TRAVELING SHOULD BE A JOYFUL ADVENTURE, AFTER ALL, NOT A TRIP THAT INCLUDES A VISIT TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. June/July 2016 75 SHUTTERSTOCK (2) HOMEWORK MATTERS With multiple health hazards waiting to strike like open bear traps, how can a person vacation with confidence? “Do your homework before you travel,” advises Pike. “Think of the things that could happen. Use resources, such as CDC.gov (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) if you travel internationally. Know what medical treatment is available if you get sick or injured, such as the location of the nearest hospital or urgent-care clinic. It’s important know what your resources are.” While at home, check each piece of gear to ensure everything is in working order. Inspect medicines, check expiration dates and open bottles. Do not assume that everything is where you put it last. “Good planning is your best plan of attack,” says Dr. Devon Davis of Global Rescue, a traveler’s support service based in Boston. “When you think through logically over everything you need, and if you feel you have done your best, go ahead and enjoy yourself. You’ll know that if anything does happen, you will be ready.” Or as the Boy Scouts handbook has advised for over a century: Be prepared. n
South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2016
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