Ellen PhillipsWell, Memorial Day is behind us, which opens the door to summer vacation planning and traveling. While we may check for the best rates, airfares and deals on travel, sometimes we forget to consider what happens if illness strikes and our best laid plans go amiss.
Consumer Report’s medical experts have come up with strategies to help us stay well while traveling.
Once while vacationing in St. Maarten, my husband developed a severe case of kidney stones. The local doctor prescribed medication that made the pain worse and nearly placed Hubby in renal failure before we could get home. While we did have travel insurance, I decided to never travel overseas without paying extra to get immediate medical evacuation back home.
Anyone who suffers from a chronic condition or simply fears an emergency might want to check this out. (Don’t make the mistake of thinking all cruise ships have a doctor onboard, either; a crew member with medical training is sufficient, according to international maritime law.)
Here are a few more tips:
‘ Always take your medical records. If your physician uses a patient portal, download your record to a thumb drive and keep it with you on your travels.
‘ Carry a record of your prescriptions. When flying, take a printed list of prescription drugs in case a TSA officer questions your pills.
‘ Never pack prescription medications in your checked luggage. Don’t even store meds in carry-ons, as the airline might require them to be checked in the event of a full flight. A tote bag, backpack or purse that never leaves your side is the best idea.
‘ Wash, wash, wash! Since it’s proven that the water used to brew your onboard coffee can contain e-coli, it stands to reason the bathroom lavatory may not be the cleanest either for sanitizing. Carry plenty of hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes to disinfect hands, seatback trays and armrests.
‘ Move those legs. Blood clots can develop from long periods of sitting, especially during air travel. Walk around every couple of hours if traveling by car; do the same if riding on a train, bus or plane, although every hour is certainly healthier with air.
‘ Stay hydrated. Take bottled water on an airplane and drink it. Not only is humidity low, but plane travel causes dehydration and a dry nose that can progress to a cold.
‘ Eat wisely. Yes, homemade Italian pasta or freshly-baked French croissants taste delectable, but don’t overeat your way into a potential heart attack.Clean hands, bottled water and hot, freshly prepared foods are the best ways to avoid travelers’ diarrhea or upset stomach. To be on the safe side, tuck some Pepto into your suitcase, especially if traveling to less-urbanized areas. (“Bugs” harmless to locals can cause problems to visitors.) Consumer Reports advises taking two tabs four times a day since the medicine contains a mild antibacterial effect.
‘ Lock your smartphones to keep Sammy Scammer out and designate an ICE (in case of emergency) contact on your phone that can be accessed by emergency personnel. Here’s how to create ICE wallpaper on a locked cell phone follows:
1. Find a picture you admire. Place a slip of paper on it with your ICE phone number written at the bottom.
2. Take a photo of the picture with your cell.
3. Go to “Settings, “Wallpaper” then “Choose a New Wallpaper.”
4. Click on the desired photo, zoom it to the desired size, and click “Set.”
Your health and safety contact is now visible for protection while the personal information remains just that private.
Ellen Phillips may be reached at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com