NFIB

Health Precautions for Travelers
03/ 14/ 2002

Travel can give anyone a headache these days. Most people with medical problems know that they should follow certain health procedures before they travel, but even entirely healthy travelers should follow a few precautionary guidelines before hitting the road. The following tips, offered by contributor Jeffrey Moses, can benefit travelers with or without specific health concerns:

1. Always keep your prescription or non-prescription medications in your carry-on luggage. Don't assume that you'll be able to locate medication during your trip, and remember that checked luggage doesnÆt always arrive when you do.

2. Travelers with known health problems should record their physicians' names and phone numbers in a place easily found by others in case of emergency: a passport, wallet, handbag, etc. Along with this information, also include information about all medical problems, allergies, prescriptions and medications you are currently taking. Even travelers without specific health problems should keep their physicians' names and phone numbers with them in case they need to be contacted for records, personal information or advice.

3. For serious health problems, medic alert tags identify medical problems, provide an individual I.D. number for quick information about the wearer and a toll-free number for emergencies.

4. When you're planning to travel outside the United States, contact the Center for Disease Control for alerts about disease hazards worldwide (toll-free at 877.394.8747; Web site: www.cdc.gov and click on "Travel Health"). Numerous bulletins and publications are available free of charge from the site.

5. For ease of medical care while in a U.S. hotel, contact a service such as Hotel Docs, Inc. (800.468.3537), a medical network that will send a qualified physician right to your hotel room within an hour.

Small Business Sound Off
Does this story hit home?  Share your story with us