AirWaves and GroundRules

Whatever Happened to Swine Flu? Should Travelers Still Worry?

2009-06-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago, you couldn't hear anything else for the low roar of Swine Flu talk. It was on television, the radio, the subject of every casual conversation, email, chat and tweet.

And then Iranians revolted, Michael Jackson died and swine flu seemingly ceased to exist. Travelers: breathe a sigh of relief. But according to a leading travel medicine doctor, you may still want to take that breath at least six feet from the closest coughing stranger.

While we fixated elsewhere, the number of Swine Flu cases grew to some 55,000 world wide. There's been a case reported in nearly every country by now. So why isn't Dr. David Freedman, director of the UAB Traveler's Health Clinic (an Air Ambulance Card partner, see directory at left), sounding a code red for travelers? "The United States still has a whole lot of [Swine Flu] cases and people who worry about going to a foreign country and getting Swine Flu while there, I'd have to tell them their chances are probably greater getting it in New York City."

Add to that, those who don't travel much, the very young, are more likely to contract Swine Flu. Only 5% of cases are those over 50 years of age. Freedman says travelers in their 50's and 60's likely were exposed to a similar flu some 30 or 40 years ago and still carry some effective antibodies.

Still, there are some areas of concern. Flu viruses transmit better in winter. So travelers planning a trip to Australia, Chile, South Africa or anywhere far south of the equator should take precautions. Freedman recommends:

Stay 5-6 feet from travelers who are coughing
Wash hands frequently, especially before eating
Carry tissues and hand them out to fellow travelers who are not covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing

But, perhaps most importantly, don't become so fixated on Swine Flu that you neglect other travel health practices. Freedman says travelers headed for tropical or developing countries face far more serious health problems from diseases like malaria if they fail to get the necessary vaccines and medication. "They are probably more serious risks at this time," says Freedman.

Traveling to Mexico? Safeguard against Swine Flu emergency.

2009-04-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

By now you know, if you are headed to Mexico... or states that border our friends to the south, the US and Mexican governments are urging certain precautions against contracting Swine Flu. Here are the highlights:

1. Avoid close contact.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

4. Clean your hands frequently.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Of course, we at Air Ambulance Card recommend you take one added precaution. In the event you are hospitalized while traveling away from home, make sure youcan get home to the doctors and hospitals you trust. Air Ambulance Card flies sick or injured members home to the US or Canadian hospital OF THEIR CHOICE about a dedicated medical aircraft when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, domestically or internationally. An affordable yearly membership fee covers all of your travel, business and pleasure. Mexico is a great place to vacation, but in the event of a medical emergency, don't you want to be home?

Close Call: A Medevac Marketer's First Hand Travel Illness Story

2009-03-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

I've always believed in Air Ambulance Card. Always known that if I got hurt on the road, I'd rather be home than in some random hospital. But it's never scarier than when it happens to your young daughter. Last week, while on spring break in South Florida, we took the kids on a trek through Lion Country Safari. When our four year old daughter Phoebe couldn't turn her neck to the see the lions, we knew something was wrong. By the time we got to the elephants, she was burning up with fever and limp as a wet rag. A quick search on the iPhone convinced my wife and I that Phoebe had Disney-Contracted Menengitis.

The next search found us a small hospital a few miles away. Amazingly, they had a Pediatric ER. A sharp doctor quickly diagnosed her with a peritonsillar abscess, which in kids can cut off the airway. A CAT Scan confirmed it. While the doctor was hopeful we could treat it with IV Antibiotics (and three lovely days in a South Florida hospital) there was a chance they would have to operate. That's when I called my colleagues at Air Ambulance Card. They would have flown us home on a medical jet to be treated by our own doctors and recover at home.

Turns out, the drugs did the trick... but had our little girl needed surgery, there was no way I wanted it done there. Fine hospital, but not our pediatrician, not the Children's Hospital where our other kids have been so kindly and competently cared for.

