Handling Medical Emergency During Solo Travelling

Handling Medical Emergency During Solo Travelling – If you are solo travelling internationally you have to have medical insurance. After COVID-19, it is now compulsory to have medical insurance that covers COVID-19 emergencies. Is it a cashless facility or does the medical policy say that you pay money first and raise the bills later? Some travel insurance will have a cashless facility but you have to go to a certain hospital. Do Google check and see what kind of hospital it is. In this blog, we will learn about handling medical emergencies while solo travelling.

Once you are sorted with the right travel insurance you are good to go on your solo journey. However, one question remains, you are alone and you have to reach the hospital yourself. Depending upon the emergency either you will prepare yourself to go to the hospital or make a call.

Let’s say you have had food poisoning which can happen to anybody of us. You’ll get diarrhoea and your body will lose fluid and make you weak. Now, I’m no doctor but that’s what happened to me. You should have Oral Rehydration Salts Solutions (ORS). This will help you get up on your feet and then you can go to a doctor.

My point is always to carry a medical kit. We all know what to take for some small problems like headaches or fever. Small cuts or bruises can also be taken care of by this medical kit.  This kit and the travel insurance should always be with you. This will help in case of an accident.

Also Read – Safety Issues, Don’t Let Them Cancel Your Solo Travel

Phones can break and you may lose all contacts. We all lock our phones, and in a bad accident, people will not know who to call.  You should memorise an emergency number. I am bad at remembering numbers so I have made a card and have all the contact on it. I have even mentioned the relationship with each number. If you are unconscious someone can always check and inform the concerned person.

Always carry your prescription drugs with you. Firstly, you might not find the right medicine if you thought you could buy it from there. Secondly, some countries don’t recognize other countries’ prescriptions. Some pharmacies might accept but they are limited. If you are in the USA check this link for more information on prescription drugs.

The other common injury which happens is the ankle twist. It will halt your journey if it’s severe. However, if you follow the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) you can save yourself from a lot of pain. Once you are confident you can either Google or call your hotel to get to the nearest hospital.

This brings me to the next habit, carrying emergency cash. You should have local currency with you for sure. For emergency cash have US Dollars with you. It is easy to carry and can be exchanged anywhere. This will be helpful if you are on tour far from the countryside or a local village on a hill. If you are in a group you might get some respite but if you are alone it could become a big problem.

Also Read – Are Hostels the Best Option for Stay While Solo Travelling

When it comes to solo travel, dealing with a medical emergency takes the cake! Trust me, I’ve been there. Even when I felt like the Grim Reaper was tapping on my shoulder with a nasty fever, I refused to let it ruin my trip. Those two days following the fever were the most epic! These types of situations can put your problem-solving skills to the test and change your outlook on life.

I was living solo in Bangalore and knew I couldn’t rely on my friends every time I got the sniffles. So, I bravely hopped in an auto-rickshaw, saw a doctor, did all the tests, picked up some meds, and returned home to nurse myself back to health. Looking back, I felt like a total rock star! Life’s problems can feel massive, but with little guts and determination, you can conquer anything and become a confident, fearless traveller.