What to Do When You Get Sick While Traveling

Jul 11, 2015

first-aid-kit Illnesses and injuries are bad enough when you are at home, so when you are sick on the road, the pain is twice as bad. Whether it’s food poisoning on a long road trip, an injury at your destination, or a bug bite on the trail, getting sick or injured casts a cloud over your plans. What should you do if you are ill, and when should you seek medical attention?

Before you hit the road

If you have a long trip planned, take a few extra steps to ensure you have a plan if you do become sick on the road.

Talk to your healthcare provider, especially if you have a medical condition, about possible complications and extra medication for the road. Get a note from your doctor about your medical condition.
Call your insurance carrier and ask questions about your policy and coverage outside of your network.
Pack your health insurance card with you for the road.
Designate an emergency contact if something happens to you while you are on the road.
Pack an emergency kit. Don’t forget pills for motion sickness, an anti-histamine, extra water, electrolyte pills, and a stomach aid.
Give someone your itinerary, and check-in often.

While you are on the Road

When you are traveling across the state or across the US, remember a few tips to help you out to prevent illness or to help you overcome it quickly:

Avoid being too adventurous with your food choices. Yes, you are traveling and will want to try new things, but if you get sick, it is going to be a long car ride
Drink plenty of water on the road and munch on healthy snacks
Use hand sanitizer often, wash your hands before and after you eat, and use anti-bacterial wipes
If you are so sick that you cannot focus or stay out of the bathroom, pull over and stay the night somewhere. It is better to rest and be a little late than to rush and get even worse on the road or cause an accident

When to go to a Doctor

If you are experiencing any of the following, seek medical attention: