Comments on: How To Handle Medical Emergencies On The Road http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:07:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Boris http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-60050 Boris Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:28:37 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-60050 I've seen more foreign hospitals from the inside than I care to remember. I got Dengue and Typhoid Fever in Thailand, got bent in Indonesia and had a good few too many motorbike accidents over the years, luckily none of them too serious. I only carry diving insurance and included in that is a small travel insurance. I have to pay for everything up to 200 EUR myself. Sometimes it's frustrating talking to the doctors, but in the end I was always treated properly. Most doctors, even in so called 3rd world countries, speak a bit of English. Couple that with sign language and you can get the essential things across. I’ve seen more foreign hospitals from the inside than I care to remember. I got Dengue and Typhoid Fever in Thailand, got bent in Indonesia and had a good few too many motorbike accidents over the years, luckily none of them too serious. I only carry diving insurance and included in that is a small travel insurance. I have to pay for everything up to 200 EUR myself. Sometimes it’s frustrating talking to the doctors, but in the end I was always treated properly. Most doctors, even in so called 3rd world countries, speak a bit of English. Couple that with sign language and you can get the essential things across.

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]]> By: Turner http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58755 Turner Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:10:15 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58755 Thanks for the comments, everyone. Sorry it took me a while to respond. Chris - I have an American Express card and did not know that - good to know once I leave Japan and won't have steady medical coverage. Thanks for the tip. Pam - I definitely didn't think about it when I first came here. Now that I've actually had to go into surgery (even minor), I'll be keeping a closer eye out for insurance. Marie - Sorry it didn't meet your expectations, but I think the key points were conveyed. When I was injured, I spoke a little of the native language, but wasn't exactly fluent in medical Japanese. Thus, I thought I learned what were to be the essentials of dealing with sudden injuries: if you're outside, scream "hospital!"; once you're with the doctor, describe your injury in simple words; when you're released, think about your finances and how much time you need for a full recovery. Elizabeth - Point taken. If you're with a native, this may not be an issue, but if you're near a payphone or have purchased a cell, you should definitely get the emergency numbers at the border. Unless, of course, you believe the police or physicians in your present environment can't be trusted. Ian - USD $896.17 Joshua - Still on the lookout for that giggling nurse. Amanda and Elizabeth again - Absolutely, getting an interpreter is a good idea, especially if you're only planning a short stay. However, forgoing an interpreter taught me how to deal with the system on my own - yes, it was painful and confusing (discussing my surgery, the doctor had a few English words for me: "surgery... plate... tomorrow... OK?"), but using an interpreter takes you slightly out of the equation. At least on your own, you're more in control of the situation. Granted, this may not be the best advice for someone facing amputation or gunshot wound care. For all native-English speakers, consult the local US embassy website - they should have a list of preferred doctors in your country. Keep the comments coming - my first BNT article. Thanks for the comments, everyone. Sorry it took me a while to respond.

Chris –
I have an American Express card and did not know that – good to know once I leave Japan and won’t have steady medical coverage. Thanks for the tip.

Pam -
I definitely didn’t think about it when I first came here. Now that I’ve actually had to go into surgery (even minor), I’ll be keeping a closer eye out for insurance.

Marie –
Sorry it didn’t meet your expectations, but I think the key points were conveyed. When I was injured, I spoke a little of the native language, but wasn’t exactly fluent in medical Japanese. Thus, I thought I learned what were to be the essentials of dealing with sudden injuries: if you’re outside, scream “hospital!”; once you’re with the doctor, describe your injury in simple words; when you’re released, think about your finances and how much time you need for a full recovery.

Elizabeth -
Point taken. If you’re with a native, this may not be an issue, but if you’re near a payphone or have purchased a cell, you should definitely get the emergency numbers at the border. Unless, of course, you believe the police or physicians in your present environment can’t be trusted.

Ian -
USD $896.17

Joshua –
Still on the lookout for that giggling nurse.

Amanda and Elizabeth again –
Absolutely, getting an interpreter is a good idea, especially if you’re only planning a short stay. However, forgoing an interpreter taught me how to deal with the system on my own – yes, it was painful and confusing (discussing my surgery, the doctor had a few English words for me: “surgery… plate… tomorrow… OK?”), but using an interpreter takes you slightly out of the equation. At least on your own, you’re more in control of the situation. Granted, this may not be the best advice for someone facing amputation or gunshot wound care.

For all native-English speakers, consult the local US embassy website – they should have a list of preferred doctors in your country.

Keep the comments coming – my first BNT article.

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]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58735 Elizabeth Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:06:57 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58735 This is something that not everyone thinks about, but definitely should, before traveling. @Amanda- I like your idea of finding someone to translate. Your state of health is not something to be lost in translation! This is something that not everyone thinks about, but definitely should, before traveling.
@Amanda- I like your idea of finding someone to translate. Your state of health is not something to be lost in translation!

