Show #367 Airing Sunday, 12/17/06
Vacations should be fun. But without adequate planning, your travels could become travails. For example, what would you do if you pack your medications in your luggage, and your bags are lost? How would you get quality treatment if you suddenly fell ill far away from home? Joining us with practical answers to these questions and more is Dr. Nick Jouriles, an emergency medicine physician at Akron General Medical Center.
Question: If we are going on a trip, what should we do before we go?
Answer: A little preparation will really help make he trip better.
- Before you go on any trip, you should create a list of any medical problems, the names of medication you take along with the dosage, any allergies you might have, and the names and phone numbers of your physicians and family contacts. You should have this list with you here, as well.
- Make sure you have enough of your medicine. For overseas travel it should be in a travel sized, original container.
- Make sure you are in good shape.
- Check the weather forecast so you can take the correct clothing.
- If you are taking a trip outside of the United States, you may want to speak to your doctor, especially if you are going outside developed countries.
- You may want to visit a travel clinic. The Center for Disease Control's website has a list of special precautions for travel.
Question: How should we store our medication that we take with us?
Answer: Take your medication in your carry-on luggage so it doesn't get lost.
Question: Should we travel with any special items?
Answer: You should consider bringing a small First Aid Kit with you. It could contain some simple items like band aids, Bacitracin, Benadryl, Pepto-Bismol, Purell, sun screen and pain relievers.
The American College of Emergency Physicians has information on its web site.
If you are going to a Third World country, bringing some antibiotics might be necessary as well.
Question: What can we do to prevent getting sick on the plane?
Answer:
- Prepare for the trip.
- Consider bringing your own pillow or blanket.
- Consider a facemask during the winter flu season.
- Wash your hands frequently
- Drink lots of fluids since flying can cause dehydration.
- On trips longer than 3000 miles, get up and walk around to decrease your risk of blood clots.
Question: What can we do if we face a medical emergency while on a trip?
Answer: If traveling within the US, prepare ahead of time and identify the hospital emergency departments with physicians who are certified specialists in emergency medicine. In general, these are located in large, teaching hospitals. www.acep.org or www.saem.org
Outside of the US, emergency medicine becomes more difficult. Many countries have nationalized health care, so you may not be able to choose with facility you go to.
Travelers with chronic diseases may want to consider travel insurance.
Don't let a medical problem derail your travel. Follow Dr. Jouriles's advice. To learn more, give Akron General a call. The number's next.
