heart attacks are a common cause of death abroad. At risk are older travelers (men over 45 and women over 50). If you are experiencing chest pain, profuse sweating with nausea, and jaw and arm pain, seek immediate help.
Be Careful
- Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of death among younger travelers. Take public transportation or hire a reputable driver when touring overseas. Avoid driving at night, particularly in developing nations.
- Drinking local water can be hazardous to your digestive system. While tap water may meet local purity standards, water-borne bacteria may be unfamiliar to your system and bring on a bout of traveler's diarrhea. Drink bottled water without ice. When eating local fruits, don't eat the skin because raw vegetables and fruits are often washed with local water.
- Bring along insect repellent and apply it twice daily. There are many insect-borne diseases, even in Europe. Ticks carry Lyme disease, mosquitoes spread encephalitis, and fleas can spread typhus.
Be Equipped
- Carry a Medical ID wallet card with you that includes important medical information. Keep it with your other travel documents. List your name, date of birth, allergies, blood type, medications, health problems, the name/address/phone of your doctor, and the person to call in an emergency. Keep this card with you at all times so that medical personnel will see it in the event of an emergency.
- Travel with common over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Benadryl, ibuprofen, cortisone cream, oral rehydration tablets, and topical antibiotic creams.
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