Traveling, especially traveling abroad, can be an exciting time where you get to experience things you’d normally never get to experience at home. And while many of these things are something to look forward to, one thing no one wants to experience abroad is getting sick or injured. Not only could this ruin your trip, but it could also become an administrative headache for you as well. So to help you know how to navigate these potentially murky waters, here are three tips for dealing with an illness or injury brought on while traveling.
What Constitutes Needing Medical Help
For basic illnesses or injuries, you likely won’t even need to seek medical attention. If the reason you’re sick or the injury you sustained will sort itself out in a few days, it’s not really worth trying to get medical help in a different country while traveling. However, Laura Lynch, a contributor to SavoredJourneys.com, shares that if you have been in a car accident, have been sexually assaulted, or have a dental emergency, you should seek medical help. Also, if you have a high fever that won’t break, you’re in an area where infectious diseases are common, or your skin has been punctured by either an animal or other dangerous object, you should get into a doctor if you can. These things are serious enough that you’re not going to want to wait until you get home to check on what’s going on.
Call Your Insurance Carrier Back Home
If you’ve determined that you should get medical attention, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance carrier back home. Natalie Southwick, a contributor to GoOverseas.com, shares that many insurances are pretty restrictive when it comes to coverage outside of your country of origin, so you may be paying for a lot of the medical attention you receive straight out of your own pocket. But to be sure, make sure you give your insurance provider a call to see what steps you should take to take the most advantage of your insurance coverage in your current situation.
Know How To Stay Safe On The Roads
According to Autumn Yates, a contributor to HighYa.com, the number one killer of healthy U.S. citizen traveling abroad is car accidents. Knowing this, it’s crucial that you take road safety seriously. Yates recommends always wearing a seatbelt, not traveling on the roads at night, skipping the motorbike ride, learning local rules of the road, and being careful when crossing the street. The last thing you want to do after your vacation is figure out how to work with a local’s insurance to get a settlement handled, so make safety your priority.
If you’re worried about how to react to physical disaster while traveling, use the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.