Planning Ahead for Vacation Emergencies Part I: Medical
Emergencies
When planning for your Caribbean vacation, one could easily to
get carried away in the excitement and thrills of your upcoming
trip. But before you embark on your dream vacation, take a few
minutes to consider the possibility of medical emergency
situations that could arise during your trip to the Caribbean.
No one wants to think negatively when planning a trip to the
beautiful Caribbean, but the truth is, anything can happen at
any time. Consider what you would do in case a health emergency
occurs while you're on vacation. You could save yourself a lot
of heartache and frustration in the long run.
Medical emergencies can happen unexpectedly, but there are
things you can do to be prepared just in case. Prior to leaving
for your Caribbean destination, be sure to carry with you
emergency contact information, medication, and health insurance
information. Then, make sure to locate medical facilities on the
island.
Who to Call
If you or one of your travel companions does have a medical
emergency during your vacation, you will need to find help on
the island. Whether you need of a police officer, physician, or
ambulance you must be able to provide necessary information in
order to communicate effectively with the proper officials. Many
people panic during emergencies, which can make it difficult to
think clearly enough to find the right phone number. This can
lead to frustration, which can prolong your search for emergency
information.
Waiting until a medical emergency happens to look for emergency
contact information can cost you precious minutes. Before your
trip, take a few minutes to find the information and phone
numbers for hospitals, ambulances, fire departments, police
stations, and the local U.S. consulate or embassy located on the
specific island where you'll be staying. Write these emergency
numbers down on a piece of paper or a flash card that will be
easy for you to read. Put your emergency numbers in a place you
can quickly remember like a wallet, purse, or suitcase pocket,
so if needed, you can quickly access these vital numbers. This
simple step can save you the trouble of fumbling through a phone
book or other listings that may even be printed in a foreign
language.
Taking Medication
Vacationers who are taking prescription medications, or are
following a regiment of over-the-counter drugs, should consider
some general advice. Remember to pack enough medication for your
entire trip. Keep your medications stored in their original
packaging, with clearly marked labels. Also, bring a letter from
your doctor describing all of your medical conditions, the names
of the medicines you've been prescribed, as well as their
generic names. If you need to carry syringes in order to take
your medications, be sure to carry a letter from your physician
describing their necessity.
Pack your medicines in your hand luggage so you can get to them
quickly should you need to. And keep an extra supply of your
medication in your checked baggage, just in case something
happens to your other doses. Travelers who are prone to major
allergic reactions or who have serious chronic medical
conditions may want to consider wearing a medical alert bracelet
should a trip to the hospital become necessary.
Find out before hand if immunizations are required to visit a
particular region. You are going to be in a foreign country,
which may have different health risks than your own country.
Vacationers should be up-to-date on all routine immunizations,
such as tetanus, measles, and mumps. This medical precaution can
help you avoid contracting preventable infections and illnesses
and can decrease the risk of some medical emergencies.
Health Insurance
A lot of travelers don't know whether their health insurance
will cover claims or doctor's office visits while on vacation.
Contact your medical insurance provider and ask whether you will
be covered while visiting the Caribbean. Some health insurance
companies will not reimburse for medical treatment overseas.
If you do have a medical emergency while vacationing in the
Caribbean, the cost of your treatment may be very expensive,
especially if you don't have health insurance, and you could be
faced with medical bills reaching thousands of dollars. So if
your insurance company won't compensate your medical expenses
while you're outside of your home country, you may want to
consider purchasing supplemental, temporary insurance, designed
for travelers going abroad. This kind of insurance is perfect in
case of a medical emergency while on vacation, and can cover the
costs of emergency procedures and medical evacuation.
Medical emergencies can't always be anticipated while on
vacation, but there are a few things you can do in advance to
make sure you're prepared in case a situation does come up. If
you want to find out more about health and medical topics in the
Caribbean, many helpful resources on traveler safety in the
Caribbean are available, such as the comprehensive online guide
found at http://Caribbean-guide.info.