After a long period of waiting and many hours of planning, your family is finally visiting you in the USA. You have planned their travel itinerary and purchased insurance for their stay here. However, your family members are visiting you in an alien environment for them. The weather, the food available, and the lifestyle are all new to them. Quite often your family members are elderly, and they take some time to adjust to these changes. The following are some suggestions that can keep their visit to the US healthy and safe.
All visitor health insurance for US Visitors will not cover preventative care or pre-existing medical ailments. You can overcome these limitations in visitor health insurance by having a health check-up prior to leaving your home country. This will identify any lurking health issues for which you can take early remedial measures. In the event of an existing medical ailment, it is a good idea to get medications from your home country.
Children are excited to have their parents visit and would like to show their parents as much of the country as possible in a short period of time. You should consider the age factor of the visitors as well as the new environment that they are exposed to. Do not make exhausting travel plans all crammed during the 2-3 day weekend. Do ask the parents about their comfort level with your travel plans.
The following are some common ailments that travelers can experience. We have provided some suggestions which can help you while traveling.
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Common Ailments Allergies
People who suffer from allergies should take the same precautions on vacation as they do at home. Bring any medications used on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to bring an antihistamine in case of accidental exposure to a substance that triggers an allergic reaction.
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Arthritis
The inflammation of the joints that occurs with arthritis may be especially troubling during long trips that restrict movement. Taking frequent breaks to walk around and relieve stiff joints and muscles can make car, plane and cruise trips more enjoyable. Remember to pack aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or any prescription medications you normally use for arthritis. -
Blood Pressure
Even for patients who have a history of high blood sugar, it is good advice to purchase some home testing kits. These kits come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A pharmacist or the diabetes clinic nurse can advise you about the best model. You can usually obtain a blood glucose meter at little cost.
You can learn to measure blood sugar levels simply and quickly with a home blood glucose level testing kit. All kits have at least two things: a measuring device and a strip. To check your blood sugar level, put a small amount of blood on the strip. Now place the strip into the device. After about 30 seconds it will display the blood glucose level. The best way to take a blood sample is by pricking your finger with a sharp lancet that is designed to penetrate the skin only as far as needed to draw a drop of blood.
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Blood Sugar (Diabetes)
Some policies state specific dollar limits on what they will pay for particular services. Other policies pay “usual” or “reasonable and customary” charges, which means they pay what is usually charged in the local area. Be very careful in evaluating policies with specific dollar limits; for serious illnesses, the limit might be far too low and you might have large medical bills not covered by your insurance.
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Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is an unpleasant problem for many travelers; however, there are some over-the-counter and prescription medications available. If you wish to combat motion sickness on your own, try the following:
When traveling by car, try to sit in the front seat and, if you can, avoid reading as it only heightens the feeling of motion sickness.
When traveling by boat, sit as close to the middle of the vessel as possible and look straight ahead at the horizon, a fixed point that will not move. Today’s high-tech cruise ships are built for comfort, with stabilizers for smooth sailing, and most passengers experience little or no motion sickness.
When flying, try to sit near the wing of the plane, or the side where you are accustomed to driving. Ear plugs also may help.
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Extremes: Heatstroke and Hypothermia
To avoid heatstroke, stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. By the same token, try to avoid unusually cold water to prevent hypothermia.
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Dehydration
There’s nothing more miserable than getting sick while on vacation. For most destinations, the major health risk to travelers is diarrhea, which may be easily avoided. In general, common sense prevails. When in doubt, steer clear of uncooked meat, raw fruits and vegetables and unpasteurized milk products, and drink only bottled water (although the tip of the bottle may be contaminated, so wipe it clean before drinking from it) or water that has been boiled for at least 20 minutes. If you begin to feel sick or develop a fever, rest and drink tea or purified water. Most cases of traveler’s diarrhea clear up within a few days.
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Diarrhea
If you suffer from an overactive bladder or irritable bowel syndrome, you may require frequent bathroom visits during long trips. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications are often helpful for the latter, and there are prescription medications available for people who may experience more severe symptoms. Avoiding stress, caffeine, and certain types of high-fat foods can help keep these conditions under control.
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Overactive Bladder and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
To avoid heatstroke, stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. By the same token, try to avoid unusually cold water to prevent hypothermia.
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Animal and Insect Bites
If you are bitten by a wild animal, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Many animal bites require a tetanus shot and, in certain cases, a rabies shot. If bitten by a snake, lie as still as possible so not to spread the venom that may be present; then send others to get help immediately.
Check your body for ticks. Remove any with tweezers and watch the area for rash over the course of the next few weeks. See your doctor if you develop abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, rash, cough or weight loss.
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First Aid Kit
It’s a good idea to keep a first-aid kit handy for any emergencies that may arise during your trip. It should include:
- A first-aid manual
- Bandages, gauze and tape
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Thermometer
- Antibiotic ointment
- Antiseptic
- Antihistamine
- Aspirin
- Cold and flu tablets
- Throat lozenges
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Motion sickness medication
- Spare pair of glasses
- Antacid
- Insect repellent
- Calamine lotion
- Cortisone cream
- Sunscreen
- Health and vaccination records