A trip to Florida is not exactly an exotic adventure... not something that strikes fear into the hearts of travelers. We know many people buy Medical Evacuation coverage when flying overseas, but our experience demonstrates how valuable this product is even a state or two away. For less than $300 a year, we are covered for all of our travel, and if we'd needed the flight, we wouldn't have paid a dime. Thank goodness we didn't use it, but it was sure nice to know we had it.

Atticus Rominger

Public Relations

Air Ambulance Card

iPhone Apps for Travelers

2009-03-09T09:37:00.000-05:00

Ok, what's your favorite? I am a big fan of Urban Spoon, and think the Google Maps is as good as any Garmin. CNN.com has a few favorites. I love the Stanza App. Download books and mags... read 'em on the plane from your iPhone. No wonder the paper industry is dying!

Travelers Rank Medical Evacuation "Critical"

2009-01-15T09:38:00.000-06:00

With Americans, and travelers around the world, watching every penny these days, of course trip cancellation insurance is important. According to a survey from InsureMyTrip, 85 percent consider the coverage "very important." What grabbed our interest here at Air Ambulance Card though was a second stat. 70 percent of those surveyed rated medical evacuation coverage as "critical." What we want to travelers to look at is the fine print of their medical evacuation policies. Many of the medevac clauses in standard trip insurance policies have "Nearest Appropriate Facility" or "Nearest US Facility" exlusions and "Medical Necessity" clauses. That means the company, not you and your doctor, decide if you will be transported. Not the peace of mind you are looking for. Shop around, then come back to Air Ambulance Card for peace of mind you can count on.

Holiday Travel? Last Minute Suggestions

2008-12-03T15:34:00.003-06:00

Some good suggestions from writer Laura Daily in the Kansas City Star for holiday travelers. As if you need something else to think about as you are trying to rush the family out the door. Still, take a few minutes to look it over... could save you a lot of time and many headaches.

Oh, and take special note of what she says about medical evacuation coverage... then go visit airambulancecard.com to enroll.

Here's the article.

Looking for Dengue Fever? We can help you find it.

2008-11-13T15:29:00.005-06:00

In the last 30 days, there have been 11 reported cases of African Swine Fever. Where, you ask? If you guessed Africa, you'd only be partially correct. Turns out there's also been an outbreak of ASF in Russia, most likely entering from the Georgian port city of Poti. How on Earth would I know this? HealthMap.org.

This is one of the coolest (and most frightening) websites I have ever run across. The International Society for Infectious Diseases maintains the site. (Does it worry you that it is the Society FOR Infectious Diseases? Sounds like a front company for a Bond villain.) Click on Dengue Fever (my favorite of the mosquito-borne illnesses), they'll show you 22 spots on the globe where 36 cases have been reported in the past 30 days. Now, none of those were in the US. And if you put those numbers in perspective against the total world population (about 6.7 Billion people) it doesn't seem so scary. Turns out our risk of contracting is, like, zilch.

However, if you were planning a trip to Panama for a mission trip, wouldn't you want to know about the recent case of Hantavirus? Going to Laos? Beware the Anthrax-infected goats.

I certainly hope this site won't scare anyone off an exciting international adventure... but it's nice to be armed with knowledge. And, of course, doesn't hurt to be armed with your Air Ambulance Card. If you wind up in Zambia with a roaring case of Lassa Fever (you'll know from the diarrhea and the morbiliform rash on your face and trunk), do you want to be flown to South Africa for treatment, or home to your own doctor and hospital?

Stabbed in Ecuador: NBC's Today Show Recommends Air Medical Evacuation

2008-10-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

A story from NBC's Today Show this morning is a frightening illustration of why you need medical evacuation coverage if you travel: bizarre things can happen. The story is about an Oregon couple who sold their belongings to live for a year in Central America and Ecuador. But just two months in, a group of men attacked the couple for no apparent reason and stabbed the man 18 times.

At an Ecuadorian hospital, infection set in. To get back to a US hospital for further treatment, the man needed a special medevac plane. Without medical evacuation coverage, the cost was astronomical: $55,000. That's money that has to be paid up front, in cash, before the patient boards the plane.

An NBC security consultant recommended buying coverage before you leave for a trip. It's advice that could save your life.

