Traveling is a great way to break out of the daily grind and do something new, but life always has a way of sneaking up on you. (Yes, even at a lovely beach resort.) Natural disasters can strike at a moment’s notice or you might catch a cold along the way. But getting injured on vacation? Now that’s a whole other ballgame.
While you never want to think about it, accidents do happen on vacation. We certainly hope all your trips are as medically uneventful as possible, but it certainly helps to be prepared.
That’s why we turned to Sophie Blake. As an international travel nurse who documents all her adventures on her blog, The Traveling Sopha, she knows a thing or two about the medical industry on a global stage. To help, she’s sharing her thoughts about what to do when you get injured abroad.
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1. Plan Ahead
Though vacations should be filled with delicious food, incredible views, and great company, you should also account for a less-than-ideal itinerary.
For Blake, that means packing a DIY first-aid kit. “I always have antibacterial ointment, bandages, alcohol pads, tape, and ibuprofen,” she explains. “I also recommend bringing any medications you might need like allergy pills, motion sickness medications, as well as cold and flu meds.”
Blake also recommends considering any pre-existing conditions or common injuries. If you’re about to embark on an action-packed trip—but are prone to knee and ankle injuries—Blake says to add a brace or compression wrap to your bag. “You know you best,” she says.
2. Survey Vaccine Requirements
If you’re planning to leave the country, check your destination’s vaccination requirements. Some shots are simply a good idea—say, a rabies shot if you’re going somewhere with lots of stray animals—others are mandatory to gain access into the country. However, it’s important to schedule your shots strategically. Most options will take a few days or weeks to go into effect, so you’ll want to make sure you’re fully protected when you touch down. Another thing to consider is that live vaccines, which use a weakened attenuated version of the disease, either need to be administered on the same day or four weeks apart. (In other words? Since you don’t have that much wiggle room, you’ll want to book them well in advance.)
While travel clinics often have all the vaccines you’ll need, we should warn you that they can get pricey. However, isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?
3. Understand Your Course of Action
Getting injured or severely sick is a scary occurrence anywhere—especially when you’re somewhere new. “If you are sick or injured, I would first check on what the best course of action is based on where you are,” Blake says. “If you are severely ill or injured, go to the emergency room—or even call emergency services in that country.”
Thanks to the rise of telemedicine and electronic portals, it’s very easy to get in touch with your doctor while abroad. Typically, your practitioner will be able to share best practices or offer some helpful resources. If you can’t reach your doctor, you might want to swing by an urgent care if one’s nearby.
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4. Trust a Translator
Perhaps the only thing that’s scarier than getting injured abroad is getting injured abroad where there’s also a language barrier. To put your mind at ease, Blake recommends asking for a translator, whether that’s in-person or via phone. “You need to make sure everyone knows what you’re needing and you need to know what’s going on,” she explains. “Plus to explain past medical history, you’ll need someone to translate.” The good news is that you don’t need to be fluent to ask for an English-speaking representative: You can easily type your inquiry into a translator app.
5. Opt for Travel Insurance
Healthcare policies (and prices) ultimately vary from country to country, but Blake says travel insurance can give you some much-needed peace of mind wherever you are. “A lot of places don’t charge for medical care unlike the United States, or even if they do it tends to cost less than a typical visit to the doctor in the United States,” she says. “But travel insurance is usually so inexpensive!”
There are lots of travel insurance companies to choose from, but options like Faye and Freely provide intuitive customer experiences, fast claims, and medical emergency coverage. Want to pass on travel insurance? Blake says create an emergency fund. “You never know when you’ll need extra funds due to illness or injury,” she explains. “But that way you know you have it there to back you if you need it.”