Traveling or living abroad for an extended period of time requires different planning than a weeklong business trip or even a month-long vacation. People who will be living outside the United States for an extended period of time need to make some of the same preparations they would if they were moving to a new town or across the country.
Anyone who is preparing to move abroad for even a few months should visit their doctor, dentist, and any medical specialists they have for a check-up and medication review. Prescriptions should be filled for several months’ worth of medicine, if possible. Some prescription medicines may be difficult to obtain outside the United States, and a plan may need to be made to ensure they can be continued. People who are planning to live or travel abroad for an extended period of time should also get any recommended vaccinations before traveling, and ask their doctors if there are any new medicines they should take, such as antimalarial drugs, or antibiotics in case they develop severe traveler’s diarrhea.
If possible, people who are moving abroad or traveling for an extended time should ask friends or co-workers who are already living there to recommend a doctor in their new country.
After arriving in their new country, people should be extra cautious in avoiding accidents. They should be careful when biking or riding a motorcycle on heavily traveled roads, and avoid such roads at night. They should ask about and understand traffic laws, including the side of the road cars travel on. Travelers should never assume that drivers respond to traffic lights and signals as they do in the United States. Travelers or expatriates should wear seatbelts in vehicles, and only travel in cabs that have a meter, radio, and the driver’s identification badge displayed.
It can be tempting to experience the night life in a new country, but drinking to intoxication in public places, such as a bar or restaurant, can make expatriates and travelers vulnerable to robbers and other criminals. As in the United States, do not drink and swim, as it increases the risk of drowning.
Other common-sense tips to enjoy life abroad include wearing insect repellant, long-sleeve shirts and long pants to prevent bug bites, and using netting or screens to keep mosquitoes away, particularly at night.
People who live abroad for an extended period of time also need to pay attention to their mental health. Being far from family and friends, or living in an unfamiliar culture, can be disorienting and stressful. Eating well, exercising, and finding a group of people who are in a similar situation can help provide opportunities to build bonds, share experiences and relieve stress.
If You Need A Long-Distance Medical Transport
Even if travelers and expatriates plan ahead and make safety-conscious choices, accidents can still happen. Depending on the country where one is living and the quality of medical care available, the best and most appropriate care for a person who is ill or injured might be in their home country. A patient may require a long-distance medical transport to travel to a medical center in their home country for treatment or extended care.
SentinelMED provides medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services to help navigate the complexities of long-distance travel for sick or elderly patients. The SentinelMED team can arrange an affordable long-distance medical transport from discharge at a hospital or medical facility to a receiving health care facility or family member who is able to assume their care. For patients who do not have a family member or friend to travel with them, a medical escort can make it possible to travel on commercial airlines and provide assistance with security and customs, while also addressing any medical needs.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
