How to Handle Getting Sick While Traveling

Thank you Kurt Brown of Travel Tip Tank for these timely travel tips. Stay healthy! Stay safe!

There aren't many things worse than suffering an illness when you're on vacation, especially if you're traveling in a foreign country. Fortunately, technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the past few decades, so it's easier than ever to get quality care if you run into medical issues.

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Take Care of Your Body: Staying hydrated is critical whether you're at home or away, but in some countries, clean water isn't readily available. The last thing you want to do is drink untreated water and open your body up to bacteria, especially if you aren't near modern hospital facilities. That's why it's a great idea to always carry bottled water and make sure you're drinking as much as possible.

You'll also want to stay active so you can keep your body in good shape on the road. If you can find some space and a few free minutes, Nerd Fitness notes that you have the ability to stay active with some quality exercises. In the age of pandemics, people are more sensitive than ever to germs — so sanitizers should be readily available on your travels. Be sure to use them regularly and minimize your impact from unfriendly microorganisms.

Prepare Your Records: Modern technology has made it easier than ever for patients to update their files so doctors can access any necessary information. If you're in a tight spot medically, you really don't want to‌ deal with a potential language barrier with a doctor in a foreign country, making it a great idea to update your medical records in the cloud before you leave the United States.

If you've got your files updated, all you need to do is show them to a receptionist and you can share your medical history with anyone who might need to know it. When you're traveling with an illness, anything you can do to save a few minutes can make a big difference.

Take Safety (and Security) Precautions: As a follow up to the above pointer, it’s a good idea to have copies of your passport, credit cards, and other identification. As part of an overall strategy to take safety and security precautions while traveling and staying at a hotel, these documents will be needed in case you do need medical assistance. Whether these items are lost or stolen, you don’t want to be unprepared in case of an emergency.

Get Travel Insurance and Have a Plan B: Travel insurance is one of the best ways to ensure peace of mind when you're traveling, as it can help cover your medical expenses if you get sick away from home. In some countries that offer universal health care, you may not need to pay anything out-of-pocket, but there's no way to know for sure that will be the case before you leave, so it's best to be prepared just in case.

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On top of that, you should also be prepared to meet with an online doctor. Hospitals can get overrun quickly, and modern technology can allow you to meet with a doctor before symptoms become severe. If you need a prescription filled right away, an online doctor is often the best choice over trying to get treated at a hospital.

Prepare for Worry-free Travel: Travel is one of the best ways to experience all the world has to offer, and preparation is critical to getting the most out of your trips. Following some or all of the above tips – from taking care of your body and staying safe at your hotel to getting travel insurance – will help you prepare properly and mitigate any worries you may have if you do get sick while away from home.