This summer, many families will travel all across the country. They will fly, drive, and take public transportation to vacation spots. Summer is a common time for family vacations, but it is also a common time for injuries and illnesses. Traveling can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming when you are not near your normal physicians. Many families do not even think about medical care needs, until they are met with a medical emergency while on vacation. You can prepare for a safe family vacation with the following travel care tips.
Double check all of your needed medications
You do not want to run out of a prescription while on vacation. It can be difficult to have it filled out of state. The new pharmacy may have different rules and regulations, making it even harder to pick up your needed medications. Always double check your medications before leaving. Count them and make sure you have enough to last the length of the trip. It may even be helpful to plan for additional days, in case your trip gets extended or you need a recovery time upon arriving back home.
Research emergency care at your trip destination
You will be doing travel research anyway, make sure you also find out where the local emergency care centers are. Hopefully you will not need them, but if you do, you will be happy that you researched this ahead of time. Look for locations, hours of operation, and a convenient quality and cost effective ER alterna. Emergency room visits now number approximately 110 million annually.
Although it is important to know where the local emergency departments are located, a convenient quality and cost effective ER alterna might be more useful. Look for any special needs, like after hours pediatrics departments or childrens urgent care centers.
Bring a first aid kit
Do not count on others to have first aid supplies readily available. Bring your own first aid kit. That way, you know exactly what is in it and you are prepared for any emergencies. Your first aid kit is also a great place to store your medical care research, including locations and contact numbers. Store your convenient quality and cost effective ER alterna in this kit for easy access. You are likely to find many options, so having a preferred one ahead of time will help you make a faster decision. There are currently approximately 9,300 walk in, standalone urgent care centers in the United States, and 50 to 100 new clinics open every year (numbers fluctuate with corporate buy overs, expansions, and consolidations).
Inform of your physician of your travel plans
If you are planning a quick weekend trip out of town, this step may not be necessary. However, if you are going on an extended vacation, it can be helpful to inform your primary physician?s office of your travel plans. They can notify you of any travel needs regarding medications or other medical needs. They will also be aware that if any medical emergencies do occur, the other physician may be calling for medical history. This is the best way to receive convenient medical treatment when away from home. Depending on your vacation destination, your physician may be able to refer you to a convenient quality and cost effective ER alterna in the area.
Traveling to a new destination can be exciting, but it can also be scary. You likely have your own group of preferred medical providers in your home state. When you travel, you may feel lost when a medical emergency occurs. Before you travel, make sure you have your plans researched ahead of time, including local medical treatment centers. Americans currently rely heavily on the 24 hour access to care provided by emergency departments, AD visits have increased by 22% over the past decade. A convenient quality and cost effective ER alterna may be more useful when traveling, but you need to know where they are located and their operating hours ahead of time.
