In so many years of traveling around the globe, my most unforgettable and frightening experience happened when I witnessed a young Frenchwoman suffered from an appendicitis attack back in Afghanistan. She was in terrible agony while unfortunately, the bus that she was on got stranded in the middle of an empty desert. More Americans love going to places where there is a huge possibility for them to experience life threatening illnesses or accidents and worse, adequate medical care is limited or none at all.
The bus that was loaded with Afghans broke down in the middle of nowhere just a couple of hours out of Kandahar. The westerner who suddenly approached me was definitely the friend of the Frenchwoman and was puzzled and worried. She led me to her friend who stretched out in the back seat who was in an agonizing stomach pain. What they did was to somehow make the woman feel better was to place a wet handkerchief on her forehead.
Rarely do trucks heading near Kabul passed but after an hour, when a truck passed by, some passengers started hitching in. The Frenchwoman sobbed as the pain persisted, and then along came a sturdy European sedan, which I flagged down. In the car was a Swiss couple who luckily agreed to take the women travelers to Kabul. A long while later, another bus finally came rumbling along and I and the remaining Afghan passengers caught it. The Frenchwoman's friend visited me in my hotel the next day just to thank me. After she and the Swiss couple contacted the French Embassy in Kabul, the embassy guided them to a hospital where the injured lady immediately underwent appendectomy. The woman with appendicitis was fine but still was shocked by the close call.
Travelers are still faced with risky road conditions but the Maryland based association for safe international road travel in 60 foreign countries will be able to help them. Some reports may be about the probability of livestock on the road, accident prone roads, dangers of driving at night and bizarre driving practices depending on which country. Inadequate safety measures make rental cars or buses risky.
The association was founded in memory of a 25 year old Bethesda medical student killed in a bus accident in Turkey. The countries with the most dangerous roads based on accident statistics are Egypt, Kenya, South Korea, Turkey and Morocco where the non-profit organization cites. Some countries like India might be on the list but does not provide statics. Each country will now get a road hazard information sheet for the US State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs has been urged by the association. Health insurance and a medical evacuation policy should be considered. You will answer your own expenses if you become sick or are injured because the US Embassy is only capable of helping you find a proper medical care. If you are transported via helicopter from a remote place to an emergency hospital, it can cost thousands of dollars. The State Department warned that before going abroad, you should find out what medical services your health insurance covers and also, you should carry both an insurance policy identity card and a claim form as a proof of your insurance.
Treatment for senior citizens done outside the United States is not covered by the Social Security Medicare program but it can be acquired through the American Association of Retired Persons via a Medicare Supplement plan. A per trip or annual basis are two ways wherein medical evacuation insurance can be bought from a number of firms. You can avail of the insurance through travel agents or directly from the company.
Call the nearest US Embassy if worst happens. The embassy is capable of providing a list of local doctors or other medical facilities. Most likely, the embassy personnel will take necessary steps to insure Americans the best medical care. This is likely to happen in places which are very far from the city where most Americans love going to. Officials are capable of visiting victims in a foreign hospital, may transport victims to a better facility, and may contact the victim's relatives or friends.
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