If you or your kids are not feeling well and you’re on vacation, it can make for a pretty awful vacation. You might be forced to spend your entire vacation cooped up in a hotel or Airbnb or worse, a doctor’s office. Many people think getting sick on vacation would never happen to them…until it does.

If you do happen to get sick while on vacation, It’s important to know what to do so you can speed up the healing process and et back to enjoying your vacation. In today’s post, we’re going to talk about how to handle sickness while traveling and why it is important to be prepared.

What To Prepare Before Your Vacation In Case You Get Sick

1. Always purchase travelers insurance if you are traveling internationally. This will cover you in the event that something were to happen. Make sure you purchase a policy that covers you and your kids. If you travel often it might be worth investing in an annual policy.
2. If you or your kids take any medication be sure to bring them with you on your vacation. As a rule of thumb, I always bring enough medication to get me through a week beyond my return home. If anything happens and I’m forced to stay longer.
3. Pack a basic first-aid kit. This should include things like bandages, pain meds, wound supplies, etc. You don’t need anything big, just something you can keep in your hotel, Airbnb, or day bag that will address mini emergencies.
4. Know the local emergency number before you go. The emergency number is not always 911 (especially when traveling internationally). Take a moment to look up the number before you leave the states. When you arrive at your hotel or Airbnb write the number on a pad of paper and leave it by the phone. If anything happens to you, this will allow your kids to call for help.

What To Do If Someone Gets Sick While on Vacation

1. If you need medical attention, find out where the nearest hospital is located and go. If your doctor recommended taking IV therapy to recover sooner and to boost your energy, you can search “IV near me” and find the nearest service provider. In most cases, they will visit your own location and provide an IV therapy infusion wherever is more convenient for you. Don’t worry about insurance or how you will pay. Let your travel insurance company worry about that. You focus on getting better. If you don’t have travel insurance, go anyway. Medical costs outside of the United States are usually cheaper so small emergencies just as broken arms might not be that bad.
2. Make sure to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest, even if it means staying in your hotel room all day.
3. If you have a child that is sick, keep them hydrated with fluids and give them lots of cuddles.
4. Don’t panic if your child throws up or has diarrhea while traveling, this is quite common when traveling internationally as their stomachs aren’t used to the new food they’ve been given. As long as no other symptoms arise such as fevers or severe pain then you’re probably okay to keep going on with your day. If anyone’s symptom gets worse instead of better, that’s a red flag and should be checked out immediately.

Tips To Avoid Getting Sick While On Vacation

1. Carry a small bottle of sanitizing hand gel with you at all times. When you are out in public restrooms, use the hand gel to sanitize your hands before and after using the bathroom.
2. Do not eat raw fruits or vegetables without washing them first.
3. Pay close attention to how meats are cooked and only eat well-cooked meats and fish.
4. Avoid ice cubes in your drinks, as these are made from tap water that can be contaminated.
5. Drink bottled water instead of tap water to avoid any bacteria lurking inside the pipes
6. Wash your hands before eating anything to prevent foodborne illness

While it’s true that you can’t always avoid getting sick on vacation, you can prepare for it which will always make the outcome 10 times better and mitigate your risk.