6 Medical Steps to Take Before Traveling Abroad

1.  See your doctor. See your regular physician if you have a chronic condition or new symptoms. Consult a doctor who specializes in travel medicine, too.

2.  Get your shots. Some require six weeks between doses so schedule yours for at least two months before your departure.

3.  Have an emergency plan. Know what you’d do at each destination if you needed a doctor or hospital.

4.  Bring medical supplies. Know how to replace them if they become lost or depleted or your return trip is delayed.

5.  Learn basic first aid. Hotels and resorts don’t require first-aid and CPR training for staff. Take a class before traveling overseas.

6.  Invest in an exit strategy. Look for evacuation insurance that allows your regular physician to act as your medical guardian and offers “take me home” benefits. Consider paying for round-the-clock access to a global emergency-medicine company.

—Chris Sidford, M.D. a board-certified emergency medical physician, founded Black Bag Global Emergency Medicine.