Taking a trip overseas can be stressful enough at the best of times, but imagine factoring in trying to navigate when you’re under the weather. If you’re looking for advice on how to travel abroad with a medical condition or disability, you’d do well to follow this advice.

Make sure you have enough medication with you

Always prepare for the worst when it comes to a holiday. Disasters can strike at any moment – and one such issue which could arise might be the sudden sparsity of the medication which is keeping you healthy.

You may find your trip extended for an unforeseen reason. If that does happen, you may find the medication you took won’t be enough to cover the delay. Always “overstock” on what you need in case of this scenario.

Knowing how to get medical care abroad

If you’re someone who’s likely to need medical assistance on your travels, you’d be wise to become a member of the IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers).

By joining up with this organisation you’ll be privy to information regarding the exact spots where you can receive medical coverage, as well as how much these services are likely to end up costing you. This is a global organisation who provide help and support to everyone across the world.

Plan ahead

If you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail. Make sure you do your research when it comes to finding out what you should as a disabled or reduced mobility passenger when flying. Different airlines will naturally have contrasts when it comes to what is and isn’t allowed, so make sure to do specific background reading.

You may also want to plan what exactly it is you’ll need to be taking with you. Create a list of items which you think you’ll need in order to get through your holiday safely and without any mishaps.

Carry medical information on you
If the worst does happen, and you suddenly find yourself in an emergency situation, you’ll be handed a much greater chance of survival if the people dealing with you have a detailed description of your condition, your recommended medication and your allergies.

It would also be wise to include your travel and health insurance information, as well as contact details for your current GP. This info can be carried in any number of ways, but a smart option is to use a tag. This can be worn like a necklace and should ideally be kept on at all times throughout your holiday.

Learn some important foreign phrases or names

Some medical terms are universal – but not all. There’s a strong likelihood you’ll be heading somewhere on your travels which doesn’t speak English as a first language. If this is the case, you’d be clever to brush up on some basic phrases in order to ensure you’re never caught out.

Learn a mixture of simple vocab, as well as some longer phrases to guarantee you’re never left stranded when it comes to your medical requirements abroad. Even something as simple as teaching yourself the native word for “hospital” could help to save your life.

Have these tips helped you when it comes to considering how to deal with a medical condition when travelling abroad? Follow the advice and you’ll be in able to enjoy your holiday to the maximum, whatever your circumstances.