Things to Do if Your Child Gets Sick During Your Trip

You planned your trip for a long time and you want everything to be perfect. You don’t usually have the chance to go on a trip with your family so you want the next one to be memorable. Unfortunately, in the middle of your trip, your child got sick. These are the things you need to do as soon as it happens. 

Contact someone you know in the area

You need to ask for help from someone you know in the area. If there’s a language barrier, it helps if you have someone who can translate for you. When it comes to your child’s health, you can’t take a risk at all. 

Look for a local healthcare provider 

Although you’re not confident with the local healthcare system of the country where you are now, it’s still better than doing nothing. You can at least get the necessary medicines if you couldn’t buy them in a pharmacy without a prescription. If your child shows symptoms, you’re not familiar of, the hospital can run a few tests. You would rather have someone look at the problem than waiting for it to get worse. 

Call your doctor back home

If your child has recurring conditions, it would help if you have a family doctor. You can contact this person at all times. Consulting with a medical professional over the phone is now possible. If not, your doctor back home can refer you to someone in the area who can help you in this struggle. 

Cancel all your plans

As much as it hurts you to cancel your itinerary, you have no choice. If you decide to go to different places, your child’s condition might get worse. You also have no idea if your child is infectious. You don’t want to infect other people in try places where you intend to visit. 

Find the earliest possible flight home if necessary 

If getting back home wouldn’t take time, you need to book the soonest possible flight. You will feel more confident that someone can take care of your child if you’re home than when you’re in a different place. However, if you will have connecting flights and stay on air for several hours, it’s best if you stay where you are. You can wait until the symptoms subside before you decide to fly back home. Traveling could place your child in a more stressful situation, and might worsen the symptoms. As long as you already gave the necessary medicines, the illness will gradually subside. 

If things get worse and the local hospital is unable to provide what your child needs, you can request for a private flight to a different hospital nearby. In emergency situations, there are protocols in place to save lives.

You didn’t expect things to end this way. It’s okay though as long as you can make your child feel better. You can plan a different trip in the future. Make sure that you’re more prepared to deal with potential health issues. 

Photo Attribution:

1^st and featured image from https://www.everythingmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sick.jpg

2^nd image from https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/your-pediatrician-vs-urgent-care-what-to-do-when-your-child-sick