How to prepare for medical emergencies while traveling ?
Despite all precautions, vaccinations and medicines, it is impossible to avoid any accident or illness. If you have a health problem, seek local help from a doctor or hospital. If necessary, your doctor will continue the treatment when you return. Obviously, you don't want to think about it, but preparing for such situations may save your life, or that of others. Here are some simple tips to help you get started.
Prepare your health card
If you find yourself in an emergency situation and you cannot express yourself clearly (either because of the language barrier or your state of health), preparing a medical card in advance can be very helpful. Slipped into your wallet, it can inform healthcare staff of medical data that can help them treat you faster and more effectively. Here are some examples of information you can include in your health record :
Last name, first name, nationality, date of birth
Main food or drug allergies
Blood group
Current treatment (if you are taking medication)
History of operations or surgeries
All other conditions concerning you: asthma, anemia, hemophilia, heart murmur, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, long-term or rare diseases…
Emergency contact
Being alone and sick on the other side of the world can be scary. Always remember to put in your telephone or paper directory an emergency contact to call if your state of health requires it.
In fact, if the police or medical staff arrive and find you in a state that does not allow you to express yourself, it will always be possible for them to call your emergency contact to find out more about you and to hold your loved ones informed.
The choice of your emergency contact is very important : it must be a reachable person, who knows you well (family, spouse or close friend) and above all who will be able to exchange with the person after thread by giving clear and understandable information. It is therefore important that this person is fluent in English or, even better, the language of the country in which you are located.
Emergency numbers
Emergency numbers of course depend on the country you are in, but you can use 112, which is the only free number that is valid throughout Europe and in certain neighboring countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Israel or Turkey.
You can also note the 911, the famous “nine one one” which operates in the United States as well as in Canada.
It is also interesting to note the number of the representation of your country of origin (embassy or consulate) in your country of destination. They can, in certain cases, help you in delicate situations or warn those around you.
Pack your first aid kit
Taking a small first aid kit with you is never a bad idea. In addition to general medications such as aspirin or paracetamol which can help you in case of headache or other mild pain, the first aid kit allows you to quickly heal yourself so as not to aggravate a situation which, in the long run, can become a medical emergency.
So take with you a small kit with disinfectant wipes and bandages: nothing worse than a small wound that becomes infected and can become serious. If you are allergic, add an antihistamine which can be lifesaving. Ditto for other illnesses like asthma, always having your medication with you can often save the situation and avoid an emergency.
Travel insurance
Purchasing travel insurance will not help you immediately in an emergency, and it is more important to contact local emergency services than your insurer in these cases. However, your insurance assistance platform, which can be reached at any time, can help you find the doctor closest to you and organize your hospitalization, and even your repatriation if your condition requires it. In addition, travel insurance will take care of your care, wherever you are in the world, an argument that allows you to leave with peace of mind.
Buying travel insurance before leaving is another step you can take, which can save you and your wallet from the expensive care you may need abroad.
You now know what simple steps to take to best manage medical emergencies that may occur while traveling. Without falling into anxiety and seeing danger everywhere, these few steps can reassure you and perhaps save your life or that of others.
Some health insurers prefer other relief organizations, which should be contacted directly. According to your indications, the operations manager and the doctors will take the necessary measures to organize the transport, the ideal moment and the type of repatriation.
Types of services provided by rescue organizations:
Organize repatriation to the patient's destination hospital in Switzerland
Organize transportation and hospitalization abroad in the nearest specialized clinic
Help in case of language problems and contact with the doctor abroad
Advice on problems with medicines and indications for alternative preparations
In extremely unstable situations, there are medical aircraft equipped with the necessary resuscitation equipment. When the patient's condition allows, transportation can take place on an airliner, accompanied by a medical team.
