Traveling with children when they're sick

Guest Blog with Shelly Rivoli.

Tips for finding medical care while traveling with children

Shelly is the mother of two and author of the award-winning guide Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children.

Her book covers air travel, road trips, beach vacations, cruises, train trips, camping, and overseas travel.
Travels with Baby also addresses many health and safety concerns, and includes a traveler’s guide to ear infections; common travel ailments and aids; travel vaccination information for infants, children, and breastfeeding mothers; and also tips for childproofing on the go.

Here are her tips for finding a doctor in case your child gets sick while traveling.

For many parents planning travel with babies and small children, finding a suitable doctor far from home—if needed—tops their list of travel concerns, and understandably so.

Ear infections happen, among other things.
I learned this firsthand as our daughter Angelina was diagnosed with her first (a double ear infection, no less) while we were overseas. On another trip, our daughter Rosalyn managed to cut her finger badly while we visited southern Mexico. In both cases, we were thankful to be able to get medical care for the children right away. The journeys continued, and the wonderful memories live on.

While there are no guarantees that everyone will stay healthy on your next vacation, there are certainly ways you can ensure you’ll get the medical care you need should you need it as you travel with your child.

Before you go:

1. Ask about an “advice nurse” hotline
Whether for-a-fee or free, this resource may be available to you through your doctor’s office, medical organization, or your medical insurance provider. Since this type of service isn’t always widely advertised, it can be well worth an extra phone call or two to find out if it’s an option for you.

2. Create an iHealth Record
An iHealth Record stores each family member’s health information in one convenient, secure place. Prescriptions, allergies, vaccinations, blood type, and insurance information can be instantly accessed by a medical professional if and when needed anywhere in the world where internet access is available. Ask your doctor or find out more at www.iHealthRecord.org.

3. Join IAMAT
If your family will be traveling to a region where English-speaking or Western-trained doctors may be difficult to find, consider joining the International Association for Medical Assisatance to Travellers. IAMAT will help you find a qualified doctor at pre-set prices, and membership is free—though a donation is (understandably) encouraged. More information at www.iamat.org.

4. Consider medical evacuation coverage
In the event that anyone in your family needed hospitalization during your trip, you might be very glad to have medical evacuation coverage through AirMed, Medjet Assist, or Medevac through Travel Guard. Any of these plans will provide worldwide air transportation with skilled medics to the hospital of your choice. If you’re purchasing travel insurance for your trip, you may be able to choose a plan that includes medical evacuation coverage. Your credit card may also offer this protection with other travel benefits, but call to verify. If not, medical evacuation plans can be purchased a la carte through the sites listed above.

While you’re away:

1. Find a local doctor online
While traveling anywhere throughout the U.S. and Canada, you can use the American Academy of Pediatrics’ website to search for registered doctors, pediatricians, or pediatric dentists near your destination: www.aap.org/referral.

2. Ask the front desk.
Many hotels, including most hosting international guests around the globe, have local doctors they can recommend to guests as well as addresses to nearby clinics, hospitals, and of course pharmacies.
Also, be sure to have your child’s “travel kit” ready to go so that you can treat any scrapes, stings, or common ailments quickly with familiar remedies from home. See my book for help with packing tips.

Safe journey,

Shelly Rivoli

For more information about Travels with Baby, visit www.travelswithbaby.com and see Shelly’s blog at www.travelswithbaby.blogspot.com.

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Hi Barb-
You may also want to let readers know about medical evacuation coverage. One of my clients, Air Ambulance Card (www.airambulancecard.com), flies sick or injured members home to the hospital of their choice when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home. It's peace of mind at a small price.

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