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WHAT IF I GET SICK?

Some Valuable Tips for Healthy Travel Abroad

With the continuing strong economy, Americans of all ages will be planning trips to more adventurous, exotic and challenging destinations across the globe. The array of activities and tour programs is unbelievable. But what happens if you or your family gets sick far away from home?�����

According to a recent survey of 350 Americans who have traveled abroad within the past 12 months, commissioned by Philadelphia-based International SOS, 56% expressed �concern� or �great concern� over access to good medical care. The possibility of becoming ill while oversees generated concern or great concern among 45% of Americans, while 34% were concerned with suffering an accident while on foreign soil. �

Of those travelers surveyed, 63% said they personally knew one or more individuals who have been hospitalized, or been crime victims, while traveling overseas. Among frequent travelers, the number who knew international travel victims jumped to 79%.

According to Dr. Lyndon Laminack, SOS Group Deputy Medical Director for the Americas, �Being prepared for an unexpected illness or health-threatening situation in advance of a trip abroad is the best advice for anyone going overseas. When you realize that the most frequent causes of illness overseas are traveler�s diarrhea, vaccine preventable illnesses like hepatitis A, infectious diseases including malaria, and automobile accidents, why take unnecessary risks?��

Dr. Laminack offers the following tips for reducing medical risks when planning a trip to one of the more adventurous parts of the world:

Be sure to take enough medications with you for your trip and keep all prescription drugs in their original containers with the generic names clearly marked on the labels. Bring personal necessities (i.e., sunscreen, feminine hygiene products and contraceptives). In addition, you may want to carry anti-bacterial towelettes and /or soap. They may not be as readily available as commonly thought.

Malaria is the #1 life-threatening infectious disease for travelers. When visiting areas where the malaria risk is high, alter high-risk behaviors (rural travel, nighttime exposure, unscreened accommodations).

Insect repellents containing DEET applied to the skin, insecticide applied to clothing and long sleeves and trousers are also effective measures. Travelers with diabetes represent a special population. Please consult with your physician prior to traveling. Special attention should be paid to transporting insulin and syringes into foreign countries, adjusting insulin dosing and meal times to correspond with time zone changes;

Be prepared for jet lag when traveling across three or more time zones

Avoid tap water, ice cubes and local dairy products when overseas and eat only well-cooked foods that are still hot. Also avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, raw seafood and foods sold at roadside stands. No one wants to be laid up with traveler�s diarrhea because of being too adventurous about local foods.

Review pre-trip information including booklets from the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs and check relevant sites on the Web. You can never know too much about where you�re going.

Make two copies of your airline ticket, passport and other documents in the event yours are lost.� Keep one copy in a safe location other than your luggage. The second copy should be given to someone you trust for safe keeping at home.

Know the laws and penalties for alcohol and/or drug-related offenses, such as drunk driving, and act accordingly. Be aware of the laws pertaining to sexual relations and make certain to bring protection with you.

Fasten your seat belts when riding in an automobile. According to recent statistics, automobile accidents now top the list as the number one reason for fatalities overseas.

Consider purchasing a medical, personal and travel assistance membership that will provide you with 24-hour emergency services including worldwide legal assistance, emergency message transmission to the member's family, emergency medical evacuation, and much more, for the duration of your trip.

International SOS provides a variety of plans for individual travelers as well as couples. You can enroll on-line or get more information by visiting the SOS website at http://www.internationalsos.com or contact International SOS, Eight Neshaminy Interplex, Ste. 207, Trevose, PA 19053-6956 or phone 1-800-523-8662.

Edited by Kerry Cohen

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