Have ever had to seek medical attention during a vacation? You are not alone as a new US survey has found that one in four trips include a visit to hospital and many are simply not prepared for the situation.
“When you’re going on vacation the last thing you want to think about is a medical emergency, but with just a few simple steps, you can rest assured that you will be prepared for any situation,” said Steven Corbett, an emergency medicine physician with P Phillips Hospital at Orlando Health in US.
“I understand that we only get so many days off throughout the year and we spend a lot of time planning our vacations,” said Corbett. “But I see people every day who think they can manage their conditions only to wind up in the ER, which ruins the trip for everyone involved,” said Corbet.
Road trip prep
Researchers said if you are dealing with a medical issue at the time of your trip or if you have a chronic condition, be sure to carry pertinent information with you. “Make a list of allergies you might have, take photos of
your prescriptions and upload images to your phone like X-rays, MRIs or EKG results,” Corbet said.
“It’s great if you have those things, but it does no good if we can’t get to it. Make sure your phone is unlocked and the information is readily available,” he said. One of the most common mistakes, researchers said, people make is that they run out of their medications in the midst of their vacation.
“Getting a refill in an unfamiliar place can be a challenge and going without your medication is never a good idea, so be sure you have enough to cover the duration of your trip,” they said.
Corbett said many patients wind up in the hospital because they did not speak up when they first started feeling ill. “They don’t want to be responsible for ruining everyone else’s fun, so they don’t just keep quiet,” he said.
“That can be very dangerous, especially if someone is having symptoms like chest pains or dizziness that can be sign of something serious. So, if something doesn’t seem right, speak up immediately,” said Corbett.
He suggests investing in travel insurance, especially if you are travelling out of the country. Drinking too much alcohol and overeating are common mistakes as well, especially indulging in exotic foods you are not used to eating, researchers said