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]]> By: Amanda Kendle http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58726 Amanda Kendle Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:52:27 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58726 Not at all life-threatening, but I had a root canal emergency while I was living in Japan and getting a dentist who'd deal with it properly was a huge headache (to go with the soul-destroying toothache I already had). As in Tip #1 here, the language you need to describe the pain/problem is the biggest hurdle, I think (as are dentists who advertise as "English-speaking" but can't). Next time my first step would be to find someone who could translate for me. The happy result is I learned a lot of Japanese words about describing pain =) Not at all life-threatening, but I had a root canal emergency while I was living in Japan and getting a dentist who’d deal with it properly was a huge headache (to go with the soul-destroying toothache I already had). As in Tip #1 here, the language you need to describe the pain/problem is the biggest hurdle, I think (as are dentists who advertise as “English-speaking” but can’t). Next time my first step would be to find someone who could translate for me. The happy result is I learned a lot of Japanese words about describing pain =)

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]]> By: Daniel Harbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58715 Daniel Harbecke Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:20:31 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58715 Are you kidding? We've got the best medical care money can buy (but no one can afford)! Why, we can't keep 'em in the hospitals (let alone get 'em in)! I'm a little divided on the subject. But it's a good thing we've got our bubble suits. "Never leave home without your bubble suit!" we say. Are you kidding? We’ve got the best medical care money can buy (but no one can afford)! Why, we can’t keep ‘em in the hospitals (let alone get ‘em in)!

I’m a little divided on the subject.

But it’s a good thing we’ve got our bubble suits. “Never leave home without your bubble suit!” we say.

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]]> By: Joshua http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58712 Joshua Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:29:30 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58712 Step 1. Find a doctor / nurse / paramedic.. Step 2. Befriend said person Step 3. Entice them into accompanying you on your travels. Results in: On the spot coverage Step 1.

Find a doctor / nurse / paramedic..

Step 2.

Befriend said person

Step 3.

Entice them into accompanying you on your travels.

Results in:
On the spot coverage

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]]> By: Ian MacKenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58708 Ian MacKenzie Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:35:44 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58708 My wife and I had medical insurance on our trip to Thailand in 2006. Good thing - she somehow contracted food poisoning...we think from her cooking class! Anyway after 2 days of stomach clenching pain, I took her to the local private hospital in Chiang Mai. She spent the night in her own private room, a balcony, a dedicated nurse, IV drip, the whole bit. The next day when I came to collect her and pay the bill, I reached for my insurance card and anticipated the astronomical cost... The cost (including anti-biotics) came to $22.50 in Canadian dollars. I put my insurance card away and just paid cash. In this instance we were lucky. But I can't imagine what the cost would have been in the US.... My wife and I had medical insurance on our trip to Thailand in 2006. Good thing – she somehow contracted food poisoning…we think from her cooking class! Anyway after 2 days of stomach clenching pain, I took her to the local private hospital in Chiang Mai.

She spent the night in her own private room, a balcony, a dedicated nurse, IV drip, the whole bit. The next day when I came to collect her and pay the bill, I reached for my insurance card and anticipated the astronomical cost…

The cost (including anti-biotics) came to $22.50 in Canadian dollars. I put my insurance card away and just paid cash.

In this instance we were lucky. But I can’t imagine what the cost would have been in the US….

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]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58703 Elizabeth Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:46:27 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58703 I like the tip about knowing more specific words to describe symptoms. That advice would also apply to anyone who had a medical condition or allergy. One thing I would add would be to figure out ahead of time who to call in an emergency. At the very least, travellers should know how to contact emergency services or hospital, their travel insurance provider (or emergency assistance company), tour operator (if applicable), and local embassy. Government travel advice often provides emergency phone numbers and discusses local health facilities and services. I like the tip about knowing more specific words to describe symptoms. That advice would also apply to anyone who had a medical condition or allergy.

One thing I would add would be to figure out ahead of time who to call in an emergency. At the very least, travellers should know how to contact emergency services or hospital, their travel insurance provider (or emergency assistance company), tour operator (if applicable), and local embassy. Government travel advice often provides emergency phone numbers and discusses local health facilities and services.

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]]> By: Marie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58702 Marie Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:35:31 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58702 I was a bit surprised at this article because it doesn't really answer the question posed by the title. I've got travel insurance, and I've learned a little of the language, but I've fallen off my bike or had an allergic reaction and what do I actually do next? I was a bit surprised at this article because it doesn’t really answer the question posed by the title. I’ve got travel insurance, and I’ve learned a little of the language, but I’ve fallen off my bike or had an allergic reaction and what do I actually do next?

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]]> By: pam http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-58698 pam Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:20:49 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/27/how-to-handle-medical-emergencies-on-the-road/#comment-58698 When we were younger travelers, insurance wasn't even on our minds. Now, we carry travel insurance. It covers emergencies, helps you find medical care, and even covers the costs of those last minute flights if you have to go home for treatment. You don't HAVE to sit around worrying about the costs of seeking treatment if you've got insurance, you just get treatment. And depending on your injury/condition, it can be critical that you get treatment immediately,regardless of cost. Should you really be thinking "Can I afford that x-ray" when the issue is "Will my hand ever work again?" or "Do I have dengue?" When we were younger travelers, insurance wasn’t even on our minds. Now, we carry travel insurance. It covers emergencies, helps you find medical care, and even covers the costs of those last minute flights if you have to go home for treatment. You don’t HAVE to sit around worrying about the costs of seeking treatment if you’ve got insurance, you just get treatment.

And depending on your injury/condition, it can be critical that you get treatment immediately,regardless of cost. Should you really be thinking “Can I afford that x-ray” when the issue is “Will my hand ever work again?” or “Do I have dengue?”

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