5 Medical Air Transport Tips for Healthy Travel
Jetting off to faraway lands? Whether you’re traveling to Tokyo for business, backpacking through Europe, or sightseeing your way through South America, you want to be prepared for any unexpected medical emergency. Before you head out on that exciting excursion abroad, here is a handy healthcare checklist to ensure you’ve covered your bases.
Medical air transport tip #1. Get a pre-travel check up
One of the first things you should do before travelling is to visit your local clinic. Getting a quick checkup—medical, dental, eye tests, etc.— before you go can save you a lot of hassles and bills when you are in a foreign country. Don’t wait until you are thousands of kilometres away from home to deal with a medical emergency.
Medical air transport tip #2. Fill your prescriptions
Fill your prescriptions before you travel—you don’t want to run short while you are away, not to mention the challenge it may be to get your medicine abroad. You’ll also want to invest some time finding out how to replace your prescriptions in case they get lost in transit. Don’t forget to pack your emergency medicines, like asthma inhalers and epinephrine.
Medical air transport tip #3. Visit the CDC website
Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to get important health information and vaccination requirements of the destination you are planning to visit. You’ll want to get a head start as early as possible—some vaccines take up to six weeks to take effect. It’s also a good idea to research your travel destination for any recent outbreaks or health notices.
Medical air transport tip #4. Buy Travel Insurance
Many medical insurance policies don’t cover or limit coverage for international travel. So, before you take your trip, make sure to purchase the right amount (and the right kind) of insurance, including medical air transport coverage. The proper health insurance will not only help you in the event of a medical emergency, but also give you peace of mind knowing you are protected from the unexpected.
Medical air transport tip #5. Research your healthcare options
When it comes to your health when you travel, you can never be too careful. Find out where the closest hospital and clinics are to your hotel. If you lose your prescriptions, you’ll need to know where to go to get them filled. Also, check to see if medical air ambulances service the country you plan to visit.
Foreign languages, unfamiliar places, and different cultures—getting sick abroad can be scary. A little preparation now can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong later.
For all your medical air transport needs overseas, contact Lifesupport Air Medical Services before you leave.
