Falling sick in a foreign land can be nightmarish (unless you have a pretty host who is willing to take care of you for eternity). We often neglect bad health while on a trip thinking we’ll take care of the problem after reaching home. Well, do remember the maxim “A stitch in time saves nine.” Here are a few tips which you can read and re-read and re-re-read until your mind refuses to read them anymore:
1. Visit a doctor
It sounds quite a basic advice, but the ironic fact is that most travelers are deaf to this idea. Tourists, for some reason, are unable to put confidence in a doctor or in a hospital at a foreign locale where the culture and the language can be starkly different from what they are used to. But when you are sick, a doctor is the next best thing to God, irrespective of the culture, geography or language!
2. Contact your travel agent
One reason why we always push people to go for a vacation under the guidance of a professional travel operator is that you can always reach out to him in case something goes wrong. Your travel agent may have the experience to guide you at a time when your mind goes blank and you are unable to take even the simplest of decisions.
3. Get travel insurance before leaving for the holiday
If you plan to make regular trips to different countries, you must get a travel insurance policy. That will take care of your medical expenses incurred during travels & tours.
4. Avoid alcohol and driving
If you are feeling dizzy or going through any general malaise, avoid alcohol at any cost. It can make you sicker than you already are. Also, do not drive as you will be a lot more vulnerable to accidents at that point of time.
5. Pop up common pills
In case you are going through problems which are commonly associated with travelling (like a ‘Bali belly’ or jet lag or severe weariness or headache), you may pop up a basic pill which you will find in your first-aid box. Don’t forget to leave your home without a first-aid box in the first place.
6. Avoid street food and drink bottled water
Since you say you’re sick, you should not plunge into the delights of street food. Also, drink only bottled water for the time being.
7. If nothing works, contact your family back home
In case, nothing works, you can contact your family and ask them to arrange for the funeral.
Well, just kidding! We are sure that they will be able to connect you to a local doctor. Alternatively, if you have a family doctor, you can talk to him directly or via the help of your family/friends.
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