 Getting sick during a vacation or trip away from home is the absolute worst. It can happen to anyone, no matter how many precautions you take. In enclosed vessels like airplanes and cruise ships, illnesses are known to spread quickly. Just think about the 700 passengers who reportedly fell ill with stomach flu this week on Carnival Cruise Line's Liberty Ship (700 Passengers, Crew Sick Aboard Ship). Not a pretty picture. While we can't offer any miracle cures, we do have some tips on how to handle minor medical problems, colds and viruses while you're on the road (or sea, as the case may be):
- If you experience severe, prolonged or extreme discomfort in any way during your travels, get to a doctor immediately. On cruise ships, head to the medical facilities onboard. If you're staying at a hotel in the U.S. or abroad, ask the front desk or concierge to assist you in finding nearby medical help.
- If you have travel insurance, contact your provider for doctor recommendations in your area.
- Another option for fining local medical help in the U.S. is Hotel Docs, a medical service that sends physicians on "house calls" to hotels and homes.
- Before you travel overseas, consider joining the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers, a non-profit that helps - you guessed it - travelers find doctors and health care.
- During travel, take basic precautions like using hand sanitizer and washing your hands thoroughly before meals and after going to the bathroom.
- Make sure to get enough sleep. It's hard to snag those extra Zzs while's you're traveling, but you're much more likely to get sick if you let your body get rundown, tired and sleep-deprived.
- If you're going on a long trip, especially one to another country, consider getting a Cipro prescription from your doctor before you go. The antibiotic is used to treat a variety of illnesses from diarrhea to urinary tract infections, typhoid fever to severe bronchial infections. I've taken Cipro with me while traveling abroad and found it to come in handy.
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POSTED BY SYSADMIN - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2006
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