When traveling to major cities, there are pharmacies and shops that carry general over the counter medications. However, many are not the same as those you find in the states. So when you travel abroad, make the decision to be safe.
- Take enough medication for at least one month of travel.
- Decide to spend the extra money, even if your insurance will not pay for extra medication.
- Always carry two sets of medication with you.
- Pack them separately, one in your carry-on and one set either in your luggage or in the hands of a travel companion.
- Make a list of all the medications you are taking with you.
- Write down what the medications are for and when they should be taken. (People often report confusion when there are time differences that exceed 4 hours.)
- Keep all medications in their original bottles.
- Make a list of your medical conditions.
- Write the names and phone numbers of your local physicians.
- Contact your physicians two weeks before traveling to see if they wish to prescribe a special medication.
- Ask your local physicians if they have contacts with physicians and or hospitals where you are traveling, particularly if you have a chronic condition.
- Get information about the temperature, climate, and altitude as these might affect you.
- Overseas travel insurance sometimes needs to be supplemented. These policies are often relatively inexpensive and can pick up where your own insurance leaves off.
- Check with your own insurance company to find out the rules of foreign travel.
- Ask your insurance company for a phone number so that you may contact them in case a question about hospitalization arises. Make certain that the number is not an 800 number, which sometimes will not work from foreign countries.
- Carry a medical pack. (See tips for a customized kit.)
- Carry your own sugar substitutes, particularly if you are diabetic.
- If you have sensitive skin, bring at least one of your own cotton pillowcases, sheet or towels.
- Bring a soap that you know will not irritate your skin.
- Never go barefoot in a hotel room or hotel bath.
- Take extra glasses or contact lens.
- If you need supplemental oxygen, contact your insurance company beforehand. Often the company will pay if you notify them in advance.
- If you think you need wheelchair access, check with airlines, hotels, museums, and restaurants.
- If you are not feeling well, decide to stay at home and reschedule the trip. Phone your doctor and with a medical note most airlines and hotels will refund your money.
- Make certain your immunizations are up to date.
- Check websites of the Centers for Disease Control to determine if there are infectious diseases that you should be concerned about. Take proper precautions.
- Bring bottled water.
- Bring surgical masks, inexpensive ones will do, if you are traveling to cities with a high pollution content or infectious diseases such as TB or SARS.
- When the plan is ascending or descending – chew gum to keep your ears from popping.
- Decide to enjoy the trip by leaving your worries behind.
Copyright 2007 Watson