Family Travel: Minimize your chances of getting ill while traveling
Flu season is in full swing. With many families looking to travel at some point during the next three months, it's important to consider your illness plan. Granted, this isn't the first item most people tick off their list as they are packing for Thanksgiving at Grandma's. But given the high likelihood of someone falling ill this year, a sick plan should be considered with care.
- If you are traveling a significant distance from your home, go over your insurance policy to see if a hospital or clinic nearby is “in network.” If you can't tell from your policy – my company's web site is not easy to navigate – then call the company's customer service line before you depart. Make sure you write down not only the name of the clinic but also the date, time and person you spoke with (you never know if this will become necessary).
- While on the phone, find out if your policy has a 24-hour number manned by registered nurses. Write this down, too. You may need a professional to call if you're unsure you need to visit a local doctor.
- Take your insurance card(s) and your doctor's phone number. Some doctors offer after-hour services (for a fee) that may be worthwhile because your physician is familiar with your family. One caveat: the younger the patient, the higher the likelihood your child will need to be seen.
- If you want to be extremely organized, write down what medication each person takes on an index card. Be sure to include any vitamins and over-the-counter supplements as well.
- Take a day's supply of essentials with you: Children's Advil, nasal spray, cough drops….as annoying as the liquid rule is for flyers, it's better to have some of a needed med than to try and find a pharmacy at 3 a.m. Or worse, try to find “Children's Motrin” in a foreign language in a neighborhood you've only ever seen by day.
Be prepared. Illness – especially in children – can come up quickly. For most, this will end up as simply another unnecessary exercise. But for the few who do fall ill while vacationing, these simple tasks will save a lot of hassle.
Safe travels!
Got a story to share? Tell us about getting sick while out-of-town.
By Anna Philpot
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Anna | Oct 15, 2009 | Category: Family
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