More from the Type A Traveler: Waiting at Security

2008-10-14T14:48:00.003-05:00

Air Ambulance Card President Sam Jackson is back from a one week trek to China. Sam plans for his trips. Sam packs wisely. Sam is courteous. Sam wishes other travelers would be too.

I just returned from a whirl-wind tour to China. I noticed that people are not very thoughtful when they go through security. They are not taking the time to empty pockets, remove metal items and have their toilet articles in a 1 quart ZipLock bag. This is inconsiderate of fellow travelers, waiting in their stocking feet while you go back and forth through the metal detectors.

I watched a man at LAX hold up the line for a good minute because he simply would not pull all of the "stuff" out of his pockets. He had to pass through the metal detector 4 times! On the last try, they took him aside and used the wand to "pat him down," only to discover his metal money clip in his pocket. He protested he did not want to put his money in the plastic tray and run it through the x-ray machine. (Editor's Note: Consider taking the money OUT of the clip, fella? I'm just asking is all.)

Take a few seconds before you get to the end of the conveyor and pull out the contents of your pockets. Drop them into your purse or briefcase. If you have a ZipLock, drop all that pocket stuff into it. Not only will it keep your stuff from getting lost in the shuffle, it will save you from the irate passengers behind you!

Confessions of a Type A Traveler

2008-10-07T15:39:00.003-05:00

Air Ambulance Card President Sam Jackson is traveling in China this week. Sam is a bit of neat freak, and loves to be prepared. He shares some of his tips for maintaining sanity (and sanitation) away from home.

I've noticed a lot of people on this trip who are obviously concerned about health care issues. Glad I am not alone. I saw a good many using instant hand sanitizer, both in small bottles and in disposable packages. Doesn't matter where you are traveling, this is a really easy thing to carry in your bag or purse so that you can both clean your hands after a meal and sanitize them. (You can usually find this in a small 2 oz size at your drug store in the travel and samples section. These are small enough to meet the TSA requirements of less than 3 ounces.) Don't forget, you have to put liquids and gels in a 1 quart clear ZipLock when you go through the security line.

I also saw several people on the long distance flights who put on surgical type masks while they slept on board the plane. Can't help but make you think about SARS, and who wants to do that when flying to China? Still, this would certainly minimize exposure to cold and flu bugs and does not take up much space when you pack.

I always pack a couple of band aids to take care of the inevitable nicks and scraps that occur on a long distance trip and a small tube of Neosporin or other triple antibiotic cream is a good idea as well.

Speaking of ZipLocks - I always put an extra in my carry-on case so that I can put all the "stuff" from my pockets into it before I have to go through the metal detector. I just put it all in the plastic bag and drop that back into my brief case so I know where it is when I am done with the "full body search." I am not kidding - I have had total knee replacements on both knees so I light up the metal detector like a roman candle! While I get the search and pat down, my carry on items are sitting on the end of the x-ray conveyor. I want to make sure that my wallet, money, watch and such are not out in plain site. The ZipLock solves that for me, plus, all that stuff is not then floating loose in the bottom of my brief case for the mad dash to the gate.

China is great. More to come...

THIS is what Travel Insurance is for!

2008-10-02T14:39:00.003-05:00

Travel insurance has proven a valuable buy for those unfortunate enough to have a cruise canceled thanks to weather or those who have lost their luggage. The New York Times' Practical Traveler - Michelle Higgins - this week wrote about what happens when hurricanes force cruise lines to reroute or cancel trips.

Travel insurance is not, however, your greatest protection if your priority is getting home to your doctor in the event of a travel accident or illness. Many travel insurance policies contain "medical necessity" or "nearest appropriate facility" clauses. That means the insurance company, not you and your doctor, decide if and where you will be transported. Injured in the Caribbean? They may elect to fly you to Miami. Nice hospital... not close to family or friends. Sick in Bali? You may wind up in Singapore... or they may decide you can wait it out and fly home commercial.

Look for a Medical Evacuation Membership that will fly you to the hospital of YOUR choice, as long as your doctor says it's safe and he/she will admit you.

Let the travel insurance folks worry about your luggage, but take your travel health into your own hands.

