Preparing for a Medical Emergency on the Road

Remember the saying, "The best defense is a good offense?" One of the best decisions you can make as a frequent traveler is to be prepared for a medical emergency on the road. Being properly prepared can help you quickly and efficiently assist a person in need - that person could be someone you love.

The first step in this process is to get certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Whether you're young, old, traveling alone or with companions, you can benefit from learning CPR. CPR can double a person's chance of recovery from cardiac arrest. The training also teaches you how to alleviate choking dangers with the Heimlich maneuver. Courses are offered at most colleges, hospitals and American Red Cross offices for around $20. Some RV rallies provide training at a discounted rate.

Your second preparation tool is a well-stocked first-aid kit. Don't just take supplies out of your medicine cabinet to create a kit. Consider buying a kit that's already put together to ensure you don't forget anything. Be sure to add the extra items for your specific needs like extra medication, dietary requirements or pet supplies. Note that many items in the kit have expiration dates and will need to be kept current. Basic kits can be purchased at Wal-Mart for about $10.

Carry a medical guide with you or, at the very least, be prepared to recognize the symptoms of major life-threatening afflictions that can strike suddenly. The American Heart Association has summarized a list of the most common ones:

If you're traveling, it's particularly important to prepare paperwork for each traveler that documents medications, conditions and allergies. Also include a one-page letter from your doctor explaining your medical condition and a current EKG strip if you've had an EKG. Keep this paperwork in a Vial of Life (a large pill bottle that can hold your medical paperwork) or a clearly-labeled freezer bag. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will look for it in your freezer, medicine cabinet and glove compartment of your car if you're traveling.

EMTs are hesitant to look in your wallet or purse for medical information until they reach the emergency room and a witness can watch them do it, so you may want to wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace. If you have too many items to fit on the small face of the jewelry, you can now sign up for a service that assigns a code to you that is printed on the jewelry. When the EMT calls into the hospital, your code is used to access your medical information from a nationwide network.

With all the people on the road today, there are many communications options to help you find the assistance you need in a medical emergency.

Many states have posted road signs that signify the location of hospitals or aid stations. Keep an eye out for these as you're traveling; you never know when it will become useful information.

While they can be noisy and distracting, CB radios can help keep you informed of things happening down the road. They can be a life-saving tool to communicate with others in an emergency.

Cell phones are most people's preferred mode of communication while traveling. They're easy to carry, and nowadays service is available in most areas. Remember to keep your phone charged at all times. If you don't want the expense of keeping a cell phone service operating, you can keep one without service that should still work in an emergency as long as you're in an area with cellular service. According to a decree by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), all cell phones, even ones without an active service plan, must be able to dial 9-1-1.

If you've never before driven the RV, you should at least learn the basics. You don't want to drive it for the first time in an emergency. When traveling by RV, it's possible that in an emergency you will find yourself far from medical assistance. If the primary driver is hurt, you may be in a situation where you need to drive to get help.

If you're the passenger and the driver of your vehicle loses consciousness, try not to panic. The first thing to do is move the driver's hands and feet away from the steering wheel and pedals. Next, climb over, sit on the edge of the driver's seat and take control of the vehicle. Slow it down and move to the side of the road. To keep use of the power steering and brakes, don't turn the engine off until the vehicle has completely stopped. You must control and stop the vehicle before tending to the driver.

RVs have vast differences in how they drive, so you should practice driving the vehicle in which you'll spend most of your time. It's important to learn the basics of accelerating, turning and stopping. If possible, take one of the driving courses offered at many RV rallies year-round.

When staying at campgrounds it's important to take advantage of the map provided on check-in - it contains valuable information you'll need in an emergency, including the campground street address and a map to your campsite. If you need to call 9-1-1, you have to be able to give the operator a physical address for them to dispatch help to you. It's also very important to be able to give them directions to find you within the campground. Keep the map with your cell phone so it will be easily accessible if you need it. If you don't use a cell phone, keep the map in the same place each time you stop for the night and don't forget to throw out the old one so you don't get them mixed up.

When you're in areas that have severe weather, such as hurricanes, tornados or blizzards, be sure to note what county you are currently camped in. Radio weather bulletins are announced by county. Also, if weather danger is nearby, listen to the radio to find out where the safe building is so you can get there quickly if the need arises.

Anything can happen down the road - preparation will help you to remain calm and focus on the emergency. Many insurance providers now offer emergency expense coverage that bridges the gap of additional expenses RV owners might incur that are not covered by conventional medical insurance.

It's important to be familiar with what your medical insurance will and will not cover. The beauty of traveling by RV is you feel free to visit parts of the country that are more remote and far from civilization. However, if an emergency occurs, an airlift to the nearest hospital can cost more than $10,000, which most medical insurance plans will not cover, and services typically require payment up front. Supplemental emergency medical plans can cover this and also extras like:

When shopping for a medical emergency plan provider, find out what geographical areas the plan covers to be sure it matches with the areas you travel in most. Look for plans that include unlimited emergency cash and no deductibles. Also be sure to choose a plan that doesn't have a mandatory waiting period or a pre-existing condition clause that prevents you from being covered if your condition was diagnosed before you applied for membership. Additionally, check the cost of extras before committing to a plan - some plans offer all services for one annual price, while others offer a base plan and charge for additional benefits like helicopter transfer. Annual premiums can vary dramatically, ranging from $139-$420 depending on the provider. Investment in this relatively inexpensive extra coverage can give you peace of mind so you can rest a little easier during your travels.