Tips for Relief Workers Traveling Abroad by Peter Killcommons
Traveling abroad to help individuals or communities in need is a noble and worthy cause. With so much to be done and limited resources to do so, individuals can often arrive feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. The trick is to remember why you are helping and realize that every bit counts. The following tips can help you best utilize your time abroad while staying safe and healthy at the same time.
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1. Make sure to get the proper vaccines before your departure. In impoverished communities and areas with rampant sickness and disease, you can become more susceptible to bacteria and infection. If possible, ask your doctor to prescribe a full course of antibiotics in case you need it over the following weeks or months.
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2. Familiarize yourself with the region and culture through online research. Knowing the area’s customs—and geography, especially—can be helpful in dealing with disaster-relief situations. Also try to learn several key phrases and bring along a translation book or dictionary, if possible.
3. Make a copy of all pertinent information you will be taking with you, such as a passport, vaccination certificates, license, insurance information, visa, etc. Keep one copy in a separate luggage container and leave one with a friend or family member who can send you the documents, if necessary.
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4. Always be alert while in transit once you have arrived in a foreign destination. Stay apprised of your surrounds and where the major cities or towns lie.
About the author: An experienced medical professional, Peter Killcommons serves as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Medweb. Possessing immense knowledge with regard to international medical aid and disaster relief, Peter Killcommons continues to visit areas in need throughout the world, and in past years has served as a volunteer pilot and rescue worker. Peter Killcommons also remains involved with the American Telemedicine Association and the American Medical Association.