Getting Around New York - Car Service Recommendations from Air Ambulance Card

2008-09-23T10:08:00.004-05:00

Air Ambulance Card President Sam Jackson is just back from New York - where his wife's piano quartet played Carnegie Hall. And how did he get to Carnegie Hall you ask? Online booking of a car service.
Sam used Carmel Limo - and recommends you check them out. Book online in seconds, flat rates to JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, no per person charge and the driver has your cell phone number so coordinating pick-ups is a snap.
You may also want to check with your hotel. Executive Vice-President Stan Bradley has the concierge at the Ritz book his cars, again a flat rate, no charges for fellow travelers.
Beats the shuttle I took last time I was in New York. Sure it was cheap... but going from the East Side to the West Side can take forever if you stop at EVERY HOTEL!

Travelers Spending on Safety Despite Slowed Growth in Business Travel

2008-09-15T11:26:00.002-05:00

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (September 8, 2008) - Business and leisure travelers are still willing to pay more for peace of mind despite a downturn in the economy and reported slowing of growth in business travel, reports Birmingham-based medical evacuation membership program Air Ambulance Card, LLC. The company reports positive growth in both new enrollments and renewals despite national reports of slowed growth in business travel and the travel industry as a whole.

"People who travel more than once or twice a year are still keenly aware of the financial and health risks they face,'" said Stan Bradley, executive vice-president of Air Ambulance Card, LLC. "In fact, the dramatic increase in fuel prices makes the idea of paying for a medical evacuation flight out of pocket even more frightening." The cost of a recent Air Ambulance Card transport was 21% higher than a similar transport one year ago. The increase is almost entirely attributed to rising fuel costs. For several years domestic air ambulance flights have averaged about $11,000. We expect that cost to increase to nearer $14,000. International flights costing well over $100,000 are becoming common. As overwhelming to families as the cost of a medical flight is the fact that payment must be made in advance.

Air Ambulance Card® provides travelers with prepaid hospital-to-hospital air ambulance service, domestically and abroad. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and under corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.

Worried About Travel Health? Why Women, Especially, Should Think Twice About Medical Evacuation Coverage

2008-09-03T10:41:00.003-05:00

So we just took another look at our last five years of transports... and boy did we find some surprises. What scares you more... the thought of being injured out of the country, or just a few states away? Who's more likely to wind up in the hospital a trip... a man or a woman? Are you more likely to get sick or to get injured? The answer... depends on where you are.

Air Ambulance Card flies members home to the US or Canadian hospital of their choice when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home. The cost for this, $195 for a yearly membership, and NOTHING if you are transported. The average cost of our transports over the last five years, $11,155.00. Will you be writing a check, or putting it on a credit card?

So who is using the service? WOMEN. Of our international transports, a whopping 86% were women. Of our domestic transports, 56% were women. We're not sure why (though we have some theories based on the high number of broken bones among our transportees).

One common misconception is this service is needed for senior travelers, but not as important for younger travelers. Guess the average age of members we've transported. 53. Not exactly infirm, huh?

By the way, don't think this service is only for international travelers either. 50% of all transports were within the United States, some even within the same state.

The last point is about the causes of the transports. Among international transports, 71% were because of an accident. For domestic transports... the numbers reverse. 75% of domestic transports were as a result of injury.

What does this tell us? Women need this product. It could save the family nest egg. And, who knows where you will be when accident or illness strike. We know where you want to be, though. Home with the doctors and hospitals you know and trust.

Debunking Medical Evacuation Myths: New Study Gives Travelers Clarity

2008-08-21T11:12:00.010-05:00

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 21, 2008) - Travelers buy medical evacuation coverage for peace of mind and financial protection, but a study released by the US Travel Insurance Association suggests if the travelers are not aware of the fine print, they may be buying a false sense of security. The recent survey on sources of travel insurance and assistance prepared by Avalon Actuarial on behalf of the United States Travel Insurance Association found that most domestic health care plans do not cover out-of-country emergency medical transportation and the only credit card reviewed that provided medical transportation and evacuation carried a high annualfee.

