Travel Tip 59
What to do if you get hurt on a trip
I’ve hiked a lot of remote places solo, like Laguna de Los Tres in Argentine Patagonia. If I’d gotten hurt I would have needed both the kindest of strangers and a big evacuation policy on my travel insurance to get me from nearby El Chaltén to a larger town with a hospital.
Accidents can happen on a trip just like it can happen at home.
Some things, like getting sick or falling, may be more likely when you’re traveling because you’re eating unfamiliar food and walking in unfamiliar places. Here are my top four tips for what to do if you get hurt while traveling.
1. Make sure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Sometimes your credit card will cover certain kinds of insurance. Check if you have a card that will include rental car insurance if you use the card to pay for the car. Also check if it will cover lost or delayed luggage, if you use the card to pay for the flight. Some credit cards also pay out compensation for flight delays and other unexpected travel problems.
There will still be things your credit card won’t cover, to make sure you have a travel insurance policy that also covers getting sick or an accident. I’ve never needed to use my travel insurance, but I still always have it.
I use SafetyWing and if you buy insurance through my link, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I started using SafetyWing last year because it has lower premiums that the insurance I was previously buying, and it has better coverage.
Consider where you’re going when you decide on coverage. If you’ll be in an expensive place like Europe, you’ll need more coverage than if you’re somewhere that hospitals are cheap, like Thailand. However, if you’re going somewhere remote, like Hawaii, a cruise or Patagonia, you’ll need more coverage for medical evacuation.
An expensive policy isn’t always better.
When you’re comparing travel insurance policies, look at what they cover before you look at the price. There are over a dozen factors that go into pricing, such as the traveler’s age, the trip length and location, and other factors that have nothing to do with the quality of the policy, such as the marketing budget and shareholder expectations. I’m sure there’s a long list of things that affect prices that I’ve never even heard of.
I had to go to this clinic in Bogotá for a Covid test in 2021, which reminded me I had no idea what emergency numbers are in Colombia.
2. Know emergency numbers
Each country has their own version of 911, so be sure you know what those numbers are. In many countries, there isn’t one comprehensive number for all emergencies, and you may need to remember different numbers for medical emergencies than for fire or police to report a crime. Write the numbers down on something you won’t lose, like a sticky note on the back of your credit card or passport. Something in your wallet is usually better than on your passport, since that should be left in your hotel safe when you’re out and about.
3. Look into local hospitals
If you’re going to be in a particular city or country for a while, it’s worth checking which hospitals serve international travelers best. Some cities have private clinics that always have English-speaking staff on hand, or who have doctors trained in North America or Europe.
This community clinic on Amantaní Island in Lake Titicaca, Peru, is open 8am-2pm and in the afternoon for emergencies only. Needing medical attention on Amantaní would be another situation that you would need medical evacuation covered in your travel insurance.
4. Trust strangers
If you break your ankle on a hike, you’re going to have to rely on the kindness of strangers, unless you happen to be traveling with people strong enough to carry you out of the mountains. I’m on high alert for scammers when booking hotels or tours and on high alert for pickpockets when in a crowd, but if I’m sick, I let my guard down. I know that most people who offer to help are actually Good Samaritans.
Years ago, I lost count of how many strangers went out of their way to help me when I needed it. I can count on one hand the number of strangers who have taken advantage of me in some way when traveling. Go with your gut when accepting help, but keep in mind that most people truly are kind.
I loved the casitas at Sol y Luna in Urubamba. Click on the review below to see why!
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