Taking care of your health while traveling is something you may be concerned about before and during your stay. Whether it is for a trip to France or to a country abroad, it is preferable to be well prepared. For this, several things are to be expected: a first aid kit, a European health insurance card, and why not additional insurance? A simple phone or tablet is enough to have access to the online consultation. Whether you are traveling alone, as a couple or as a family, here are 6 tips for a trip in peace!
1. Bring a first aid kit
The first aid kit is an essential to forward for health problems when traveling. Whether you are going alone, as a couple or as a family with children, the content will be almost identical. Only, the larger the group of people, the more you will need to plan in quantity.
Here is a list of the inevitable to take with you:
- Physiological serum: to clean a wound, unblock a nose, remove dirt from the eyes
- Compresses: to cleanse, but also to use them as a bandage with a sticky tape
- Disinfectant
- Adhesive tape
- Crepe strips
- A small dry soap
- Scissors: pay attention to the size if you are traveling by plane (less than 6 cm)
- Tweezers
- A tick clamp
- An aspi-venom
- Bandages
- Special dressings for blisters
- A thermomètre
- Cotton swabs
Aid kit
This is the essentials to take with you. This kit will allow you to deal with small everyday injuries. Now, here is everything you can add to your kit :
- Cotton: it is possible to use only compresses, but it is then necessary to take in large enough quantity
- Pills to purify water (depending on the country)
- Sterile gloves
- An antibacterial gel
- Paracetamol
- A soothing cream for insect bites
- Anti-insect spray
- Treatment for diarrhea
- Treatment for reflux / heartburn
- A lip balm
- Sunscreen, to ward off sunburn
- An ointment for burns
- A coupe ongle
- A file
- An antihistamine in case of allergy
- Tiger balm
- Moisturizing cream or oil
- Homeopathy
- Medicines you need (contraception or any other prescription you have from your doctor)
If you are traveling with medication, don't forget to take your prescriptions with you. Some pills or capsules are stored in tablets: then put some scotch tape on it, this secures the aluminum foil. So your treatment will not come out on its own! Remember that when traveling by plane, each vial and tube of liquid product should not exceed 100 ml. (for cabin baggage only). It will therefore be necessary to be vigilant on the quantity of the product that you buy to protect your health when traveling.
2. Get the European health insurance card
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used in all states of the European Union and in Switzerland. It is free and can be ordered from your health insurance organization.. You must make the request at least 20 days before your departure. If your request is too late and you do not receive it on time, you will have a certificate valid for 3 months. The CEAM is individual and nominative. It is therefore necessary to make the request for each person taking part in the trip, including for children under 16 years old.
The European health insurance card
By having an EHIC, you will have the right to benefits in the same conditions and prices as the insured in the country where you are. If the care is free, then it will also be free for you. On the other hand, if the service is chargeable, you will have to advance the costs. You can request reimbursement either on site from the health insurance institution of the country where you are staying, or on return to France. Of course, to get your money back, you must have invoices and proof of care. Only unforeseen and necessary care is covered by the EHIC. Private and scheduled care is therefore not part of it!
3. Take care of your health while traveling with video consultations
It is possible that during your stay, you fall ill… whether it is from a cold, an ear infection, an allergy, a urinary tract infection, a sore throat, a rash of pimples or others. In that case, you do not want to encumber a hospital emergency department of course and would like to have an appointment with a doctor. But it is sometimes difficult to find a practitioner available at the place of your stay. If you are abroad, you may also have a problem with the language barrier.
Online consultation
So of course, LIVI does not replace the presence of a doctor because certain pathologies cannot be diagnosed by teleconsultation. But this allows you to have a first consultation to deal with any health concerns while traveling. Whether you are at home, without a doctor's office at your disposal, or in a foreign country ... you can speak to a doctor! And this, 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 23 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. In addition, the application is free and the teleconsultations are at the same price as in a cabinet of sector 1. Enough to travel everywhere in the world with peace of mind!
4. Choose bank card insurance
Depending on the bank card you have (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), you are entitled to certain insurance policies specially dedicated to your health while traveling. It is imperative to see with your advisor what you have the right and the allocated limit. Generally, for insurance to work, it is absolutely necessary to be registered with a health insurance plan. Here are some types of support available depending on your card:
- Medical fees
- Cost of medication prescribed by a doctor
- Ambulance ride to the nearest hospital (if social security refusal of reimbursement)
- Hospital costs
- Dental expenses
The reimbursement amounts are depending on the assistance organization that is subscribed with your card. Normally, they can be put on for any health condition that requires healing while on the move. Don't hesitate to call for assistance!
5. Subscribe to additional insurance
There are complementary international health. They allow you to avoid paying a high price for unforeseen care. Depending on the package chosen, you may have the right to:
- Repatriation for medical reasons
- Support for medical, dental and hospital costs
- Support for search and rescue costs
- Sending medication
- Civil liability abroad
- Repatriation in the event of death
- Coverage of funeral costs.
The price of insurance and the amount of compensation vary depending on the options and the formula chosen. However, pay attention to warranty exclusions (epidemic, pandemic, relapse of a disease, forgetfulness of vaccination, etc.).
6. Do a check-up before leaving on your trip
Before each departure, the ideal is to have a check-up with your doctor. You can then tell him about your trip and discuss with him what you will need to maintain your health while traveling. Some vaccinations may need to be done. In addition, it is also important to ask him for a duplicate prescription for the usual medications prescribed to you.
Vaccin
Take care of your health while traveling
Traveling, whether in France or abroad, is always wonderful. And to make the most of your stay, it is essential to be well prepared for health problems. This is why it is important to provide a good first aid kit. But also, to know the insurance you have and to know that there are consultations by competent doctors, in video. By putting all of these tips in place, you will have everything you need to take care of your health while traveling. Whether for a vacation, a world tour, a nomadic life, a stay for work or even at your home… these tips are valid for everyone!
Have you ever been ill during one of your trips? How did you deal with this? Let's talk about it in the comments!