"One of the first things people tell us when we explain our product is 'I think I have that with my credit card,'" said Sam Jackson, president of Air Ambulance Card, LLC, a medical evacuation membership program. "The next thing they say is, 'I already buy travel insurance.'" In fact, Jackson explains, credit card policies often include "nearest appropriate facility" and "medical necessity" clauses, meaning the company, not the patient and their doctor, decide if they will be transported home. While the USTIA study points out comprehensive travel insurance policies cover medical evacuation, Jackson suggests buyers read the fine print, as these policies often contain the same exclusions and conditions. Air Ambulance Card memberships have none of these clauses, and no pre-existing condition limitation.

Air Ambulance Card provides travelers with prepaid hospital-to-hospital air ambulance service, domestically and abroad. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and under corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.

Air Ambulance Card Provides Medical Evacuation Membership to Rooms To Go Team

2008-08-13T15:36:00.002-05:00

Points of Interest

Air ambulance program flies select Rooms To Go employees to home hospital when they are admitted to hospital 150 miles or more from home
Rooms To Go enrolling team members who travel frequently
Added layer of health and financial protection is example of innovations in human resources
Air Ambulance Card is leader in the industry, offering corporate, group and individual memberships

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 13, 2008) - Birmingham-based air transport membership provider Air Ambulance Card has reached an agreement with U.S.'s number one independent furniture company to provide air transportation memberships to executives and others employees who travel frequently. "The best companies today are looking for ways to protect their employees, and let them know they are valued," said Stan Bradley, executive vice-president of Air Ambulance Card. "We offer companies a way to offer something of great value to their employees for a very low cost."

Founded in 1991, Florida-based Rooms To Go has stores in nine states and is recognized as the top selling furniture retailer in the United States. Rooms To Go also operates Rooms To Go Kids, specializing in children's furniture, www.roomstogo.com.

Air Ambulance Card provides travelers with prepaid hospital-to-hospital air ambulance service, domestically and abroad. The membership program offers services for a period of one year to families or individuals, and corporate accounts. Air Ambulance Card memberships are available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and cost $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families. For more information visit www.AirAmbulanceCard.com.

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Attack on American Olympic Tourists an Unfortunate Reminder of Need for Evacuation Coverage

2008-08-09T10:12:00.005-05:00

Attacks on US tourists in China are rare, but the murder of an Olympic tourist in Beijing on the first day of competition must have tourists questioning what they would do in the event of an emergency. The travelers Air Ambulance Card transports home to US hospitals are overwhelmingly hospitalized as a result common accidents or illness.

Ask yourself, in Beijing or Berlin, would you rather be treated in a hospital overseas, or fly home to the doctors and hospital you know and trust near family and friends who can be at your bedside? Air Ambulance Card will fly you home to the US or Canadian hospital of your choice if you are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, domestically or internationally.

Certainly, we don't anticipate more attacks on tourists in Beijing over the next 15 days, we'll be praying it won't happen. But we do anticipate someone will get sick, or in an accident.

We hope all travelers will take a few minutes before their next event to buy a bit of protection and enroll online, whether they've left the US yet or not. It's a small price to pay for huge peace of mind.

PocketPort: A Passport to fit your Wallet and your Budget

2008-07-23T11:16:00.003-05:00

350-thousand Americans have applied for the new credit card-sized passport, according to a recent USA Today story . Unfortunately, it's only for those who travel by land and sea... think cruisers and daytrippers to Mexico and Canada. Still, the convenience is nice, and so is the cost. $45 compared to $100 for a first-timer... and an extra $20 if you already hold a US Passport.
Downside? Like the newest paper passports, there's a chip that privacy experts say could be skimmed by electronic scanners. Not to worry, the government says all they'd get is a meaningless number customs agents use to access your file.

Economy doesn't keep wealthy travelers home, does make them think twice.

