What if...you get sick while traveling?

[Lulubelle]

Thought there might be a few people on the board who might be interested in this.

I had to ask myself the question "what if" a recent medical crisis had happened while I was on my dive trip to Indonesia instead of here at home? It was a non diving related medical issue. The guy who discharged me from the hospital recently was also a travel medicine specialist. He told me about this organization...

IAMAT - Travel Health, Doctor Directory, Travel Medicine, Vaccinations

which if you are a member, can quickly link you to English speaking doctors everywhere. Feel schedule is modest and I'm guessing you could fight with your insurance company once you are home. I'm in. I'd never really thought about such a question before, but I have reason to now.

[jugglematt]

health while im travelling is important to me . when im far away from medical help at remote locations , i dont want to risk an aborted dive due to minor health scares so i

alyawys carry my own first aid kit including
-general antibiotic
-anti vomit
-anti diorea
-anti malarea
-topical antibiotic
-ear clear , dry out solution
-lozingers and medicated throat drops
-1 compression bandage
-iboprophen
-blockout/ lip balm
-cold sore cream
-antihistamine
- nazal clear medication
- insect repellent
-medical super glue ,( great for covering wounds while diving in the tropics)

i assume the resort or location im travelling too will have nothing , this kit has helped me out and kept me diving a number of times , and also helped my dive buddys out

it is small and ends up being less than 1/2 the size of a shoe box , if im traveling with a partner i will share the kit with them and only take 1 between us .

a great way to prevent the need to visit a doctor while away

Regards
Mat

[snagel]

Great info Lulu,

I'm leaving for Bonaire in a month and as it gets closer I'm checking things like my DAN insurance and calling my insurance company for information on what is/not covered out of the states. This helps my paranoia.

Snagel

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by jugglematt

health while im travelling is important to me . when im far away from medical help at remote locations , i dont want to risk an aborted dive due to minor health scares so i

alyawys carry my own first aid kit including
-general antibiotic
-anti vomit
-anti diorea
-anti malarea
-topical antibiotic
-ear clear , dry out solution
-lozingers and medicated throat drops
-1 compression bandage
-iboprophen
-blockout/ lip balm
-cold sore cream
-antihistamine
- nazal clear medication
- insect repellent
-medical super glue ,( great for covering wounds while diving in the tropics)

i assume the resort or location im travelling too will have nothing , this kit has helped me out and kept me diving a number of times , and also helped my dive buddys out

it is small and ends up being less than 1/2 the size of a shoe box , if im traveling with a partner i will share the kit with them and only take 1 between us .

a great way to prevent the need to visit a doctor while away

Regards
Mat

Hi Matt, I agree, I too travel with an veritable pharmacy when i travel. I have prescribing privileges in the US, so I can also assist my fellow travelers as well. What I was referring to are more serious medical situations which can come up and must require the attention of a doctor. I just had one here at home, I'm a pretty young and fit person, and I wondered what I would have done had I needed that degree of medical attention away from home.

Be careful with the antibiotics, as I'm sure you know, specific antibiotics cover specific organisms. Although the broad spectrum antibiotics are a good choice for travel or for someone who does not know which organisms are likely in an infected site, and as they cover most organisms, I prefer to use more selective antibiotics which only cover organisms likely for a particular site.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by snagel

Great info Lulu,

I'm leaving for Bonaire in a month and as it gets closer I'm checking things like my DAN insurance and calling my insurance company for information on what is/not covered out of the states. This helps my paranoia.

Snagel

I was happy to know about it. The only time I have ever needed assistance while outside of the US was when I was staying at a Four Seasons in Mexico. So accessing care was easy and English was widely spoken. I just aim to go to some exotic locations where this may not be the case. I'd rather overprepare than find myself severely ill and trying to communicate about my care with someone who does not speak English. So I'm joining this group prior to my next trip.

[PTAaron]

I believe DAN also does something similar for its members... unless I was reading something incorrectly. I thought it also covered help for non-diving related issues while traveling under a different part of the plan.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by PTAaron

I believe DAN also does something similar for its members... unless I was reading something incorrectly. I thought it also covered help for non-diving related issues while traveling under a different part of the plan.

It DOES Aaron, but the per occurrence coverage for the highest tier is low, 10K. If you had some major non dive related event, that wouldn't touch it. Hence I called my health insurer too to see what my international coverage is. But I like the idea of IAMAT as a good referral source to get me into the hands of a doctor whom I can communicate with.

[Rockhound76]

Originally Posted by Lulubelle

Thought there might be a few people on the board who might be interested in this.
.......

IAMAT - Travel Health, Doctor Directory, Travel Medicine, Vaccinations

which if you are a member, can quickly link you to English speaking doctors everywhere. Feel schedule is modest and I'm guessing you could fight with your insurance company once you are home. I'm in. I'd never really thought about such a question before, but I have reason to now.

Thanks Lulubelle, this is a great resource and I'm going to bookmark it. Regarding the costs, I'm thinking I'd rather pay cash. You look like you're getting a special deal.

[Lulubelle]

Originally Posted by Rockhound76

Thanks Lulubelle, this is a great resource and I'm going to bookmark it. Regarding the costs, I'm thinking I'd rather pay cash. You look like you're getting a special deal.

Not sure I'm following..pay cash for what? The visit? The membership? I think membership helps control some of those costs cash or not. But certainly there are things that could happen which are very expensive and not likely to be paid for in cash at the time of service. There are no special deals in this life, at least not in mine.

But I do like the idea of being able to communicate with the doctor if I need one abroad. I was recently trying to communicate with English speaking doctors here in the US while hospitalized and that was quite the challenge in and of itself!

[Rockhound76]

LOL.

Re-read my post and look closely at your quote. I put the operative term in bold.

(I did bookmark the site. thanks)