What to do in medical emergencies in Europe?

by Pooja Late so cut

A vacation is meant to be a period of joy and fun; it comes with a rewarding and exciting experience, but even a perfectly planned trip can turn into a nightmare for many. This becomes worse when it has to do with an unforeseen medical emergency or complications. If you find yourself in this situation, what will be your reaction? How best are you prepared for such a disaster? No matter what the situation may be, it is better to be prepared than having no idea when disaster strikes.

What to do in case of medical emergencies abroad

When you experience a medical emergency while abroad, the first reasonable thing to do is to seek for help or assistance. If you can’t find an emergency number to make a call, better still you can shout out for help. It doesn’t matter who is close by – your partner, nearby stranger or hotel staff, call out to them to call for emergency call. At this point, the important thing to do is to take you to the nearest clinic or hospital.

Throughout Europe, the first place to attend to your health problem is a pharmacy store and not the doctor. European pharmacists can diagnose and prescribe remedies for simple problems such as blisters, sore throats, stomach issues, fevers, sinus problems, urinary tract infections, and back pain. Most of these cities in Europe have at least a few 24-hour pharmacies.

How to plan for a medical emergency before traveling abroad

Now you know what to do in case of emergency, but how can you reduce your chances of medical challenges abroad. You need to prepare for it because you can get sick anywhere. Nevertheless, adhering to certain advanced preparation will help not spell disaster during your travel.

Consult your doctor before traveling

Before finalizing your traveling, take some time to visit the doctor to ensure you are in good shape. Most medical emergencies are because of improper checkup on the individual. They are so excited about their trip that they forget to visit the doctor. For others, it is merely not adhering to the instruction of their doctor. Also, ensure you find out if there are recommended vaccinations for your country of visit.

When it comes to medication, you must understand that the way things are done in your home country and Europe are different. For instance, in the US certain drugs that require a prescription are available over the counter in Europe. Some of these drugs have different names. Furthermore, some European medications can be stronger than their counterparts in the US, so it is important to follow directions and dosages as prescribed by a doctor.

For many Indians, they would rather buy forex online and get their money transfer from India quickly by only money transfer. In contacting your credit card company, you can also verify if it has buy forex online india . The forex card will enable you to convert your money to the visiting country currency. Peradventure you still have a balance after your trip; you can transfer it to your bank. Your bank is in the better position to educate you on how to transfer from forex card to bank account.

Deepak Tiwan is a first response medical officer. He has travelled exclusively to many countries giving lecturers on safety procedures and crisis management. He is actively involved in training medical officers in GCC countries and Europe.