Know Before You Go: Health & Safety Abroad
DAN: Health & Safety Abroad
Sponsored by: Divers Alert Network (DAN)
Diving can take us to beautiful and remote destinations around the globe, but your trip can easily turn into a misadventure if you fail to prepare. Here are some quick reminders to help you get ready for your next diving adventure.
• Ask about the forms before you go. Diving medical clearance forms, visas and passport requirements vary by destination. It’s best to contact the operation you plan to dive with to request any required forms. Don’t lose valuable vacation and dive time completing paperwork.
**• Contact the local dive shop **to ask about local diving conditions, marine life, medical resources including oxygen first aid and AEDs onboard as well as what level of first aid training the crew has. Ask the dive operator what their protocols are if a guest gets sick or injured. This information can provide helpful insight into local resources and additional preparation that may be required prior to your trip.
**• Complete the **Center for Disease Control’s “Keep It With You” form. This is an excellent framework of pertinent medical information to provide healthcare workers in an emergency. In addition, consider your health history and scout out the nearest medical facility at your destination.
**• Don’t forget to pack **a color copy of health insurance cards, passports and other critical forms. Make sure to record important phone numbers, such as the DAN Emergency Hotline +1-919-684-9111, local emergency medical services, your health insurance providers, etc., and keep them in an accessible place.
• Contact your health insurance company to get detailed information on which medical expenses are covered (and excluded) as well as where your policy is valid. Ask what their payment protocols are – are they pay and file or do they cover charges up front? You may want to consider adding **dive**** **accident insurance**** with medical coverage to supplement your current plans.
• Check whether vaccines or prophylactic medication are needed. Find out if there are any health or security advisories as well as if you need any vaccines or antimalarial medications. DAN Members have online access to Worldcue® Planner Real-Time Travel Intelligence® Resource. This essential travel resource is a continually updated database of pertinent travel information on destinations around the globe.
• Make sure your travels are protected – whether it’s a problem with your bags, a missed connection, cancellation of the entire trip or a medical or dental emergency – ensure you are prepared for the unexpected with travel insurance coverage.
If you run into specific dive safety questions as you plan your trip, remember DAN is your resource for dive safety information. Visit** DAN.org**, call the DAN Medical Information Line at +1-919-684-2948 or email medic@dan.org.
Sponsored by: Divers Alert Network (DAN)
Diving can take us to beautiful and remote destinations around the globe, but your trip can easily turn into a misadventure if you fail to prepare. Here are some quick reminders to help you get ready for your next diving adventure.
• Ask about the forms before you go. Diving medical clearance forms, visas and passport requirements vary by destination. It’s best to contact the operation you plan to dive with to request any required forms. Don’t lose valuable vacation and dive time completing paperwork.
**• Contact the local dive shop **to ask about local diving conditions, marine life, medical resources including oxygen first aid and AEDs onboard as well as what level of first aid training the crew has. Ask the dive operator what their protocols are if a guest gets sick or injured. This information can provide helpful insight into local resources and additional preparation that may be required prior to your trip.
**• Complete the **Center for Disease Control’s “Keep It With You” form. This is an excellent framework of pertinent medical information to provide healthcare workers in an emergency. In addition, consider your health history and scout out the nearest medical facility at your destination.
**• Don’t forget to pack **a color copy of health insurance cards, passports and other critical forms. Make sure to record important phone numbers, such as the DAN Emergency Hotline +1-919-684-9111, local emergency medical services, your health insurance providers, etc., and keep them in an accessible place.
• Contact your health insurance company to get detailed information on which medical expenses are covered (and excluded) as well as where your policy is valid. Ask what their payment protocols are – are they pay and file or do they cover charges up front? You may want to consider adding **dive**** **accident insurance**** with medical coverage to supplement your current plans.
• Check whether vaccines or prophylactic medication are needed. Find out if there are any health or security advisories as well as if you need any vaccines or antimalarial medications. DAN Members have online access to Worldcue® Planner Real-Time Travel Intelligence® Resource. This essential travel resource is a continually updated database of pertinent travel information on destinations around the globe.
• Make sure your travels are protected – whether it’s a problem with your bags, a missed connection, cancellation of the entire trip or a medical or dental emergency – ensure you are prepared for the unexpected with travel insurance coverage.
If you run into specific dive safety questions as you plan your trip, remember DAN is your resource for dive safety information. Visit** DAN.org**, call the DAN Medical Information Line at +1-919-684-2948 or email medic@dan.org.