2008-07-09T09:52:00.005-05:00

I've read economists' observations that the soft economy is largely impacting discretionary spending, especially for families. An AP article this week says the wealthy are still traveling this summer, and still willing to pay more for luxury accommodations.
That's certainly been our experience at Air Ambulance Card. Those who need to travel, for business or personal reasons, and those who have the means to travel despite a down market are booking trips... and buying air evacuation memberships. Smart move, those memberships are more valuable than ever. With jet fuel prices up 68% in the past six months, a medical jet ride home from Europe would cost thousands more, and that's money that must be paid before the patient boards the plane. Air Ambulance Card's member prices haven't changed in five years. When the price of a piece of fruit is through the roof, it's nice to know peace of mind is as affordable as ever.

What do 60% of Americans Know About Travel Insurance?

2008-06-20T10:43:00.003-05:00

TripAdvisor.com tells us 60% of Americans have bought travel insurance. In a new survey, they say nearly 20% of their respondents were looking for medical or health coverage. Not surprisingly for us at Air Ambulance Card, two thirds buy when they book their trip.
Here's a little insight from us, though. Most of Air Ambulance Card members buy their annual membership for a specific trip, often international. But guess what? Nearly 50% of our transports have been within the United States. People get sick or injured when they least expect it - on the quick trip to the beach instead of the trip to Asia they were so concerned about.
We encourage our members to see this as a lifetime of protection they take with them where ever they travel. If so, and they need us, we'll bring them home.

Jet Fuel is Up - Air Ambulance Card Prices Stay the Same

2008-05-27T10:58:00.003-05:00

The price of jet fuel has increased 68% in the past 6 months. 68%! An air ambulance flight from Europe that would have cost $70,000 a couple of years ago would cost $90,000 today. A recent transport from Jacksonville to Cincinatti cost about $8000 (The Air Ambulance Card member didn't pay a dime more than his annual membership fee.) That same flight would have cost about $4500 in 2006.

This makes Air Ambulance Card memberships more valuable than ever. Without these memberships, travelers must pay for these costly flights up front, in cash before they board the plane. Who has access to that kind of cash at a moment's notice? Air Ambulance Card not only provides travelers the peace of mind of knowing they have the option of being treated in their home hospital, they have a considerable financial protection... and their prices haven't gone up in 5 years. Now that's a good deal.

More Travel Overseas, More Buy Travel Coverage

2008-05-09T14:51:00.002-05:00

It doesn't seem to make sense, but with fuel prices high, consumer confidence low and groceries and everything else going up, AAA says more Americans will travel abroad this summer than last., a 2.6% increase.

A recent article from the LA Times suggests they may choose a less expensive destination, or spend less once there, but travel abroad they will yet.

They will also be protecting themselves better. A recent article from the Arizona Republic, reprinted in the Detroit Free Press says travel coverage is more in demand as well. This echoes a trend we wrote about last summer. What's interesting is the fastest growing segment of travel insurance is medical evacuation and other medical related coverage.

As baby boomers begin to reap the rewards of their collective lifetime of hard work, it's hardly suprising those traveling are also looking to safeguard their health. It is increasingly important to them that, in an emergency, they can be cared for by the doctors and hospitals they know and trust, and who know their specific medical situations. Medical evacuation membership programs, like Air Ambulance Card give them the peace of mind of knowing they will choose which hospital they will be flown to in an emergency, and the financial protection of knowing they won't pay a dime more than the low yearly membership price.

Frightening Fall in France

2008-05-01T15:18:00.002-05:00

There is a terrifying story out of Nebraska that shows the worst can happen in the most idyllic of spots. A teen on a school trip with his parents was walking on an ancient town wall in the south of France when he fell two stories and broke his back. The Omaha World-Herald tells a terrifying story of how his parents, who didn't speak French, couldn't tell the nurses, who were lifting their son up, that he had broken his back and shouldn't be moved.
Injury in a foreign country is frightening. But imagine if a language barrier made it life-threatening.

Expedia.com: Business Travelers Think Safety

2008-04-07T12:56:00.002-05:00

Expedia Corporate Travel says their new survey finds business travelers are keeping safety at the top of their list of concerns.

No big surprise here. Studies have consistently found that's a top concern of travelers, especially when they are flying internationally.

