Traveling, whether for business or pleasure, is stressful. The last thing you want to deal with is a serious injury or illness. Not only will it prevent you from fulfilling your professional duties or enjoying your vacation, but it can also be extremely costly and uncomfortable. And while you can’t always prevent issues from occurring, you can be proactive about how you respond in the wake of a health crisis.
6 Smart Tips to Keep in Mind
A health scare or injury is stressful enough when you’re home. When you’re traveling – domestically or internationally – it’s exponentially more challenging. Not only are you out of your comfort zone, but you also don’t have the support of friends and family nearby. But all is not lost – here’s what you should do:
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Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may seem like one of those add-on expenses travel agents and insurance salesmen throw at you, but it’s actually really smart to carry when traveling abroad.
When you carry travel insurance, it not only saves you money, but it also helps you cut through some of the red tape, complicated billing procedures, and bureaucracy that often comes with getting medical care in a foreign country.
When traveling within the country, you probably don’t need it. It’s wise, however, to always have your health insurance information readily available for a time of need.
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Be Smart and Cautious
Don’t take unnecessary risks when traveling. By making smart and cautious decisions, you can avoid many of the injuries and illnesses that plague travelers.
For example, let’s say you’re traveling from the U.S. to Great Britain. As you probably know, they drive on the opposite side of the road there. If you’re going to be doing any driving, you’ll want to make sure you’ve familiarized yourself with any road laws that may be different. If you’re traveling to a third-world country, find out if it’s okay to drink the water (or if you need to drink filtered water). Little bits of information like this can prevent silly mistakes that put your health at risk.
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Always Let Someone Know Where You Are
Before leaving home, always let at least one person know where you’re going. More importantly, give them specific information on where you’ll be staying, who you’ll be meeting up with, and how you can be reached. This will come in handy, should something happen.
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Get Immediate Medical Attention
Don’t delay in getting medical attention. While you may be hesitant to seek out medical care in a city or country that you don’t call home, it’s imperative that you have your situation seen by a professional as soon as possible. Any delay in medical care can actually worsen the extent of your condition and create further complications.
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Get Professional Help (If Necessary)
If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve been injured or harmed as a result of someone else’s negligence, you’ll want to get some legal help as soon as possible. As the Herrman & Herrman Law Firm always tells its clients, the sooner you obtain legal assistance, the more likely it is that you’ll get a fair shake.
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Take it Easy
Just because you’re on vacation or a business trip, doesn’t mean you have to keep pushing through an injury or illness. The temptation is certainly there, but do yourself a favor and take it easy. If you have to cancel some of your plans, so be it. The worst thing you can do is pretend like the incident hasn’t occurred. This will only exacerbate the problem.
Don’t Let an Injury or Illness Sneak Up on You
You never go into a vacation expecting to become sick or injured, but life isn’t perfect. Knowing how to respond in a health crisis will allow you to avoid additional pain and suffering.
Hopefully these tips have provided you with a better idea of what it looks like to make smart and calculated decisions. When in doubt, surround yourself with the right people and take advice from experienced individuals who know what they’re talking about.