Hmmm, if only there was a way to allay their fears. Hmmmm, if only there was a way to assure them they could get home to their loved ones and the doctor and hospital OF THEIR CHOICE if they became sick or injured away from home.

WAIT A MINUTE!!! What about Air Ambulance Card?! Prepaid medical evacuation coverage, fly you home to the US or Canadian hospital of your choice aboard a dedicated medical aircraft if they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home, hold your loved ones' hands the whole time you are in the air. Perfect. Now, if only someone could help spread the word. (hint)

First Aid Kit for Travelers

2008-04-03T14:28:00.004-05:00

I thought this was a great list from an article in the LA Times, reprinted by the Chicago Trib. Of course, there's one thing missing from this... your Air Ambulance Card!

TRAVEL SHORTS
Items every traveler's first-aid kit should contain
Your all-purpose blister-fighting, sting-cooling, bite-soothing bag

By Vani Rangachar
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

What should every traveler's first-aid kit contain? Here is a list of items recommended by Dr. Brian Terry, a specialist in travel medicine who practices at the Healthy Traveler Clinic in Pasadena, Calif., and Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg, an emergency and wilderness physician and editor of Wilderness Medicine magazine in Salt Lake City:

• Antibiotic: Depending on where you're headed, include a broad- spectrum prescription antibiotic such as Zithromax or Cipro.

• Antibiotic cream to treat cuts.

• Antifungal creams.

• Antihistamine (such as Benadryl) for allergies and bug bites.

• Anti-malarial medication, if you are traveling to a part of the world where the risk is high.

"It's absolutely vital," Terry says.

• Bug spray with DEET.

Terry recommends Ultrathon.

• Condoms, for safe sex/

"People don't talk about these things, but they are very important," Terry says.

• Cotton swabs.

• Dental floss and an emergency dental kit (for example, temporary dental cement)

• Digital fever thermometer in a hard carrying case so it won't break.

• Earplugs.

• Elastic (Ace) bandages, 1 1/2 or 2 inches wide.

These bandages are useful for binding major wounds, says Van Tilburg.

• Electrolyte tablets to combat dehydration.

• Eyeglass repair kit.

• First-aid tape.

"My favorite is Johnson & Johnson waterproof first-aid tape," which sticks well and can be used to treat wounds and blisters, Van Tilburg says.

• Hand sanitizers.

But keep it in your purse or backpack, Terry says.

• Hydrocortisone ointment or cream to get the itch out of bug bites.

• Ibuprofen or other pain reliever.

• Imodium for symptomatic relief of diarrhea.

"But take it with an antibiotic," Terry says.

• Indigestion remedies, such as Gaviscon or Maalox.

• Moleskin or mole foam for blisters.

• Motion sickness medicine (over-the-counter, such as Dramamine, or prescription scopolamine tablets or patches).

• Nasal decongestant spray (such as Afrin).

• Nitrile gloves.

Nitrile is more flexible and less likely to cause allergies than latex, Van Tilburg says.

• Pencil and notebook or Post-it Notes.

"For writing directions if you are looking for a doctor," Terry says.

• Safety pins.

• Scissors that fold.

Terry recommends Slip-N-Snips, about $5 online or at retail establishments.

• Sunscreen, waterproof, with an SPF of 25 or higher and UVB and UVA protection.

The waterproof kind stays on longer when you sweat, Van Tilburg and Terry say.

• Throat lozenges (such as Cepacol).

• Tweezers.

Get "a good pair of metal tweezers that work, with a pointy or flat tip," says Terry (who uses jeweler's forceps).

• Urinary-tract-infection medication.

Carry whatever your doctor recommends, Terry says.

• Wilderness trips: Van Tilburg recommends items for wound care, water purification and CPR.

For wound care, take adhesive bandages, soap and hand sanitizers. "The key to wound care in the wilderness is cleaning it properly," he says. For water purification, he recommends chlorine tablets because they taste better than iodine and work faster. Also: a CPR mask and a pair of vinyl or nitrile gloves. "Some store-bought first-aid kits don' t come with these," Van Tilburg says.

• Yeast infection medication, over-the-counter or whatever your doctor prescribes.